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Fantasia Park

Summary:

Imagine a world where the characters you love were not only real, but felt the same way about you.

One night, while deep asleep, you dreamed of visiting a mysterious, infinitely-tall hotel, where the enchanting kitsune receptionist told you that, within this dream world, you could spend the night with any woman you wished. After visiting this place every night for over a year, a friendly dryad introduces something new; a door to a wide open park, full of natural beauty, diverse landscapes, vibrant landmarks, and most importantly, a chance to share it all with those you love. In Fantasia Park, the possibilities are endless.

(A side-story to Cecil Rivers' Hotel Fantasia. Assumes some familiarity with that story.)

Notes:

I'd like to start off by saying thanks to Cecil Rivers for creating the Hotel Fantasia setting, and encouraging me to add on to it like this. This story will make reference to a number of concepts already introduced in that the original, so you may want to give a few chapters of that a read first, if you haven't already. (Though be aware that even Cecil admitted the early chapters are kind of rough compared to the later ones.) This work will be a little less lemony than the original (partly because I enjoy working on fun fluff moments more, party because I can't write a sex scene to save my life), but I hope those that enjoyed the original can find something to love here, too.

Chapter 1: Humanized Kyogre And Groudon (Pokemon)

Notes:

(See the end of the chapter for notes.)

Chapter Text

After a long day, you crawled into bed, tired, but feeling excited for the night to come.

Every night, for over a year, you’ve dreamed of Hotel Fantasia, where you could make love to any woman you wished.  It was only natural you’d come to see it as one of the highlights of your day (for a broad definition of “day,”) but tonight would bring something new on top of that, which you’d been anticipating for a while.

 


*

 

One month ago


“Anon!”  Rena called as you entered the hotel.  “You’re just in time!”

A woman with tree-bark-brown skin and leafy-green hair, dressed in a short, blue chiton tunic and a flower crown of a dozen different colors, gasped as she saw you, raising her hands to cover her mouth.  “Ah!  It’s really you…”  She whispered.

“Hi there,” you said.  The way she reacted to seeing you, like you were some sort of celebrity, you couldn’t help but blush.

“Anon, this is Talia,” Rena gestured to the other woman.  “Talia, Anon.  This cute little dryad has something to show you.”

“Oh!  Right, right!  Focus!”  She slapped her cheeks twice, then grabbed a scroll laying on the counter, and unfurled it.  “Behold!  Fantasia Park!”

You saw a map, with the words “Fantasia Park” written in the corner in several languages, displaying a big park, marked with dozens of little landmarks, and split into several larger “biomes,” a forest, plains, a beach, a mountain, and more.

The star-struck Talia struggled not to stammer.  “I’d always felt like… Er, I mean, I couldn’t help but notice that, well…  There are so many girls staying here each night, some of us all of the time, even, and... it’s a very nice place.  The way each room is completely personalized means that all of us get a comfortable place to stay, but… well, when you’re not the one picked for the night, it can get a little boring sometimes, especially if you don’t watch the Lewdstreams.”

She glanced toward Rena nervously, as if she was worried she’d insult the Kitsune, but Rena didn’t seem to mind, and motioned for her to go on.

“Not to say the hotel doesn’t have interesting things outside our rooms!  I heard that the Onsen is great, the cafeteria has the best food you could ask for, no matter what you eat, and that the mall offers all kinds of nice distractions, too.  But I felt like we could use a place to go when we’d like a change of scenery, a place that doesn’t “belong” to any one guest.  So I drew up this, and asked Rena to show it around, to see if some of the other women with the right skills would want to help bring it to life.”

She paused, looked you in the eye, and quickly turned away, nervously blushing.  “And of course, you’d be allowed to visit too, and bring your girlfriends along!  I’m sure a lot of them would love a chance to go swimming at the beach, or walking through the woods with you.”

Rena nodded.  “I liked the idea, so I helped pull a few strings in high places, and we finally got it approved.  Talia and her crew are starting work on it tonight!”

“Yeah!”  Talia nodded.  “We’ll let you know when it’s gonna be ready!  Be sure to check it out, okay?  Uh, that is, if you feel like it…”

You smiled.  “How can I say no to that?”


*


After you’d drifted off to sleep, you once again found yourself in the vase void in front of the hotel, its floors stretching up out of sight.  You’d heard from Rena that the development had been going much faster than expected, (having more than a handful of literal goddesses willing to contribute out probably helped,) and if all went well tonight would be the night you finally got to see it. 

As you stepped inside, you saw Rena was already speaking to a woman in long green robes at the front desk.

“...And we were really hoping you’d be able to help out here,” Rena said.  “...Again.”

The woman she was speaking to groaned, massaging her temples.  “Can’t those two come to their senses and act like adults for a single night?  Is it not enough that I must put up with their in-fighting back home during waking hours?  Recently they’ve been making a racket over some petty grudge or another every night, and every night, it falls on me to put an end to it.  I feel as if I haven’t had a truly restful night’s sleep in weeks!  If it weren’t for the hope of eventually meeting Anon, I’d consider checking all three of us out! Zygarde never has this problem…”

“Uh, hey there,” you said, startling the woman in green as both she and Rena turned to look at you.

“Anon!”  The woman in green gasped.  “...I’m sorry you had to hear that, my love.”

Her face was framed by long, disheveled green hair, and four green horns pointing outward from the back of her head.  Her eyes were a piercing yellow (if you could ignore the bags under them), and a softly-glowing yellow circle marking lay on her forehead, a pair of yellow lines running up from it, through her hair, and down her neck before vanishing beneath her robes again.

But as your eyes trailed down, your attention was immediately drawn to something that her robes had hidden from the back:  From the waist down, the woman had a long, coiling, serpentine tail, covered in smooth, shimmering green scales, marked on either side by a pattern of yellow rings like the one on her forehead, occasionally interrupted by red-tipped fins.  More surprisingly, this tail didn’t even touch the ground.  Instead, she simply steadily hovered, gently bobbing up and down in the air.

You quickly figured out who she was.

“Rayquaza?”

“Correct, Love, the one and only.”  She smiled weakly, and tried to casually straighten out her hair with her claws.  “It’s a pleasure to finally meet you… even if I’m not at my best, this evening.  It pains me to say goodbye so quickly, but I have a fight to break up.”  She turned to leave.

“Wait,” you said, causing her to stop.  “You sound really worn out.  Let me guess.  Kyogre and Groudon, right?”

Rayquaza turned back and nodded.  “...Of course.”

“Yep…”  Rena shook her head, not making any attempt to hide the annoyance in her voice.  “We’d been able to keep them from disturbing your nights until now, but they’ve been butting heads a lot more often, lately.  Last Friday it was a brawl in the cafeteria over whether sea salt or mined salt was better, Tuesday we had to fix all the equipment in the gym after they started arguing whether rock climbing or swimming were better ways to exercise…”

She paused, and sighed. “And now, they’re fighting in the park on opening night!  I’m seriously thinking about moving them to basement rooms after tonight.”

“In the park?”  You asked.  After all that work, a fight breaks out on opening night?  You turned back to Rayquaza.  “Well, maybe I can help them calm down for you.  Then you can get some rest.”

“Oh Anon.” Rayquaza shook her head.  “I appreciate your kindness, but this is my duty to bear.  Please, leave it to me, and spend the evening with one of the countless maidens here awaiting you.”

You shrugged.  “Okay.  Hey, Rena, I’d like to request an evening with Kyogre and Groudon.”

Rena raised a finger and opened her mouth to say something, then shut it again.  “...I’m not gonna talk you down from this, am I?”

“Probably not.”

“Alright.” Rena started typing as she talked.  “I can’t send them a message to let them know you’re coming right now, (not that I think they’re in the mood to listen,) but I can at least get a few nurses on standby.”

“I’ll keep an eye on Anon, too,” Rayquaza said.  She turned to look at you.  “I am, again, grateful for your kindness.  If you insist on trying to calm them, so I may rest, I will allow it.  But I cannot bear the thought of harm coming to you.  Should either one of them be about to hurt you, I will step in and put a stop to it.”

“Thank you,” you said.  “But it shouldn’t be too hard, right?  They’re in this hotel because they both love me, so it won’t take much to find some common ground.”

“Do not let Kyogre hear you say that particular idiom,” Rayquaza warned, smiling slightly.  “But if there is anyone else in this hotel that can calm them, I believe you can, Love.”

“And, we’re ready,” Rena said, hitting send.  She took your hand.  “Follow me.”

Rena led you past the mall entrance and the first-floor cafeteria, towards the back of the hotel.  A new pair of glass double doors stood tall, currently wide open to allow the guests fleeing the alternating scorching heat and violent storms back into the hotel.  (Despite the panic, you could swear a few of them were checking you out as they ran by.)

 

“I still think you should leave this to Rayquaza,” Rena said, as she led you through the door to Fantasia Park, before giving you a kiss, “But I respect you wanting to help out the women you love.”

Beyond the door, you walked down a paved road, lined on either side by beds of flowers in all colors, shapes, and sizes, (including quite a few you were certain were not native to Earth as you knew it,) as well as elaborately trimmed topiary in the shape of women dancing, leaping, or and playing music.  You passed under a wood archway, with a large sign reading “Welcome to Fantasia Park!”

On the other side, you saw Talia, looking a lot worse for the wear under the erratic weather, as she guided a few straggling guests back to the entrance.

Her eyes lit up when she saw the legendary dragon.  “Rayquaza, oh thank goodness you’re here!  We can still salvage-”

Then she saw you.

“Oh no!”  She buried her head in her hands.  “It’s too late!  It’s a disaster!  A total failure!  This is the worst day of my life!”

“Hey hey, don’t say that!”  You hug her almost on instinct.  “It’s not your fault.  I promise we’re gonna help fix things, okay?”

Talia looked up at you, her green eyes still wet with tears.  “Th-thanks.  I…  I’m sorry, I know it’s not my fault, but I know you were looking forward to this, and- and-” She stopped and took a few breaths.

“It will be alright, dear,” Rayquaza said, setting a claw on her shoulder.  “We won’t let you or your team’s work go to waste.”

“Yeah,” Talia nodded, letting go of you.  “I’ll help other people get out.  Good luck.”

As you got closer to the park’s central square, you saw large puddles and earthen spires disrupting the floral displays.  The sky above rapidly switched between clear skies under a blazing sun, and dark clouds releasing a driving rain.

“This is gonna be a huge pain to clean up when all of this is over,” Rena groaned.

“You and Talia won’t be cleaning up all this by yourself, will you?”

“No, no, there’s a bunch of girls that have been brought on as part of the staff that can help fix things back up.  Doesn’t mean it’ll be easy, though.”

Rayquaza lifted off the ground.  “I will keep watch from above.  Please be cautious, Anon.”  She blew you a kiss, before taking off, in seconds becoming nothing more than a barely-visible speck in the sky.

When you and Rena finally reached the central square, you found the Pokémon you were looking for staring each other down, catching their breaths while they prepared for their next strike.  A figure in red stood atop a jagged pillar of earth, while a figure in blue hovered within a twister of water. 

“This park NEEDS more water!  Have you seen how many mermaids, Zora, and other aquatic girls are staying here?”  The blue figure shouted.

“You WOULD say that!  You get to cover most of the dang PLANET back home, here, it’s MY time to shine!”


The two reared back, their respective elements building up around them, ready to charge at each other again.

“Hey!”  Rena shouted.  “You two!  Anon is here to-”

“ANON!  He’s here to see me!”  Both girls cried out at once, before leaping down in front of you, seeming to have forgotten all about their fight.

For about three seconds.

When each of them saw that the other had dropped down as well, they literally and metaphorically butted heads again, fanged teeth gritting as their yellow eyes locked on each other.

“What’re you talking about, you washed-up witch?  Anon’s obviously here to see me!”  Growled the red-head.  The gaps in her crimson armor revealed the powerful muscles beneath, including thick thighs that looked like they could crush rocks with ease.  Above her wide hips was a broad tail, lined with spikes on either side.  Black markings, which occasionally glowed a soft blue, ran down her skin and armor alike.

“All that heat’s clearly boiling your brain if you think Anon is here for some continental cur!”  The other spat back.  Her blue hair and dress, marked with red lines and patches of white, billowed in the hot air her opponent gave off, doing little to hide her alluring figure, ample chest, or the wide, trailing, blue fin she had in place of legs.  Her mermaid-like body was held aloft by a “bubble” of water under her control.

“Yeah, I’m sure he wants to spend a romantic evening under the sea with NO AIR!”

“His body is about sixty percent water!  He NEEDS me in his life!”

“Oh, yeah, I’m sure he’ll love your salty attitude!  Don’t you hear what the journalists say?  You made too much water already!”

“And the caves with the strength puzzles and hundreds of Zubat are any better?”

Rena rolled her eyes.  “Ladies, if you’d just listen to us for a second-”

Kyogre stepped back from Groudon and turned toward you.  “Of course, my apologies, I won’t deny Anon the pleasure of telling us which one he came for himself.  Even if it’s obvious.”

“Yeah,” Groudon nodded.  “We both know that Anon wants a solid, dependable kinda woman, don’t we?”

“Actually, I came here to see both of you.”

“WHAT?”  They both cried at once.

“Oh come on, Anon!”  Groudon groaned.  “Don’t tell me you’re one of those wishy-washy fence sitters!”

“Hey!”  Kyogre huffed.  “The Wishiwashi School are all quite decisive in their stances, I’ll have you know!  Just as Anon can be!  I’m certain he’s just trying to let down ONE of us gently.”

Well, this was a bit more trouble than you were used to.  “Come on Kyogre, Groudon.  You both know I’ve been dating dozens of girlfriends since I got here.  Do you really think I wouldn’t want to spend time with both of you?  Or will that be a problem?”

Groudon folded her arms.  "I don't have a problem with you dating any girls…"

 

Kyogre shut her eyes.  "I am perfectly fine with you dating whoever you please…"

 

"EXCEPT HER!"  They both finished at once, pointing at each other.


Rena tried to hold back a groan.

The idea of bluffing calling off tonight’s date with them unless they can work something out crossed your mind briefly, but you dismissed it.  If it worked, it’d feel wrong.  If it didn’t work, it would still fall back on Rayquaza to fix things, and you’d probably hurt their trust in you.

Then another idea came to you.  A little risky, perhaps, but if it worked, it could be fun for everyone involved.

“Alright, how about a competition, then?”  You suggested.  “We have a few contests, and the winner overall gets to decide who I date tonight.”

“Awesome!”  Groudon cheered.  “I’ll come out on top, no problem!”

“I actually agree with Groudon, it’s a wonderful idea.  Just not for the reasons she’s thinking.”  She paused.  “Just… ensure there’s no possibility of a tie.  We must have an odd number of rounds.”

“Yeah, and no lame ‘you’re both winners’ crap, either.”

And suddenly, you needed to alter your plan a little.

“Oh, one more thing,” you said, after a little thought.  “Each round’s winner will get a kiss from me… and the loser, too.”

The two suddenly looked hesitant.

“And the loser will have to give the winner a compliment, too.  It can’t be a backhanded compliment, either.  If you can’t say something nice, you’ll have to forfeit the rest of the game.  Same if the winner is a bad sport about it.  I don’t want to hear anyone insulting the women I love.”

Groudon put her hands on her hips.  “Guess I’ll just have to win everything, then.  Like I planned.”

Kyogre gave a dismissive wave.  “I’ll look forward to hearing you praise me each and every round.”

 

Rena leaned against you, whispering in your ear.   "I'll be watching over the Lewdstream.  Try not to let them destroy you, or the park, okay?"

 

"Don’t worry, there's only one part of me that's getting destroyed tonight."

 

 

*


WetterIsBetter:   YOOO!

WetterIsBetter:  You hear that?? 


SeaShoreShelly: Of course!  That little cutie Anon is gonna get a real taste of the beauty and power of the sea!

WetterIsBetter:  Kyogre finally gets a chance to prove herself!  Slay, queen!

High-N-Dry: Psshaaw, you Aqua losers WISH.

High-N-Dry: Groudon’ll crush this competition, then she’ll crush Anon.

High-N-Dry:  In a sexy way, I mean.

Admin.Courtney: Yes…  Lady Groudon… set your sights on Anon… and Target… LOCK!

LittleRootChamp:  …Are your teams still seriously doing this?

High-N-Dry: I don’t know about you, but we stan Groudon for LIFE.

WetterIsBetter: ‘Sides, can’t us girls be allowed to miss the good old days?

LittlerootChamp:  …

LittlerootChamp: Not only did I beat both of your teams six ways from Sunday, but your leaders both admitted that their plans were suicidal!

High-N-Dry: Why you gotta be such a downer, girl?

Admin.Courtney: The interloper… has a point…  our analysis… had… grievous… miscalculations.

SeaShoreShelly: But this isn’t that.  We’re not looking to change the world; we’re cheering for our queen to find love.  And all’s fair in love and war!

HisuiHistorian:  A little competition can be healthy.  Let them have their fun.

LittlerootChamp: Should we really be encouraging this?

HisuiHistorian: Anon will be fine, whether they cheer on for their favorites or now.  I’m sure of it.

HisuiHistorian: Besides, it’s not every day you get to watch legendary Pokémon in action.  This is history in the making.

 

*

 

The three of you had traveled to the beach area of the park, figuring it'd be a spot where the two titans would be on a level playing field.  The soft, warm sand and the cool splashes of the waves complimented each other nicely (that the two had stopped fighting over which one’s weather would dominate the park certainly helped).  Most of the other guests had already left, though a few of the bolder and super-powered women, as well as handfuls water and ground type Pokémon girls watched from a safe distance.

 

"What's our first round gonna be?"  Groudon said with a fanged smile.  "I got it!  Who can make him the best gift?"

 

With that, she stomped the ground with one leg, and a black stone popped out from beneath it.  In one swift motion, she caught it out of the air and crushed it between her claws.  Steam erupted around her from the intense heat and pressure.  When it cleared, you saw her holding a jagged, uncut diamond toward you. 

 

"Only the best for my Anon, right?  Rare, valuable, tough under pressure, easy on the eyes, and a girl's best friend, just like you."

 

Before you could respond, Kyogre let out a haughty "hah!"

 

"If you find that impressive?  Just you wait!"

 

She dove into the sea, returning a moment later with a large clam.  She opened it up to reveal what had to be the largest pearl you'd ever seen.

 

"Marvelous, isn't it?  The product of deep pain and struggle, yet despite it all, perfectly radiant, perfectly shaped, a true hidden treasure.  A far more fitting gift for my dear boyfriend, don't you think?"

 

You couldn't help but think a different pair of legendary Pokémon would've wanted to give those gifts first. 

“Who is the victor of the first round, my sweet Anon?”  Kyogre asked.

“Uh, thank you for the gifts, girls, but I didn’t actually say the contest started yet.”

The two blinked.

“But, if you really want giving me a gift to be part of the contest, we could say it’s an extra round, I guess.”

“Excellent.”  Kyogre nodded.

“I’m good with that.”  Groudon said.  “So, which of us got the best gift?”

“It’s so hard to choose.”  You looked back and forth between them.  “I honestly really like both of them.”

The two gave you disapproving frowns.

“...But if I had to pick one, I guess I’d go with Groudon’s.  It being something she made herself has gotta be worth a few extra points, right?”

Groudon grinned, and wrapped her powerful arms around you in a tight, warm hug, while Kyogre let out a disappointed groan.  “Aw, I’m happy to make gems for you any time, Anon.”  She gave you a kiss, her breath hot and dry as her tongue aggressively explored your mouth.

“Th-thanks,” you stammered when she finally let you go.

When she finally let go, she turned back to her counterpart.  “So, how about it, Kyogre?  Got anything to say to me?”

Kyogre turned back to you.  “Is this really necessary, dear?”

“You don’t HAVE to.  But you’d be giving up right at the start.”

With a huff, Kyogre turned and kissed Groudon on the cheek, steam rising from the point of contact.  She followed it up with a quiet mumble of “you wear those blue highlights well.”

You picked up both of their gifts.  “Seriously, though, you both did a good job making and finding these, they look amazing.   Even if neither of them is quite as beautiful as the girl that gave them.”

“How sweet of you to say!”

“Yeah, thanks Anon!”

The two smiled, and moved in to hug you, before quickly realizing the other was doing the same, and glared at each other.

Taking the hint, you proposed the next contest.

 

*

 

With a kick of her tail fin, Kyogre launched out of the water and into the air, right into the path of Groudon’s projectile.  Taking aim with both hands, she struck it away, and Groudon rushed to intercept. 

 

Watching the two ladies leap after the volleyball had been a treat.  You didn’t have a net nearby, so you'd settled for letting any time the ball hit the water as a point for Groudon, and any time it struck sand as a point for Kyogre.  Not only did this let each of them be in their element, but it kept them from using their powers to just make the ground or water spike the ball without moving themselves.

Groudon just barely managed to launch the ball back with a dive.  The ball soared into the air, and Kyogre rose up on a spout of water to meet it, before spiking it back toward the beach.  The sand beneath Groudon rose up at an angle to quickly get back on her feet, but it seemed too little, too late, as the ball was out of her reach. 

Refusing to give in, Groudon quickly stomped the ground, opening up a crevasse just below the ball. She let herself slide down after it, and managed to knock the ball back up out of the new hole just before it technically made contact with the ground.

Only for the ball to land back in the sand just outside the pit.

“And that’s the deciding point!”  Kyogre cheered, arms raised high.  “Which means I am victorious!”  She surfed over to you on a small wave, the water splashing up against you as the two of you hugged.

“Nice shot!”  You tell her.  “You did great out there.”

“Thank you, dear!  I aim to impress.”  Her lips were on yours before you could respond, her breath cool and salty like a sea breeze. 

As you parted, Groudon had just risen up out of the fissure she’d made for herself.  She frowned at the sight before her, but sulked over to you and Kyogre.

“That was a pretty clever move back there, Groudon,” you tell her, giving her a pat on her armored back.

Kyogre grinned.  “Even if you still lost.”

“Careful Kyogre…”  You warned her.

“...I suppose it was a good move, in its own right.”

Groudon marched up to Kyogre, and took a deep breath. 

“Those red accents really help your colors stand out,” she rushed out, before giving her rival a short kiss on the cheek.

You moved in to try and hug both at once, while they’re still close to each other, but they parted too quickly.  It seemed like you still had a way to go.

“Alright, how about a Beauty Contest?”

The two legendary Pokémon looked at each other, then back at you.

“You want us to put on some frilly dresses and makeup and walk across a stage?”  Groudon asked.

“Not exactly the kind of beauty contest I’d had in mind…”

 

*

 

Groudon’s body glowed a bright golden color, the earth beneath her glowing with that same energy.  It shot forward through the ground in front of her, cracks forming before the Earth Power burst out from below, scattering rocks and chunks of dirt around as it emerged, shimmering brightly.  She raised up her hands, and following her commands, a stream of lava Erupted through the opening, spraying wildly into the air while you watched from a safe distance.  She reared back, taking a deep breath, and spat out a massive Fire Blast through the column, which shot out on the other side as a glowing red Kanji for “big.”

Groudon stood back, hands on her hips, and a big, fanged grin on face.  “How’s that for a show?”

“Awesome!  Way to go!”  You gave a round of applause. Off to the side, a Porygon girl projected a display of the judges’ ratings (Kyogre and Groudon had both insisted on judges beside you, not wanting to hear a “you’re both beautiful” answer).  The numbers came in, two eights, and a nine. 

Groudon casually examined her claws the way a human would look at their fingernails, an unspoken taunt to “beat that!”

Kyogre smirked, and blasted herself out of the sea and into the air with Hydro Pump.  The pillar of water spread out and flowed downward at the top, turning into a Water Spout.  At the peak of its height, she leapt off it, flipping in midair, let loose a freezing wind from her mouth, the Sheer Cold freezing the water solid.  Still in midair, she enveloped herself in an Aqua Ring, the light shimmering off the water around her in a rainbow of colors as she slid down the side of her ice sculpture.  She twirled her fin as she dropped, slowing her descent and scattering gleaming droplets everywhere.  She landed back in the water, and took a bow.

“The picture of elegance, isn’t it?”

The judges seemed to agree, as two tens and a nine came up on the holographic display.

 “That was incredible!”  You told her, giving her a hug as she swam back to shore.  “Congrats on your victory!  That display was every bit as lovely as you.”  You gave her another kiss, the more confident Kyogre storming inside your mouth while pressing her chest against yours.

She parts with a soft pant.  “Oh Anon!  Thank you!  It means the world, coming from you.”

You heard a sigh behind you, and turned to see Groudon.

“Looks like you really do have an eye for making things pretty after all,” She said quietly.

While you were still in Kyogre’s arms, Groudon snorted, and hugged both of you before kissing Kyogre on the lips, great clouds of steam rising from the point of contact.

Kyogre was wide-eyed when Groudon stepped back.

“I only kissed you there so I could get an indirect kiss from Anon, okay?”  Groudon grunted, folding her arms.  “The next round I’m gonna win a direct one!”

“You’ve got a good shot at it,” you tell her.  “Even if you didn’t win, you still put on an incredible performance.”

“Thanks, Anon.”  Groudon looked back at Kyogre.  “If it had been… a coolness contest, or something, I’d have had you licked!”

Kyogre grinned.  “Oh, you really think a hot-head like you could compete for ‘coolness’ against a sculpture like that?”  She gestured back to the ice spire.  “I could easily claim another victory there, couldn’t I Anon?”

“I mean, you both asked me not to be the judge for the last one because I’d say you were both beautiful and not pick a real winner, so I don’t know if you’d really want my answer.”  You shrugged.  “Plus, I’m pretty sure they’re talking about a different kind of’ coolness.’”

“Even if it isn’t, I can handle it.”

 

*

 

At the signal, Groudon immediately flexed, her already rippling muscles Bulking Up further.  After a brief “gun show” for the crowd, she slammed down into the ground with her fists, causing dozens of jagged Precipice Blades to rise up.  She dug her claws into the tallest one as it climbed higher, her body glowing as the clouds cleared above her.

She reared back, then opened her jaws wide, unleashing a devastating Solarbeam across the other stone spires she’d created, carving the collection into the shape of a hand with the pointer and pinkie fingers raised to the sky.  With a laugh, Groudon “threw up the horns” with her own claws, creating another Eruption below the giant hand for some pyrotechnics.  There came a buzz, and she stopped, waiting for the judges’ decision.

One ten and two nines appeared on the board.

“Hah!”  She called, letting the pillar sink back into the earth.  “I got this one in the bag!”

You gave a cheer, and waved to her as she took a bow.

“Don’t be so sure, Groudon!”  Kyogre said, as she got ready for her turn in the spotlight.  “I’ll show them what it truly means to be cool.”

 

Streams of blue light swirled around her as she used Origin Pulse.  Another blast of Sheer Cold formed hundreds of little snowflakes around her, the light reflecting off them at all angles in a dazzling display.  The spectacle was shattered by a glowing mass of rock, as her Ancient Power broke through the ice, the remains of the snowflakes still twinkling around her as they drifted toward the ground.  She took a bow, then waited with baited breath.


Two sevens and a six.

 

*

 

Admin.Courtney:  It seems… the general public… does have some… taste… after all.

SeaShoreShelly: Okay, which of you Magma goons is bribing the judges?

High-N-Dry: Hah, looks like Groudon’s makin’ a comeback!


WetterIsBetter:  Aw, COME ON!  Are you seriously telling me people didn’t find Kyogre’s show cool?

LittlerootChamp: Kyogre’s moves are more focused on beauty than coolness. 

LittlerootChamp: Maybe if she’d picked up a TM or two, she’d have a chance, but I don’t think she was ready.

 

WetterIsBetter: What about her Ancient Power?  That was pretty cool, wasn’t it?

LittlerootChamp: No, that’s more about looking tough than cool.

LittlerootChamp: It’s a subtle difference, but an important one.

WetterIsBetter: …

WetterIsBetter: This is why I never bothered with those stupid contests.


*


“Aw yeah!”  Groudon practically flung herself at you, pinning you to the beach.  “Told you I’d win the next one!”  You found yourself locked into another hot, forceful kiss.

“Great work!” you said, wrapping your arms around her.  “You looked great up there.  And man, that Bulk Up…”

She laughed softly, flexing one arm.  “I’ll be happy to show off for you any day.”

“I must confess, your strength is indeed impressive."

 

Looking to your left, you saw that Kyogre had dropped onto the sand beside you.  She locked lips with Groudon, whose heat seemed to get more intense as another cloud of steam rose between them. 

 

"...Th-there, now that I've claimed an indirect kiss from Anon, we can move on, right?"

 

"Right…"  Groudon muttered.

 

 

 

The competitions went on and on, and the two legendary Pokémon, and you, got more and more into it…

 

 

*

 

High-N-Dry:  Hey, who's in the lead now?

 

WetterIsBetter: I dunno, I had to go AFK for a while and lost count.

 

SeaShoreShelly: Anon hasn't mentioned the score lately.

 

High-N-Dry: … Wait, what are they doing right now?

 

LittlerootChamp: Burying Anon up to his neck in the sand.

 

High-N-Dry: Are they even competing anymore?

 

HisuiHistorian: No.  It's been rather peaceful, for a while now.

 

High-N-Dry: Aw come on!  It was supposed to be a vicious battle to prove Groudon was the better girl for him!

 

WetterIsBetter:  Anon totally deserves Kyogre more!

High-N-Dry: …Guess it doesn’t matter now.

WetterIsBetter:  Even in our dreams, everything ends up balanced.  What a wash.

 

Admin.Courtney:  Disappointing… but not… unanticipated.

 

 

*

 

"You sure you're okay with this?"  You asked, standing at the water's edge, now dressed in a pair of swim trunks from a rental stand.

 

"Yeah, it's fine.”  Groudon said, folding her arms.  “I'll take my turn with you later.  You guys have fun.  Just… Don’t take TOO long down there, okay?"

 

"Don’t worry, dear, we won’t," Kyogre replied.  She took your hand and pulled you into the sea.


You looked in awe at the underwater world around you, as Kyogre gently led you by the hand.  A large bubble of air surrounded your upper body, and soft currents steadily pushed you along, so you wouldn’t have to you to wear yourself out swimming.  Dozens of colorful fish swam by you, and bright coral reefs provided contrast to the vast blue sea ahead.  Every now and again, as you explored the depths, Kyogre stopped, and held you in a long kiss, saying it was "to replenish your oxygen."  You were pretty sure it didn’t actually work that way, but you weren't going to object to her finding an excuse to kiss you.

"It’s all so amazing…"  you whispered to her.

 

"Isn't it?  I love it down here.  The vibrant life, the beauty even as creatures struggle to survive…  even the more… eccentric ones, in the darkest depths, has their morbid appeal."  She sighed, turned to face you, and hugged you tight, her chest pushing against yours.

 

"But more than anything, I've longed to share it with the man I love."  She rested a hand on your chest, while her mermaid-esque tail brushed along your legs.  "I know you can't live down here all the time, even if I hate to admit it.  But I want you to enjoy the wonders of my sea, and cherish it with me.”  She paused.  “Can you promise you’ll make time for me, Anon?”

“Of course!”  You respond, running your fingers through her hair.  “It’s not like I get a chance to see a place as wonderful as this every day.  Even if it’s not half as wonderful, or elegant, or powerful as you.”  You give her another kiss.  “I love you, Kyogre.”

Kyogre seemed to blush.  “Oh Anon!  You’re simply too much!”  She laughed.  “I love you, too, Anon.  My heart beats like a raging storm when you’re with me… Looking at your handsome face, seeing your charming smile, I…  I want…”  You suddenly feel her tugging at your trunks.  “...Are you ready for the sea to take you?”

“Absolutely!”

 

*


You stood back on the beach, and watched as the sand rumbled and rose up, the countless tiny grains stacking atop each other as they formed into a life-sized sand castle, with tall spires on either side.

 

You felt a heavy slap on your back while you were still trying to pick your jaw up off the ground.

 

"Awesome, huh?”  Groudon said, beaming.  “You wanna take a look inside?"

 

"Can I?  Is it safe?"

 

"Of course it is!"  She huffed.  "I don't want the man I love getting buried alive!" 

You looked back at Kyogre, who simply waved you on, quietly encouraging you to enjoy your time with Groudon.

 

The two of you entered through the opening in the front.  It was a little dim inside, with light pouring in from the windows as the only direct source of illumination, but the crystals and gems dotting the walls reflected the light around more evenly. It was also surprisingly spacious, with several pieces of furniture shaped out of the sand or stone, including a pair of thrones, and a wide bed.  

 

"Woah, you work fast," you said.  You looked at one of the thrones, seeing your name on it.  "Heh, you really know how to make a guy feel welcome."

“You think that’s cool, you should see my digs in the Cave of Origin!  I got myself a big ol’ crystal bed, some of my finest statues, carefully cut from the biggest gems you’ll ever see, (I even modeled one after you,) and the hottest magma bath on earth!  That thing’ll burn even the toughest gunk off y-” She stopped.  “Oh, yeah, you’re not magma proof.  Right.  Probably wouldn’t be able to handle being in the same room.”

“Maybe I could get a heat resistant suit,” you suggested.  You’d seen weirder stuff in the hotel mall’s shops.

“Yeah, but I couldn’t fuck you senseless in that.”  She laughed and wrapped her arms around you from behind, the bulging muscles holding you tight against her warm body.

“Yeah, but I could at least admire your handiwork.”  You grin, reaching up to feel over her arms.  “Seeing all the incredible stuff you’ve made for me today, I bet what you’ve got down there is worth showing off.”

“Aw, you’re makin’ me blush!”  With the red armor on her cheeks, it’s hard to tell at a glance.  “I love you, Anon.  You’re a real sweetheart.  It was stupid of us to get jealous of each other over you.  You deserve a statue or two.” 

“I love you too, Groudon.  Your strength, your creativity, your gung-ho attitude…  You’re breathtaking.”

She kissed you on the head, then lifted you up, and set you down on the surprisingly soft sand bed, crawling up in front of you right after. She gently bumped her head against yours, while you rested your hands on her thick thighs.  “I’m not really good with words like Kyogre is, but I want you to know you mean the world to me.  I’d love to spend more time with you, after tonight, whether that’s in the sun, carving up gems, making sand castles, exploring caves…”

“I’d be happy to.”  You give her a hug.

“Speaking of…”  She slipped a claw downward.  “I’ve got a cave you might wanna explore right now.”  She winked.

 

*

 

You sat out on the beach once again, Kyogre on one side, and Groudon on the other.

“Thank you for such a lovely time, Anon dear,” Kyogre said, placing an arm around you.

 

“Yeah, that rocked,” Groudon nodded, patting you on the back.

“No problem, you two were great!”

A smirk crept onto Groudon’s face.  “Do you think you’d like another round?  With both of us?  I’ve got an idea that could kick things up a notch.”

“Sure, I think I’m ready.”  You nodded.

“Alright!”  Groudon cheered.  “I think it’s time to break ‘them’ out.”  She winked at Kyogre.

“What do you mea…?”  Kyogre trailed off, then grinned.  “Oh, you wicked thing!” 

Each one reached out, and with a rumble, the earth spat out a red orb, and the sea washed up a blue orb.  Both began to glow as each legendary Pokémon grabbed them, an omega symbol appearing on the red orb, and an alpha symbol on the blue.  Above you, clouds cleared in one half of the sky, the heat quickly intensifying, while dark clouds and heavy rain formed on the other.

Both of the legendary Pokémon glowed, the markings on their skin and robes turning a bright yellow, their reds and blues becoming darker.  Both growled as they grew taller, stronger, and even bustier, pinnacles of power in feminine form.

The two looked down at you with what could only be described as a primal hunger in their eyes.

 

You had the briefest moment to wonder if you might have bitten off more than you can chew, before the raging sea and the quaking earth are all over you, and each other, the hiss of steam audible around you.


*

 

HisuiHistorian: Amazing, both of the Primal Reversions clashing at once, with Anon in the middle!

HisuiHistorian: I must record this.

Inception_Desk: Totally just for historic purposes, right?

High-N-Dry:  Aw yeah, girl!  Show him your fiery passion!

WetterIsBetter:  Drown Anon in a tidal wave of love, queen!

SeaShoreShelly: Yes, Kyogre, make that cutie yours!

Admin.Courtney: Lady Groudon’s true power… can bring no greater result…  Mission… Complete…!~

Admin.Courtney: …Slurp!~

SeaShoreShelly: …Why is that one word followed by a tilde way creepier coming from you, than hours of your “talk like a robot” gimmick?

WetterIsBetter:  Hey…

High-N-Dry: Wait a sec…

LittlerootChamp:  … Uh, Rena, is there a wiper or something on the Lewdstream camera?

LittlerootChamp: It doesn’t seem like the steam is letting up any time soon.

Inception_Desk: Uh, no…

High-N-Dry: Can you fix it?

WetterIsBetter: Yeah, we’re missing the action!

Inception_Desk: Not right now.   

High-N-Dry: Why not?

Inception_Desk: Do YOU want to get in range of two primal titans who are causing volcanoes and tsunamis to go off?

Admin.Courtney: My sadness… Immeasurable… My night… Ruined…

SeaShoreShelly: Why’d you both have to go and use your ultimate power on Anon at once?

WetterIsBetter:  …Our queen is too strong for her own good.

High-N-Dry: …Groudon’s hotness is overwhelming.

HisuiHistorian: Well, this is rather disappointing.


*

 

As you slowly came to again, and opened your tired eyes, you could feel the firm, warm, supportive land on your left, and the gentle, cool, comforting waves lapping at your right.  You look and see both of the girls clinging to you in their sleep, both back to normal (for them, anyway).

You felt a gentle breeze brush over your face, then looked up to see Rayquaza floating above you, looking far more rested than when you first checked in.

“I must thank you deeply, Anon, for your help tonight.”  She gently brushed a claw along your cheek.

“You’re welcome,” you mumbled.  “...Don’t think I could go another round though…”

She covered her mouth with a claw as she laughed softly.  “Oh, no no, you asked for these two alone tonight, and I will not cheat them, or you, of that pleasure.  I merely wish to share my genuine gratitude to you, love.  It was a relief to see these two finally get along… and to finally rest, myself.” 

She bent down and kissed you on the forehead, a smile creeping up her face.  “That said, should you wish for more… hm hm, passionate thanks, you need only ask, another night.”

“ROOM SERVICE!  KINDA!”  Rena called, causing Kyogre and Groudon to stir.  “In the park, this is more like take out delivery, I guess.”

You looked up to see Rena holding a large, covered platter, Talia following close behind.

“Thanks, I could use some food,” you say, the two legendary Pokémon at your sides slowly sitting up as well.

“You really did it,” Talia said, sighing in relief.  “Thank you so much.”

“Glad to see you’re still in one piece,” Rena said, setting the platter down with both fresh fish and sizzling steak in front of the three of you.

“Hah, Anon’s made of some pretty tough stuff!”  Groudon laughed as she ripped off a piece of steak with her claws.  “He’s everything a gal like me could want.”

“Oh, yes,” Kyogre nodded, taking a bite of salmon off her fork.  “I haven’t had this much fun in centuries.  It was almost enough to make me forget Groudon was here at all.”

“Kyogre…” you groaned.

“I’m joking, Dear.”  She kissed you on the cheek.  “I think I’m starting to understand what you see her.”

“Same for you,” Groudon said between bites.

“Glad to hear it!”  Rena said with a firm nod.  “So, now that we can all get along…  Once you’ve had your meal, how about you two clean up the mess you made in the park before it’s time to wake up, huh?”

Talia, Rena, and Rayquaza all glared at them.

The two legendary Pokémon glance at each other, then at Talia, Rena, and Rayquaza nervously.  They then looked, pleadingly, at you.

“I mean, she does have a point,” you said, looking around at the large ponds and spires that littered the area.  “You might want to apologize to Talia while you’re at it.”


 

After a few hours of watching the two cleaning, followed by more cuddling and playing on the beach, it was finally time to wake up.  Talia thanked you once again as you passed from the park to the hotel, and Kyogre and Groudon followed you back to the entrance, kissing you goodbye.

You crossed the threshold, and woke up in your own bed, but with a couple weights at your side.  You curiously reached down, and find the diamond and pearl.  Still felt a little weird to not get, say, a ruby and sapphire from them, but you weren’t about to complain.

Notes:

Thank you for reading, I hope you enjoyed. This idea grabbed by the shoulders and wouldn't let go until I wrote it down, and I had a fun time making it. I imagine most future chapters will likely be a little more low key than this first one, but hey, starting off big ain't a bad thing.

...I suppose there's an elephant in the room to address, and that's reader requests. Since the original Hotel Fantasia took a lot of reader requests (and gained some of its more enjoyable and unique chapters for it), a natural question is, will I? The answer, unfortunately, is "yes, but not to the same degree as the original." This fic is one of several projects I work on as a hobby, and probably isn't going to be updated NEARLY as often as the original HF was when it started, and I'd hate to disappoint readers by promising a lot of people something I can't deliver on.

That being said, if you want to leave a suggestion for a female character for our reader-insert to date, feel free to. While I likely won't be writing up a full on list of requests like Cecil did, I figure hearing what sorts of things people would like to see wouldn't hurt, and if a suggestion ends up sparking inspiration for a new chapter, that's a win for both of us. Just don't go crazy and list ten plus characters or anything like that, keep in mind that underage characters will be aged up, and Pokemon (and possibly some other non-human characters) will be depicted as either a humanized, Ginjinka, Monster-girl, or anthropomorphic/furry version of themselves.

Again, I'd like to emphasize that this is a suggestion box, not a promise. I tend to get the most writing done when something inspires me, and my imagination can be frustratingly fickle: There are favorite characters of mine I would love to write a chapter for, here, but the ideas just aren't quite solid enough to make one. Don't take it personally if I don't pick one of your suggestions.

Okay, with that warning out of the way, thank you again for reading.

Chapter 2: Sonia Strumm (Mega Man Star Force)

Summary:

Every night for over a year, you dream of Hotel Fantaisa, where you can spend the night with any woman you wish, in any way you wish. Tonight, you've chosen Sonia Strumm, the wave-changing super star from Mega Man Star Force. Let's roll!

Chapter Text

“Anon!  Good evening!”  Rena called, as you stepped into the hotel.

“Oh, you’re here!”  Talia gasped.  She blushed, looking off to the side.

“Good evening, girls.”

“A little late tonight, huh?”  Rena asked, leaning over the desk.  “Something keep you up?”

“Tamako was playing Mega Man Star Force, and wanted me to play through one of the versions along with her so we could set up a Brotherband for the friend bonuses. Our session went longer than I meant to.”

“Of course.  Tamako seems like the kind of girl who understands the benefits of friendship well.”  Rena laughed

Talia looked back at you.  “Did you say Mega Man Star Force?”  She grabbed a pamphlet off the front desk, and opened it in front of you.  “Then I think you might enjoy this.”

You took the pink, star-covered pamphlet, and looked it over.

“It’s for a concert we’re having tonight,” Talia explained.  “A bunch of idols were in the mood to put on a show, and since we’d already set up a little stage in the park, we figured this could be fun for everyone who’d like a little music.  And I heard one of them is from Star Force, too.”

The pamphlet promised performances from a dozen different idol groups and solo acts, some you recognize (including the Squid Sisters and Off the Hook, bringing back memories of many wonderful nights,) and some you don’t.  But at the end of the list is a name you’d seen shortly before bed.

“Sonia Strumm’s here, huh?”  You said, looking up.  “Yeah, she was really sweet.  I wouldn’t mind a chance to see her on stage.”

“You can do more than that, if you like,” Rena said, fingers already at her keyboard.  “Just say the word, and I’ll let her know you’re interested in a date!”

“Are you sure that’s okay?”  You asked.  “I mean, I wouldn’t want to interrupt the concert.”

“That’s really thoughtful of you,” Talia said, clasping her hands together.  “But don’t worry!  The concert won’t last the whole night.  There will be plenty of time for you to spend with her after, and I’m sure she’d enjoy it even more knowing you were watching and waiting for her.”

“When you put it like that, how can I say no?”  You turned to Rena.  “Sure, I’ll request Sonia Strumm tonight.”

“You got it.”  Rena started typing.  “Of course, even if you did want to skip it and get straight to the love-making, I doubt she’d mind.  This is Hotel Fantasia after all; all these idols would gladly drop a concert for a night of rocking and rolling with you.”

Talia nodded slightly.  “There were a lot of songs about meeting ‘the boy of my dreams’ during the rehearsals.  One or two of them even went into…”  She blushed.  “A LOT of detail about what they planned to do with you… or had already done.”

You tried to hide your embarrassment as you recalled the song Pearl had written and performed for you during your last night with her and Marina, which had left even the octoling blushing.  And THAT was going to be played on stage in front of who knows how many other women?

“Aw, don’t act so freaked out, Anon,” Rena stepped around the desk and patted your back.  “Everyone who watches the livestream already heard Pearl’s latest song.”

Your eyes shot wide open.  “That just makes it even more embarrassing!”

“You worry too much.”  Rena gave you a quick kiss.  “The ladies I was chatting with thought it was really hot.”

There came a ping from the computer, and Rena turned to look at it again.  “Yep, sounds like Sonia’s absolutely down to spend the night with you!  Let’s get you a VIP pass.”

She pulled out a little pink ticket, with a large gold star icon, reading “(some of) The Idols of Fantasia: VIP Pass,” and handed it to you.

“Thanks,” you said, putting an arm around Rena, and kissing her.  “Lead the way.”

“Actually,” she said, “I was thinking about letting Talia lead you around the park, since she helped get the project started.  She’s the most familiar with it.”

Talia gasped.  “Really?  Right now?”

“Yeah, if you’re okay with it, Anon.”

You watched as Talia’s eyes darted away from yours, then back, then away again, trying to avoid staring at you.  Despite her best attempts, she couldn’t hide her nervous grin, either.

You smiled.  “Heh, why not?”  You held out a hand toward her.

Talia released the breath she hadn’t realized she was holding, and quickly took your hand.  “Thank you so much Anon, Rena!”

“Have fun out there!”  Rena waved you off.

You found yourself tugged along as Talia giddily rushed toward the back of the hotel with you.  “It’s an honor to finally show you the park, for real!”

She slowed down as she reached the glass doors, opening them up into the park, the sky beyond them bright blue, interrupted by occasional clouds, a pleasant medium between the extremes you’d been dealing with last time. 

“Welcome to Fantasia Park,” Talia said, motioning to the sign on an archway above you reading the same.  “Where you can meet new people, and spend time with those you love.”

You chuckled softly.  “Nice slogan.”

“It’s a work in progress,” she replied with a sheepish smile.  “We’ll figure out something.”

The two of you arrived at the park’s central square.  Without a hurricane or a jagged pillars of earth erupting from the ground to hold your attention, you were able to take in a lot of details you’d missed the first time.  By the entrance was a board with a map of the park, displaying the paths branching off into each of its side areas.  Several benches sat along the edges of the square, with images of flowers, ivy, and other plants etched into their backs.  In the center of the square was a large stone fountain, decorated with four statues of angels, facing north, south, east, and west.  All around, you could see plenty of women relaxing, reading, playing with pets, chatting with each other, or just taking in the atmosphere.

“It looks a lot nicer here today.”

“It took some work,” Talia sighed.  “Kyogre and Groudon cleaned up most of their mess on opening night, but there were still some parts of the gardens that had to be re-planted, and some sculptures and signs that had to be fixed.  I’m relieved that some of the guests volunteered to help out.  Rena got them a generous bonus of hotel credits as thanks.

"That's good to hear."

"She also gave both Kyogre and Groudon a month of dishwasher duty, when you aren't requesting a night with either of them."

The mental image of those two wearing hair nets and pouting in front of a sink overflowing with suds and dirty dishes came to mind.

"Heh, I bet Groudon was especially mad about that!"

Talia giggled.  "Oh, you have no idea!  Rena showed me a picture of the two of them, wearing hairnets in front of a sink and pouting like little kids.”

Talia brought you down a path running through a grassy field.  The wide, green landscape was interrupted by the occasional patch of color wildflowers, and of course, the outdoor stage in the distance. 

"The stage is down this way,” Talia explained.  “Sonia said she'd wanted to meet us halfway, so you’d have some time to chat away from the crowds.”

It wasn’t too long before a slow strumming of could be heard coming from a bench further up the path.  A young woman sat there, holding a yellow guitar and humming as her pick gently plucked at the strings.  Her head, hidden by her pink hoodie, turned to the sound of your voices.

"You made it!"  She called, getting up and setting her guitar on her back.  Her hood flew back as she ran to meet you, revealing her short red hair, deep green eyes, and gleaming smile.  She showed no hesitation in wrapping her arms around you, and pressing her lips to yours.  You quickly found yourself returning the favor.

“Mmm, you’re a good kisser,” Sonia whispered after your lips had parted.  “And you look even cuter in person than in my dreams.”

Looking her up and down, you could see she'd grown up quite a bit since the end of the games, standing just a little shorter than you.  Her large pink hoodie drooped down around her slender frame, almost hiding her bright green shorts from view.  She also wore a pair of knee-high blue boots, and a pair red-and-white-striped fingerless gloves that stretched back to her elbows.

"Thanks," you said, putting an arm around her.  "You're just adorable, yourself."

Out of the corner of your eye, you caught Talia examining the hand you’d been holding on your way here with an expression that seemed to say I’m never washing this again!

Once she saw you looking her way, Talia quickly clasped her hands together.  "You look great together!  I’ll leave you two lovebirds to enjoy yourselves. I'll be looking forward to the concert, though.  Goodbye, and have fun!"

She continued down the path, glancing back at you once or twice, before rushing on ahead.

Sonia ran her hand down your side.  "I've got so many things I wanted to say to you, wanted to do with you, and wanted to show you… I’m having a hard time picking where to start!  Should we get some treats to share?  Or should I tell you all the things that make me happy to see you?  Just take a minute to sit here and enjoy the quiet?  Or maybe I could wave change into Harp Note, and give you a ride you won’t forget?”

“Are you talking about riding the flying note board you used that one time, or riding me?”

She winked.  “Either or.”

"As fun as both of those sound, I don’t want to make us late for the concert.  Maybe start with a song?"  You suggested. 

“Sure!  A little preview wouldn’t hurt.”  She let go of you and pulled her guitar around in front of her again.  “I’d written a bunch of songs based on my dreams about you…  Let’s see…”  She plucked at the strings, letting a few soft notes drift through the air.

"Well well," came an older woman’s voice.  "So this is the boy from your dreams, hm?"

With a sound of crackling electric sparks, a ball of energy, like a pink flame, shot out from the Transer screen on the end of Sonia's custom guitar, causing you to jump back in surprise.  It materialized in the shape of a large lyre, with a feminine face at the bottom.  It soon solidified, its body a metallic blue-gray color, contrasted by the little pink heart symbol above her left eye, and the remaining flames at the ends of the lyre's arms. 

Her green and yellow eyes scanned over you. "I don't quite see the appeal, but I wouldn’t be the best judge of what humans would like."

“Woah!  Uh, hello, Lyra.”  In the excitement of meeting Sonia, you’d almost forgotten about her alien EM-being partner.  “Nice to meet you.”

"Nice to meet you too… Anon, was it?  From what I've heard, you are quite the kind-hearted, loving fellow," Lyra said.  "I hope that’s true. Sonia deserves someone who will love her for who she is as a person, and not just her looks or her idol status.  We’ve had FAR too many boys make that mistake back home, and I can tell you, it doesn’t end well."

"Of course I love her for who she is," you said. “She’s caring, creative, and courageous!  I wouldn’t-”

Sonia’s giggling interrupts you.  “Thank you, Anon.” She gave you a quick kiss on the cheek, then turned to Lyra.  “And thank you too, Lyra.  I know you just want me to be safe, but trust me when I say I trust Anon, okay?”

"Of course, Sonia.  But if he DOES try anything funny without your say-so, call me?" 

“You got it!”  Sonia nodded. 

With that, Lyra zipped back into the guitar. 

Sonia turned back to you.  “Sorry about Lyra, she can get a little protective sometimes.”

“No problem,” you said.  “With how the idol industry can get, I don’t really blame her.”

“Yeah, I love performing for people, but some months it feels like we can’t have one concert without some crazy fan- Oh, I almost forgot about the concert!”  She looked back at the screen on her guitar.  “Aw, not enough time left for a quick solo.  But we can still get there before the opening act.”  She held your hand, smiling as the two of you walked down the path.

*

You could see more women on the path the closer you got to the stage.  Quite a few smiled or waved at you as you passed, others blushed and looked away nervously.  Thankfully, everyone respected Rena's rule against disrupting your dates.

A huge crowd had formed around the stage by the time you’d arrived, but your pass had given you a chance to skip the line, and the roomy VIP seating area featured a wide, comfy couch, with more than enough room for you and several girlfriends. 

You could hear whispers in the members of the crowd nearest you; comments like “lucky girl,” “I hope he looks this way,” or “even hotter in person.”

Sonia laughed as she sat beside you, putting an arm around you as she gently leaned in.

"It’s fun to be the center of attention sometimes, isn't it?"  Sonia whispered to you.

"Yeah, but… it’s a lot to take in.  It still feels kinda weird to me," you mumbled, as your eyes darted to the dozens of girls around you.  “I’m not exactly a celebrity back home.”

"I guess I’ve just gotten used to it.  It helps when you know the crowd really does love you.  And take it from me, this crowd?  They really, REALLY love you!"  She leaned in even closer, speaking softly.  “I should know.  I love you more than anything, Anon.”

She kissed you once again, letting your tongue slip into her mouth and meet hers.  Gasps, and “ooohs” (and one cry of “WOO!  GIVE IT TO ANON, GIRL!”) filled the air.

You couldn’t help but blush at the voices around you.  “Uh, I love you too, Sonia.”

“Don’t worry,” she said, “once the concert starts, they won’t be paying much attention to us.”

“Uh, speaking of,” you said.  “Shouldn’t you be getting back stage?"

"I've got one of the last performances of the show.  Which means I can stick around and watch the opening acts with you!"

She rested her head on your shoulder, as you put an arm around her.

The stage lights came on, and you watched as, one after the other, idols of all kinds stepped on the stage and sang their hearts out.  Sonia had been right, the crowd of cheering fans turned their attention to the spectacle on stage, leaving you time to appreciate the idol in your arms.  The two of you cuddled, took turns feeding each other treats, and whispered praises of each other (and occasionally the songs), as the performance went on.

"You've got a wonderful smile," Sonia said, stroking your cheek while the blue haired android girl on stage took a bow.  "And dreamy eyes.  You’re so gentle and considerate.  I just feel… safe, being with you.”

"YOU feel safe?"  You chuckled.  "Don’t sell yourself short.  I'm not the one that’s tangled with alien invaders!”

“I’m pretty sure Susie Haltmann would argue with that.” Sonia laughed.  “But that’s not what I mean.  When I’m with you, I don’t feel like I have to be the perfect idol all the time.  I can relax, and show other sides of myself.”

“Such as?”  Before Sonia could respond, a familiar Inkling voice rang through the speakers.

“Fantasia Park, are you ready?  Off the Hook is comin’ at you live!”

You looked up at the stage, where you saw both Pearl and Marina wink at you, before continuing their introduction.

Sonia sat up.  “Oh, my act’s right after this!  I need to get backstage soon!”  She gave you a tight hug and a kiss, then got up.  “I’ll see you again real soon!”

“Break a leg!”  You called to her, as she ran out of sight. 

You looked back at the stage, hearing the music start up.  ‘Real Soon’ couldn’t come soon enough.  But at least Off the Hook’s fresh beats would be there for you in the meantime.

Then you heard the opening notes, and recognized the luridly lewd lyrics Pearl had composed about your latest love-making sessions.  You braced yourself for the embarrassment to come.

*

At least Marina had apparently convinced Pearl to tone down the song a little since it had initially been performed for you. 

Still, even with the toned-down version, you saw that at least three members of the audience had fainted before Off the Hook took their bows… worryingly, that another handful of girls had been vigorously taking notes the whole time. 

You felt some relief to see Sonia step on stage, smiling and waving to the crowd, her green eyes eagerly fixing on you for just a moment.

“Thanks for coming, everyone!  Are you all having a good time?”

Loud cheers erupted from the crowd.

“Great!  I’m Sonia Strumm, and it’s an honor to be the final act tonight!  I’ve never had an audience like this before, and I bet every idol here feels the same way.  Seeing all your smiling faces really makes my night! Now, let’s rock!”

Sonia grabbed her guitar, her fingers flying along the strings, as she started to sing to a very familiar beat.  

In the dark of the night, when I was all alone,

I thought that all was lost, until a light had shone.

My nightmares gone, all chased away, by your bright smile!

I knew right then and there, you were the one for me,

The boyfriend of my dreams, cute and kind as could be!

With you here, I know I’ll face my fear, with style!

By your side, I finally feel whole,

even, when life’s a mess,

By your side, my dreams feel so real now,

Like I, can just reach out, and grab my success!

Yes it’s true, I love you,

With a love that crosses between the stars,

Ride the wave, time for us to be brave,

Reach out together, and make the bright night sky ours

Even as she played, Sonia moved with an energy the game’s sprites had never conveyed, dancing this way and that to the beat. 

When Sonia’s act drew to a close, the idol took a bow, to wild applause.  She was soon joined by the other idols for the curtain call.

After the others had taken their bows, Sonia stepped forward.  “Thank you all so much for coming!  You’ve all been a wonderful audience!  But before we go, there’s something I want to say.  Let me just get changed first…”  She held up her guitar.

“EM wave change!  Sonia Strumm, on the air!  Transcode 04!  Harp Note!”

Lyra leapt out of Sonia’s guitar and began to glow bright red, a heart shape glowing the same color appearing on Sonia’s chest as her body lifted into the air.  Her whole outfit shifted, black tights covered her body, while her hoodie and shorts were replaced by a red dress bearing the same heart emblem that floated in front of her.  A red helmet formed over her head as her hair turned blonde underneath it, and a white scarf appeared around her neck, the ends of it trailing behind her.  Lyra merged with the guitar, its colors changing to match the EM being’s while her face appeared on the headstock.

Harp Note opened her eyes, and with a quick strum of her guitar, formed a hoverboard in the shape of a pair of linked eighth notes beneath her, which she dropped down onto.

She let the audience have a moment to utter their “oohs” and “ahs” before speaking again.

“I’d just like to take a moment to give a certain someone some special thanks.”

She surfed over the crowd to you, and reached down to take your hand.  You reached back, and she helped lift you onto the board, then raised your hand into the air with hers.

“Let’s hear a round of applause for our guest of honor, and, as of tonight, my boyfriend: Anon!”

Cheers, gasps, and clapping erupted all at once throughout the audience as she pulled you into a kiss.  And you were pretty sure you could hear at least one cry of “WHAAAT?” in there, as well.

“Love you, Anon…”  She said, dreamily gazing into your eyes, before turning her attention back to the fans.  “It’s been great fun tonight, and I hope you all enjoy the rest of your evenings!  Be sure to catch the Lewdstream later tonight if you’d like to see more of me and our special guest!”

She winked to the audience and held you tight as the board took off into the sky.  You watched as the stage, the crowd, the cheers, and the ground all drifted further and further away.

“What a view…”  You said, looking at the world drifting past you below, then back at Harp Note.  “...That was one way to make an exit.”

“You don’t think it was overkill or anything, did you?”  Her eyes darted away for a second.  “I was really excited to tell everyone we were dating, but now that it’s over, I’m worried it’ll look like I’m just bragging and rubbing it in their faces.”

“It didn’t feel like you were bragging to me.”  You assured her, patting her on the back.  “Though it did surprise me.”

She smiled sheepishly.  “Sorry to put you on the spot like that.  I just knew that I’d never get a chance to share my love for you like that back home, since I’ve got to look ‘available’ to the fans, so I jumped at the chance here.”

“It’s fine, Sonia,” you told her.  “Though, now that I think about it, you kinda ended up flipping that to me, instead.”

Her eyes shot wide open.  “Oops…”

You gave her a quick peck on the cheek.  “Don’t worry about it, like you said, you were just excited.”

“Thank you,” she nodded.  “Plus, you’re still available to all your fans on other nights.”

A part of you still felt guilty, knowing that so many girls waited here for you each night in the hope that they might see you.  But you’d had that conversation with Rena before, and you didn’t want to ruin the mood here.

“Yep,” you nodded.  “Tonight it’s just you and me.  I’m not gonna blame you for wanting to tell people.  Heh, if it weren’t for the fact that nobody back home would believe me, I’d want to tell all my friends how wonderful you are!”

“You’re so sweet!”  She giggled, then let out a happy sigh.  “This is what I meant earlier, about feeling safe with you.  I can be honest with you, and you still love me.  I love being an idol, I love the excitement and the crowds!  Hearing people tell me my music brightened their day is one of the best feelings, ever!  I want to inspire the people who listen to me to enjoy themselves and be the best person they can.  But I can’t be the happy, energetic, perfect idol all the time.  Sometimes I need a shoulder to cry on, sometimes I get angry, or tired, or worried I messed something up.  I’m so happy to have a boyfriend that’ll love all of me, not just the me I show on stage.”

“Of course!  You’re only human. I’m happy you trust me like that.”

The two of you went quiet, taking in the atmosphere of the park as you flew over the woods, watching the guests hiking below, in between the breaks in the deep green canopy. Off in the distance was the beach, with an ocean that stretched out as far as your eye could see, a mountain capped with snow, an arid desert, and… was that a river of lava in a distant corner?  Guess they really did have something for everyone here.

The smooth, gentle ride on the floating notes brought you closer to the hotel, stretching up endlessly into the sky just as it did when you entered each night.  Was the park not visible through the void if you didn’t come in the “right way,” or was this whole place its own pocket dimension, the way some of the girls’ rooms seemed to be?  Then again, this was a dream world, and the infinite hotel apparently had a top floor.  There were some questions you’d likely never get answers for.

As you flew nearer the hotel, you felt a strong, tingly sensation where you were holding on to Sonia.  When it faded, you saw oddly familiar floating translucent-yellow platforms floating in the air around the hotel.

“Are those wave roads?”  You asked.

“Yep!”  Sonia nodded.  “The hotel’s wi-fi isn’t as strong or advanced as the networks back in Electopia, but it’s got enough bandwidth to make for a nice boardwalk.  And it doesn’t have nearly as many viruses, either.  It can even take us up and down through the hotel floors without having to wait for the elevator!”

The note board slowed down and drifted slightly above the road, allowing you and Sonia to step off onto it. 

"Is it safe for me to stand on these?"

"Well, after you've been in contact with me and the road at the same time, you should be in a wave-state until I pulse us out.  But if you're worried, you can keep holding my hand while we walk back."

"How lewd!"  You mock-gasp.  "Who would have thought that wholesome pop star and superhero Harp Note would force a poor young man into something so perverse!”

She stepped off the board and onto the road, holding onto you as you did the same.  The board dissipated into specks of light with the sound of a lyre being plucked. 

You followed the wave road back into the hotel lobby together, as invisible to the people below as the radio waves you were standing on.  Though, to your surprise, you weren't the only ones up here.  A number of female net navis, AI, and even some monster girls of the digital variety were going to and fro, busily delivering messages, pictures, and zipped-up packages.  Those that noticed you raised their eyebrows or blinked to make sure they weren’t seeing things, apparently never expecting to see you up here in their side of the hotel, before quickly continuing on with their jobs, with a renewed effort to look as professional as possible.

“Never thought I’d see the hotel like this before,” you said.  “Since this road is basically the hotel’s Wi-Fi, does that mean we could take it anywhere?  To any room?”

“We can go almost anywhere the wi-fi’ll reach…”  Sonia said.  “If you have the right password.  Mine can only get us into my room and the public areas like the shop, though.  So don’t get any funny ideas about peeping into the other girls’ rooms when they’re not expecting you!"

As you passed above Rena’s desk, you saw a small, glowing digital signboard floating above it.  The sign suddenly grew as you approached, displaying the contents of her screen; the comment section of one of her latest works on AO3.

AceForensics On Sleep With The Fishes

Well, combining mermaids with a Mafia AU was a unique idea, and I like seeing an Anon/Reader ship where the girl rescues him, it’s a nice change of pace, and makes for a great pun.  But that’s about where the praise ends. 

The Mafia would run out of targets real fast if it only took three missed protection payments to resort to fitting a guy like Anon with cement shoes…  Which, scientifically speaking, a fish tail likely wouldn’t be strong enough to break.  Even if it was, our Mermaid!Reader would probably be too injured by the attempt to swim Anon back to land, much less fuck him afterward. 

Plus, the narration is loaded with purple prose; if I have to break out a thesaurus to figure out what Anon’s lips taste like, it’s kind of a mood killer.  And seriously, even in an AU, Anon would never say “The dark pools in your eyes are deeper and more beautiful than the sea itself.”

Again, there’s a lot of potential, but there’s a long way to go, too.

And below that comment, a reply.

ElegantStrategist On Sleep With The Fishes

I cannot allow you to besmirch InceptionDesk’s work like this!  Her exquisite prose elevates the experience of the reader-insert!  Where other authors would lower themselves to the vulgar language of our time, she strives to emulate the noble speech of old.  Where other authors would limit themselves to the disappointing constraints of reality, she brings us excotic sexual escapades we can only dream of (even if we aren’t to assume Mermaids simply have superhuman strength and durability in this world)!  And yes, Anon may not USUALLY speak that way, but with fics like these, we can explore the idea of a relationship with him in an entirely different light.  His attempts to sound romantic might come off as “trying too hard” but to some, that is precisely the appeal!   You simply need to approach these works of art with an open mind!

“Anon,” Sonia tugged gently at your arm, “AO3 can be fun, but try not to get too distracted by the internet fics on our date, okay?”

“Right!  Sorry about that!”  You nodded, following her lead to a glowing panel just above the elevator.

“Going up!”  She pulled you onto the panel with her.  “Floor 2215!”

Your body tingled as the world turns white around you, before exploding into a rush of color.

DING-DONG!

When your vision clears, you find yourself still on the wave road, in one of the hotel’s upper floors.

“The teleporter says “ding-dong” too?” 

“Like Rena says, it’s iconic.”

The two of you followed the road into Sonia’s room, and were pulsed back to the ground.  The walls were painted a soft pink, and decorated with posters featuring a couple music bands and shows like “TK Music” which you guessed were musicians that had inspired Sonia.  There was a small table, a large bed with a heart shape on the sheets, a red bean bag chair, a small kitchen area in the corner, and a desk with a computer, a microphone, and other pieces of audio equipment. 

“Welcome to my room!” Sonia said, back to her usual, red-headed self.  “Take a seat, and make yourself at home.”

You took her offer, and sat down on the bed, resting your legs after the ride to get here.  “So, what would you like to do next?”

“Welllll…”  Sonia grinned mischievously from across the room.  “I was thinking about showing you another side of me that most of my fans never will!”

In one swift motion, she’d lifted up her hoodie over her head, and tossed it in a wad right into your face with a playful laugh.  By the time you could see again, her bare arms were already reaching around you.

“The cute, innocent idol has a sexy side, too!”

*

“That was incredible, Anon,” Sonia whispered under the covers beside you.  Her hand stroked your chest, while your fingers ran through her hair.

“You were amazing yourself, Sonia.”  You kissed her on the forehead.  “I love you so much.”

“I love you too, Anon.”  She kissed your neck, then took a breath, and stretched.  “I’m gonna make us a snack!”

“Heh, sure our last snacks weren't enough?  I enjoyed mine, and you seemed to like yours, too.”

“Oh hush!”  She waved you off, stepping out of bed and into the bathroom.  “You know what I mean.”

After the sound of a quick shower, Sonia stepped out in a set of pink pajamas, still featuring a hood, though this one featured a set of bunny ears on top.

“You sure you don’t wanna get Rena’s room service?”  You asked, sitting up.

“We’ll get some later.”  She pulled out a pan, a bag of flour, and some other ingredients from the kitchen counter.  “I just want to cook up something for my handsome boyfriend myself.”

You hugged her from behind.  “Heh, an idol, a hero, great in bed, and a cook!  I’m lucky to have such a multi-talented girlfriend.”

“Well, I wouldn’t call myself a master chef, music’s my greatest passion…”  She turned back and gave you a kiss.  “Besides you, of course, but I really love cooking too.  And I’ve been told I make a good crepe.”

“Would you like a hand?”

“From you?  Of course.”  She giggled.  “Though you might want to take a shower get some clothes first.”

*

As you helped Sonia make (and eat) crepes, the two of you chatted about your musical interests and inspirations, your hobbies, and your jobs. Eventually the topic had turned to your families.

She set down her fork, frowning.  “After all this time, I still miss Mama.  She was… still is, one of the biggest inspirations for my songs.  Even now, I sometimes imagine she’s listening from heaven when I compose a new piece.”

You gently set your hand on hers from across the table, and her fingers slowly lock with yours.

“Thanks, Anon…”  she looked up at you.  “Anon…  I’m so happy to have you.  Someone caring and dependable.  Someone who always does his best to BE THERE for the people he loves.  If we ever have kids, I know you’ll be a good father to them.”

“Sonia, I…”

“Sorry, maybe that’s too much for the first date.”  She blushed, her eyes looking misty.

“No, it’s alright.  You said you felt safe showing me other sides of yourself.  I’m still happy you trust me enough to tell me.”

“Thank you…”  She wiped her eyes.  “I’m so glad you’re my boyfriend.  I’m thankful for Lyra, and my friends back home, but I’ve really wanted to be a part of a family again for so long.”

“And I’m thankful you’re my girlfriend.”  You lean over and kiss her, the taste of the sweet syrup on her crepes still lingering in her mouth.  “If it’ll help you feel any better, why not tell me a bit about your friends back home?”

She smiled, her eyes glancing up as she recalled.  “Well, there’s Bud, he might look like a bully, (especially when Taurus wave changes him,) but he’s actually pretty nice when you get to know him.  He helped us out a lot back when we were dealing with Dealer.  And then there’s Belle, who I’ve been working with for years after we worked together WBG…”

*

The two of you sat in the bean bag chair, gently leaning on each other while Sonia strummed on her guitar, back in her Heart Note guise.  The guitar, enhanced by Lyra’s power, became able to mimic the sound of any stringed instrument, allowing Sonia’s music to go from a gentle guitar, to a lively lute, to a harmonious harp, and more, all while Sonia sang, and Lyra provided a chorus.

The most recent song, focusing on the soothing sounds of a harp, accompanied by Lyra’s gentle chanting, had been unbelievably relaxing.  It had been so easy to just lean back, cuddle up to Sonia, and listen to the music, while the whole world just seemed to fade away, until it was just you, her, and the song.

“ROOM SERVICE!  Sorry it took a while; the girl next door had ordered a ton of ice cream.”

Rena’s call snapped you back to reality…  Well, the reality of this dream world, anyway.

“Thanks Rena,” you said, grabbing a bite, while Sonia did the same.

“Hope I wasn’t interrupting you,” Rena said.  “That was some really chill music.  I didn’t know you could do that instrument-changing thing.”

On the end of Sonia’s guitar, Lyra smiled.  “I’d be a pretty poor musician if the only thing I brought to the table were notes loud enough to blow out our foes’ eardrums, and the ability to bind someone in guitar strings.”

Sonia nodded.  “Yeah, we just never got an opportunity to show it off.  Evil EM beings aren’t really interested in hearing a one-girl-band, and I’m not gonna give away my secret identity on stage just to let my fans hear a song I could only play as Harp Note.”  She gave you another kiss.  “Just one more reason I’m happy to have a boyfriend I can share it with.”

“Yes, especially one who can properly appreciate good music when he hears it,” Lyra added.  “And knows how to treat a lady properly.”

“Mind if I stick around and listen in for a song?”  Rena asked.  “I had to help deal with a big clean up in the cafeteria while the concert was going on.”

“Oh not at all, dear,” Lyra said.

“I’m fine if Anon doesn’t mind,” Sonia added.

“Sure,” you said, motioning the kitsune girl to come closer.

“So Sonia…” Rena said, sitting down.  “I don’t suppose you’ve started composing any songs about your night with Anon, have you?  I wouldn’t mind hearing one with some juicy details!”

Sonia smirks.  “Well…”

You buried your head in your hands, bracing for the embarrassment to come.

*

You and Sonia spent a few hours more playing, chatting, cuddling, love-making, and enjoying her music, but eventually, the night drew to a close.  Sonia accompanied you to the hotel entrance, giving you one last kiss just before you stepped out into the waking world.

When you got up, you found Sonia’s bra in your hand, and an extra, unused condom in your pocket.  Looking up at your phone, you also noticed an odd text message on it.

You formed a Brotherband with Sonia Strumm!  You gained 60 Link Points!  You got the Link Abilities Undershirt and First Barrier!

Chapter 3: Humanized Rayquaza (Pokemon)

Summary:

Every night for over a year, you dream of Hotel Fantaisa, where you can spend the night with any woman you wish, in any way you wish. Tonight, you've chosen a monster girl Rayquaza, the Sky High Pokémon. What flights of fancy will you go on?

This chapter was requested by TheRealPapaScorch back on chapter one. Guess he wanted to appreciate the atmosphere.

Chapter Text

Talia’s eyes lit up when she saw you enter the park square.  “Good evening, Anon!”  She ran up to meet you.  “How are you doing?  Anything I can help you with tonight?” 

“Hi there, Talia,” you said.  “I was hoping to meet Rayquaza.  Rena told me she was hanging out here tonight?”

“Yeah!  She’s at the Sparring Grounds right now.  I’ll show you the way!”  She took your hand.  “She’s gonna be so excited!  Every time I’ve seen her since opening night, she talked about how much she wanted to see you again.”

“Yeah, I had a hard time keeping her out of my head, too.”  You nodded, as she led you down a new path.  “That confident, dignified way she carried herself, those yellow eyes that felt like she could see right through me, not to mention that even under those robes, you can tell she had to be at least a-”

You caught sight of Talia glancing down at her chest self-consciously, and decided to leave that sentence unfinished, for now.

“I figured I shouldn’t keep her waiting too long,” you continued. “So, the Sparring Grounds?”

“Yeah, it was one of the big requests.  We have a lot of warriors and fighters here, after all.  A lot of them are fine spending their nights here relaxing, but we’ve always got a few that want to put in extra time training, or test their strength against others, so we set aside an area for them.  It’s gotten pretty popular with Pokémon and their trainers, too.”

The two of you passed under a wooden archway, carved to look like a pair of crossed swords, the area around the path beyond lined with wooden training dummies, and several flat, concrete courts.  Already you could see half a dozen fights going on; a woman dressed in stereotypical black ninja robes narrowly dodging the punches and kicks of another woman in a white gi and black belt, a pair of fully-armored knights parrying each other’s practice blades, and more, quite a few of which you already recognized (Miyu was holding her own against Urbosa quite well considering she was unarmed).  There were even pairs of Pokémon girls battling, their trainers shouting out battle tactics and cheers of encouragement.

One or two of the fighters seemed to notice you as you passed them, and began firing off flashier, eye-catching techniques on their opposition in the hopes of getting your attention.

"There’s so many amazing fighting styles to see here, aren't there?  These women must have put years into practicing!  They make it all look so easy and natural."

A punk girl in one court saw you looking her way, and, with a grin, went for a wide, spinning kick.  Unfortunately for her, it left her wide open to a quick body-blow from her opponent’s boxing glove.

Talia winced at the sight.  "I don’t think I’d ever want to get into any kind of combat myself, though."

"Yeah, I'm not exactly a fighter, either.  But it's fun to watch."  You looked around.  "So, where's Rayquaza?"

"She's in the colosseum.”  She pointed to a large, circular amphitheater in the distance.  “It’s made specially for the extra-powerful fighters, so they can use their spar without risking the other guests."

The colosseum had a distinct Greco-Roman aesthetic, and stood three stories high.  Surrounding the outer walls were statues of women with Amazonian physiques, armed with spears, swords, shields, and other melee weapons, some clad in full plate armor, others in chainmail bikinis, and a few in the nude.

But it was hard to focus on the architecture, when shimmering ripples of psychic energy, flashes of light, balls of shadow, and beams of ice kept shooting out above the stadium.

“It looks like she’s right in the middle of her match!”  Talia said.  “Hurry!  We might still have time to catch it!”

She broke into a run, and led you through the open arch and up a set of stairs, into the colosseum’s seating area, protected by a thick glass wall.  It was crowded, but you didn’t need front row seats to get a clear view of the two women clashing in midair.

Rayquaza moved through the air with speed and grace, her green robes billowing behind her.  The yellow markings trailing down her body, from the top of her head, to her trailing serpentine tail, glowed brighter as she reared back.  A mass of purple light formed in her mouth, which flew out with a roar, the pulse taking the shape of a dragon’s head as it soared toward its target.

Her opponent nimbly moved out of the pulse’s way.  Most of the woman’s skin was dark gray, though her head was a bright orange color, with a circle of pale blue around her face, and a purple line between her eyes.  A crystal in her chest softly glowed the same shade of purple.  She was a deoxys, in her speed form, if her thin frame, and the way she seemed to dart from one end of the arena to the other in seconds was any indication.

Powerful projectiles flew across the arena.  Rayquaza’s flexible form elegantly weaved between psychic blasts and beams of ice, returning fire with pulses of draconic energy and gale force winds, but the deoxys’s blistering speed meant her attacks only hit fading afterimages.  For all their power and agility, neither one could even land a glancing blow on the other.

“This is so cool!”  Talia said.  “I never get to see battles as crazy as this back home!”

“Tell me about it,” you replied.  “I mean, I’ve seen them on TV, and in games, but watching it right in front of me is something else.  Even if it gets kinda hard to keep track of.”

Rayquaza stopped, seeming to take a moment to catch her breath and focus, as the deoxys woman continued to dash in circles around her.  Steeling herself, she reared back for one more attack. 

This time, the pulse of energy struck true, and the audience gasped when it seemed to blow the deoxys woman’s arm clear off.  The deoxys winced, and slowed down, but seemed unfazed.  Of course, a deoxys could regenerate from almost anything as long as their crystal cores were intact. Her body glowed brightly as she tried to recover her lost mass.  Rayquaza rushed in to land a knockout blow, but her foe had healed faster than expected, the regenerated arm firing a beam of ice straight at her.  Rayquaza's body froze, and she dropped to the ground below with a crash.

A gong rang, finishing the match.  The deoxys woman drifted gently down to the ground.

“We gotta get down there!”  You shouted.

“She’s gonna be fine,” Talia reassured you.  “The Pokémon girls always bounce back quickly, especially the legendary ones.  But I'll get you down there.  I’m sure seeing you will help warm her up!”

When you’d gotten around the craters left in the arena’s floor, you found Rayquaza curling up, shivering.  A Nurse Joy, whose red hair was styled to resemble a pair of fins above her ears, attended to her, gently laying her hands on Rayquaza’s back. 

Rayquaza still had a frustrated frown when she turned your way, but she smiled faintly as she saw you.  “Anon!  It is good to see you again!”  The nurse’s hands glowed, and Rayquaza stopped shivering, took a deep breath, and set herself upright.  “I am sorry you had to see this.  It’s a shame that once again, I cannot meet you at my best.”

“Indeed, you did not bring your best,” a voice, with an accent unlike anything you’ve heard, ‘spoke’ directly into your mind.  “That was the problem.”

Rayquaza sighed and closed her eyes, her head hanging a little lower.

You turned and saw the deoxys woman, her lean, gray speed form gone, replaced with her base form's orange color and modest, balanced figure.

“Do you think I couldn’t handle your true power?”  She demanded.  “I had heard the stories.  You were supposed to be a force beyond compare!  Where was that strength?  Why do you insult me?  This victory proves nothing!”

Rayquaza went from looking disappointed to confused.  “I have known many that handled losing poorly.  But this is my first experience with one who cannot accept a win with grace.”

“Yeah,” you spoke up.  “You won the battle; you should be happy.”

“Oh, Anon!”  The deoxys said, her tone softening when she noticed you.  “This is embarrassing.  To think, he saw me only able to win due to my opponent handicapping herself.”

You blinked.  “What are you talking about?”

“She refused to use her Mega Evolution!  She thought I couldn’t handle it.”

Rayquaza laughed.  “Is that what this was about?”  She shook her head.  “I have not used that form in centuries.  It took the prayers of an entire clan of loyal followers to find the strength to achieve that evolution.  Please, pardon me, I meant no offense, I simply cannot use that power on my own.”

The deoxys was quiet for a moment, before she ‘spoke’ again.  “I apologize.  I’m too hasty, sometimes.”

“I told you physical attacks were a better idea,” the nurse whispered to Rayquaza. 

Rayquaza ignored her, and turned back to you.  “Forgive our interruption.  What brings you here, Anon?  Were you simply enjoying the spectacle while spending time with that lovely young tree spirit?”

Talia blushed beside you.

“Or,” Rayquaza continued, “were you here to see one of the fighters?”

“I was here to see you, actually.”

Rayquaza leapt up from her coiled position, her body hovering in the air once again.  “Do you mean that?  You are not simply showing me pity after my loss, are you?”

“Nope!” Talia stepped up.  “He was really excited to see you, and loved watching your fight.  He was really worried when you got frozen, too.”

Rayquaza smiled.  “Oh, was he?”  She floated over to you, and you nodded.  You opened your mouth to say more, but found her lips on yours before you could say anything.  Unlike the battle you’d watched, her kiss was slow, and her movements deliberate, savoring every moment until the very end.

“I would tell you there was no need to worry, but your concern for others is one of the things I love about you.”  She gently stroked your cheek.

“It seems you are the true winner this night, after all,” the deoxys said.  "Treat him well, and don't hold back on him."  She shifted back into her speed form, and disappeared.

"I should get going, too," Talia said.  "Keep Anon safe while you’re flying, okay?  Also, Rena wanted me to remind you, we have harnesses for sale at the shop if you need them."

Rayquaza waved dismissively.   "Your concern is understandable, but I am quite capable of flying safely with humans.  You can ask May."

"No, no, Rena trusts you to keep Anon safe.  She just figured that some people were into that.” 

Rayquaza rolled her eyes, but smiled.

Talia giggled, and waved goodbye.  “See you later!"

"See you."  You turned back to Rayquaza.  "So, you wanna go back to your room?  I’m ready when you are."

She looked at your pants.  “You certainly are, aren’t you?  Hm, and I did promise to thank you a little more intimately, didn't I, love?"  There was a playful glint in her eye as she spoke, and she slowly traced the back of her claw down your shirt, then pulled away.  “However, that battle has left me weary…”

“I can help pick you up with another heal pulse,” the nurse suggested.

She waved the nurse away.  “Thank you dear, but that won’t be necessary.”  She looked back at you.  “This is twice now, that you meet me while I’m exhausted.  As much as I wish to show you the depths of my love for you, I don’t want our first time together to be anything less than perfect.  I simply need a little time to refresh myself, so I can give you my all.”

“Uh, sure,” you said, surprised (and maybe a little disappointed) by her answer.  “If you need a little time by yourself first, I-”

“Oh, no love, nothing like that.”  You felt the end of her tail slowly wrapping around your waist.  “I have waited ages to spend a night with you, and I have no intention of missing a moment of it.”  She leaned in closer.  “Tell me, Anon; have you ever wished to fly?”

“...Yes.”

Her tail tightened around you.  “Then I shall grant your wish!”

You felt your feet gently lifted off the ground, while Rayquaza’s long tail looped carefully around your lower body two more times, firm enough to keep you from slipping, yet gentle enough that it wasn’t uncomfortable.  You steadily bobbed in midair as she held you close to her.

“Hold tight, love.”  She said, positioning you behind her, letting you wrap your arms around her, as she started to steadily rise higher.  Her speed slowly picked up as she climbed further and further up.  You found yourself reflexively clinging tighter.

“Mmm, your touch is so warm,” she murmured.  Now that she mentioned it, her body felt much cooler than yours.

The two of you kept speeding up, the ground getting further and further away.  You could feel the air rushing past you.  You looked down, seeing the world become big patches of land and distant dots below, before you passed through a layer of clouds, popping out a minute later.  Your clothes felt a little damp, but the warmth from the sun kept it from feeling too chilly. 

A white, fluffy field was spread out around you, and above you, the bright blue sky was interrupted only by the sun, and the hotel stretching up without end.  If you didn’t know better, you’d be tempted to plop down into the soft, inviting clouds like a giant bed.

Rayquaza turned back to look at you.  “Amazing, isn’t it, love?  So quiet, so calm.  And even if it is a little cold up here, you can enjoy the feeling of the sun right on your skin.”  Sigh leisurely stretched out her arms and the end of her tail, being careful to maintain a firm grip on you.

“It’s beautiful,” you agreed, giving her a quick kiss.  “But not as beautiful as you.  Especially with the way your hair billows in the wind up here.  Or how your eyes shine like the sun, or…  I'm trying too hard, aren't I?”

She laughed.  “Not at all.  Thank you, Anon.  A goddess cannot help but enjoy a little praise.”  She gently pulled your arms off from around her waist, and carefully turned her upper body around, making sure to keep you comfortable and upright.  She reached for your hands, lacing her clawed fingers between yours.  “And I am honored to have the affection of such a wonderful young man.  One with such charming eyes, and a smile that makes my heart flutter, to say nothing of an alluring body."

You opened your mouth to respond, but Rayquaza put a finger to your lips.  "You aren't about to tell a lady, much less a goddess, that she has poor taste, are you?"

You shook your head.  “No ma'am!  Thank you for the compliments, ma’am!”

“And, you can be funny too.”  She chuckled.  "I am so very grateful you are not afraid of heights."

"I trust you," you said, patting along the surprisingly smooth surface of her tail.  "You've got a pretty good grip." 

It didn't hurt that the clouds kept you from seeing how far you were from the ground, either.

As you continued to stroke her tail, you couldn't help but notice something.

"You're still so cold."

"Yes," she nodded.  "Sorry, love, we dragon types have a difficult time keeping warm.  Even up here, right under the sun, it can take some time."

You grinned.  “Well, I don’t mind helping you warm up.”  You hugged her tight.

“I planned to simply bask in the sun.  But if you insist, Anon!”  She gave you another kiss, and wrapped her arms tightly around you, and you soon felt more and more of her tail wrapping all over you.  Her body was still cool, and you felt yourself getting goosebumps, but between your body heat and the sun’s rays, that was slowly changing.  In the meantime, you could take in her lovely face, as you floated above the clouds.  More than enough to make up for the cold.

After several minutes in her embrace, the yellow markings over Rayquaza’s body glowed softly.  She took a deep breath as she felt energy returning to her once again.

“Thank you very much, love,” she said, releasing you from her hug, though keeping her tail’s grip on you firm. 

“No problem.  I couldn’t just let you freeze, could I, Ray?"  You paused.  “Uh, can I call you ‘Ray?’”

“I don’t mind at all, Love,” she said, gently scratching your back.

You looked around, recalling how the Pokédex described Rayquaza going centuries without coming down to earth.  "You spend most of your time up in the sky like this, don't you?"

She nodded.  “I was tasked with ensuring the balance of my world’s weather, and with stopping falling meteors from endangering life below.  I am to be the first line of defense.  I cannot do that very well from the ground, can I?”

 “No. I guess not.”  You slowly stroked the coils holding you.  Do you ever get bored up here?”

“Mother made me a very difficult Pokémon to bore.  Still, while stopping meteors, preventing the worst cases of extreme weather, and breaking up the occasional fight with my siblings are important responsibilities, there are rather long periods of waiting between them.  If I feel it is safe, I may return to observe the surface, but often, I must keep watch above.  So, I have taken up a few hobbies.  For example, cloud sculpting."

"Cloud sculpting?  That sounds neat.  Want to show me?"

"I would love to!  It may be more difficult with my tail occupied; I would usually use it to help mold the clouds directly.  But I still have the winds at my command.  I will start with something simple."

You felt the wind pick up below you, in multiple directions.  The clouds shifted, swirling around, and clumping together.   Random fluff slowly took shape.

"Heh, it looks like a heart,” you remarked.  “That's pretty cool!"

“Thank you, Anon.  Let me see if I can get more creative…”

You watched as the wind blew again, reshaping the clouds once more.

“That one kinda looks like a Pokéball…  And that one looks like a bird.”

“What about this one?”  She pointed to a longer one, round on top, with four branches.

“A human, I think?”

“Yes, good, my skills haven’t waned!”  She smiled to herself.

You saw more clouds pad onto the first adding extra features you couldn’t make out. A second person-ish cloud formed beside it, though the second one lacked legs.  It looked like both were… reaching out to each other, maybe?

“Is this one of those Rorschach tests?  It kind of looks like two hamsters going for a high five.  Oh, wait, I guess it’d be Morpeko, wouldn’t it?”

She frowned.  “It was supposed to be Kyogre and Groudon having another argument, inevitably descending into slap-fights, as Zinnia would call them.”  She leaned back with a disappointed look.  “Allow me to try this again.”

The two clouds joined into a long, thin shape, with six long limbs.

“Some kind of stick bug?”  You asked.

Rayquaza shook her head with a huff.  “No.  It was supposed to be one of the Deoxys, in their attack form.  I am sorry.”  She waved a claw, the breeze scattering the clouds randomly.  “I do not wish to waste your time with these lackluster artistic efforts.”  She turned away.  “We’ll head back down once I’m fully warmed up.”

That was quite a shift in her mood.  You tried to think of something to change the subject. It dawned on you that you’d basically been cloud watching from the clouds this whole time, even if they weren’t exactly natural formations.  Maybe a little fun with the natural clouds would distract her.

“You know,” you suggested, pointing toward a random pair of clouds behind you, “those clouds over there almost look like a human and a dragon girl kissing.  Maybe with a little push from the breeze…”

When she turned to look, you leaned in and gave her another kiss.  Her eyes widened in surprise, then closed.  Rayquaza hummed contentedly, the yellow markings on her body glowing brightly once again. 

Meanwhile, the wind gently blew, and the clouds behind you were slowly sculpted to match your kiss.

*

Eventually, the two of you came back down, and (after Rayquaza made a brief trip back up to separate the bunched-up clouds, which had started raining once they were no longer in range of her air lock ability,) had begun sightseeing.

You had come to a part of the park called REM Ruins, a place built to resemble an ancient, crumbling city.  Its architecture didn’t seem to reflect any one culture, instead it looked like an amalgamation of styles you had seen before, both in your world, and in stories.  It didn't attract as much attention as, say, the beach, or the picnic areas, but there were a few would-be explorers and plenty of monster-girls visiting.  Some of the latter group grinned hungrily at you as they passed, but, whether out of respect for Rena’s rules or Rayquaza’s power, decided to keep their distance unless you showed interest first.

"This is one of my favorite places in this park," Rayquaza said, before pointing to the tall tower in the center.  "That tower reminds me of Sky Pillar, and its charming, old-world design.  And much like Sky Pillar, it is a fine, quiet spot to rest, and take in the view.  Very few will fly all the way to the top to interrupt."  She sighed wistfully.    “Humans simply don’t make places like that, anymore.”

As many times as you’d fallen into the crumbling floors in the Mach bike sections of that dungeon in the original games, you were tempted to tell her they didn’t make them like that anymore because they were gigantic safety code violations.  But she seemed to be enjoying her reminiscing, and you didn’t want to ruin it.

“Anything about Sky Pillar that’s special to you?”

She laughed.  “Aside from it being built specifically for me, as an act of worship?”

“Well, okay, that’s a pretty good reason.”

“That is not the only reason, however. It also serves as a reminder of when I started to truly appreciate the world below.  For many centuries, I rarely ever descended to the world I protected.  I was terrified that if I did not always keep careful watch, something catastrophic would happen.

"I did not truly know anybody.  I would occasionally meet with my mother, and my siblings, and I was satisfied with that.  But then the early people of Hoenn pleaded for me to quell Kyogre and Groudon’s petty bickering.  After the fight had ended, I rested below the clouds.  For the first time, I saw the people and Pokémon I was defending up close.  The Draconid clan were especially grateful, treating me like a goddess, and promising to build that tower in my honor, so they might speak to me again.

"I was not used to being praised for my work, so I lingered there a few days, to enjoy their kindness.  I watched as they began work on Sky Pillar, but also saw their daily lives.  Trainers befriending their Pokémon, friends working together to achieve their dreams, families caring for each other's needs, couples showing the depths of their affection through song, dance, art, and acts of generosity…  I admit, I became a little jealous."

She ran a hand down your chest.  "That was when I began to dream of a handsome young man who could sweep me off my feet."  She looked back at her floating tail.  "You know what I mean."

"Yeah, I think I do."  With a smile you put your arms around her, and pulled her up in front of you, to carry her bridal style.  (Well, you tried, at least, if the split second of pain between starting to pick her up, and her realizing what you were doing and using her ability to float to ease the strain in your arms, was any indication.  Turns out, a lot of legendary Pokémon are heavy.)

"Oh Anon!  Thank you."  She laughed, wrapping her arms around you, and gave you a long kiss.  "I love you so much, dear."

"Love you, too."

She rested her head on your shoulder.  "Now, where was I?  Oh, yes, watching people.  I made a habit of flying low more often, to observe as history and the everyday drama of people's lives unfolded.  Especially the Draconids.  They are an incredible people. Strong, devoted, passionate, patient…  I am honored to have them as followers, even if their numbers have dwindled over the years.  Perhaps you have had the pleasure of meeting the tribe’s most recent lore keeper, Zinnia?  She may be a little odd, but I would take her alone over a hundred of the questionable 'followers' my quarreling sisters have."

"Followers?  You mean Team Magma and Aqua?"

"Yes.  Quite the troublemakers, all of them.  They have at least given up on their foolish dreams of flooding or parching the planet, but they still encouraged my sisters' senseless fights.  Until you finally made those two see reason." 

She paused, and gave you another deep kiss.

"Thank you once again for that.  Perhaps together, we shall eventually be able to persuade them to act like the adult goddesses they are, and earn themselves true worshippers, rather than these petty fools.  Did you hear, during your first night with Kyogre and Groudon, the administrators of those teams were cheerleading for each of them, despite their damage to the park?   My dear Zinnia would never be caught doing something like that!”

*

LittleRootChamp:  Swampert and Sceptile seemed REALLY into it.

LittleRootChamp:  Blaziken just thought it was kinda freaky, though.

Gorgeous-Green:  Tell me you have pics

LittleRootChamp:  They’re for Anon’s eyes only. ; )

Gorgeous-Green:  Spoilsport

LittleRootChamp: I’ll let him see them next time, ask him if he’d like to change things up a bit.

MaligKnight: If my time using one of the Poké Amulets is any indication, I imagine he will be delighted.

TamerHeartbreaker:  Why all the interest in the Poké Amulets, @GorgeousGreen?  Not enough Pokégirls here already?

Gorgeous-Green:  You can always have a few more

Gorgeous-Green:  But I REALLY just want to see how effective they are before I buy one

Gorgeous-Green:  For research

TamerHeartbreaker:  Hoping to catch him in a monster girl mood?

Gorgeous-Green:  …You could say that 

Gorgeous-Green:  *Whistles innocently while polishing an empty Master Ball*  Someday I’ll have Mewtwo and Anon together in my team.

Deepest_Lore_Z: Hey!  I just got back from the colosseum, and you'll never guess who got a date with Anon tonight.

LittleRootChamp: Was it you?

Deepest_Lore_Z: Do you think I'd be sitting around typing this if I was with him?

Deepest_Lore_Z: Nah, he's gonna get it on with Lady Rayquaza!

GorgeousGreen: Good for her!

GorgeousGreen: Anyway, MaligKnight, do YOU have pics from when you tried an amulet?

Deepest_Lore_Z:  That’s it?

Deepest_Lore_Z:  Come on, don’t you guys want to watch the Lewdstream?  There’s no way someone who’s been around as long as Lady Rayquaza hasn’t learned some of the juiciest techniques out there!

GorgeousGreen:  There’s no Lewdstream tonight.

Deepest_Lore_Z:  Wait, WHAT!?

ContinentalQueen: lol, the nag’s biggest fan doesn’t know!

Deepest_Lore_Z: “The nag?”

ContinentalQueen:  You really think the high-and-mighty perfectionist prude, who’s always going on about “delicate balances,” and “using power responsibly” would let the whole hotel see her fuck?

Deepest_Lore_Z:  She usually only says that kind of stuff to you and Kyogre…

ContinentalQueen:  I bet she’ll spend the whole night lecturing Anon on the importance of waiting ‘til marriage or something  lol

Inception_Desk: Hey, shouldn’t you be on dish-washing duty right now?

Inception_Desk:  Would be a shame if Kyogre’s community service ended before yours did.

ContinentalQueen:  Oh shit, the fuzz!

ContinentalQueen has left

 

Deepest_Lore_Z:  …Well, that’s super disappointing. 

Deepest_Lore_Z:  Anybody here got anything interesting going on here?

GorgeousGreen:  Maybe.  Have YOU tried a Poke Amulet yet?

LittleRootChamp:  Give it a rest, Green.

*

"Speaking of lore," you said, "as long as you've lived, I bet you've got a lot of stories to tell.  I'd love to hear some. "

"Thank you, love."  Rayquaza looked like she was about to say more, then stopped.  "But I am not a good storyteller.  Not like Zinnia or her ancestors, anyway.  They worked wonders as wordsmiths.  They knew which places to go into detail, and which places to leave things open to the imagination of the listener.  I fear I would simply bore you.”

"You don't need to do better than them to tell a good story.  Plus, there’s gotta be things you’ve seen first-hand that nobody else alive has.  Nobody can beat you in telling those.”

She pursed her lips.  “Perhaps.”

“So why not try it?”

“Because…  Because I hate the thought of disapp-” She stopped herself.  “I just do not wish to.”

“Okay, okay, I’m not gonna push it.”  You kissed her cheek.  “But I want you to know, you don’t have to be perfect to impress me.  Do you really think I’d give up on dating a classy, gorgeous woman, a literal goddess, just because she’s not amazing at everything she tries?”

“Well…  No.”

“That’s right.”  You kissed her again.  “I want to be with you, and all my girlfriends, as long as I live.  No matter what.  Even when you don’t get things perfect.”

She smiled, the yellow markings on her body glowing brighter than ever.  “Oh Anon…  You are, perhaps, too blunt but…”  She held back a laugh.  “I appreciate your kind words, anyway.”  You felt her arms wrap around you again.  You had to stop walking as her tail wrapped around your legs once more.  She returned your kiss with a long, passionate one.  She slowly lifted you off the ground once again, floating toward the tower in the center of the city.  You could hear the wind picking up, and when you opened your eyes, you saw Rayquaza’s whole body was glowing brightly, as she started to change.

Her Mega Evolution had awakened.

The glowing yellow lines along her body seemed to separate and peel off her, trailing behind her horns like shimmering streamers.  She seemed to grow larger, black segments appeared on her tail as it streaked behind her, and her hair grew down to her waist (to say nothing of the soft mounds pressed against your chest).

“Oh my god…”  You found yourself whispering.

Rayquaza opened her eyes.  “Goddess, Anon.”  She had a wide grin that told you she was enjoying the awestruck look on your face very much.

As you reached the top of the tower, it seemed like a whirlwind had formed all around you, drawing in a wall of clouds, shielding you from the eye of any superheroes or monster girls that might fly by.  But unlike Kyogre and Groudon’s wild, violent, primal power, this storm seemed precisely controlled.  Even as the winds whipped around you, here in the eye of the storm, everything was calm.

The top of the tower had numerous piles of colorful, luxurious pillows, in contrast with the stone exterior, one of which Rayquaza gently set you down into.  She floated over you in circles, gently tracing a claw over your chest.

“Anon, I haven’t felt this much love from any humans in centuries.”  She drifted down over you, and gently raised your arms, before a powerful wind blew off your shirt.  She made a line of kisses up your chest, then your neck, then your chin, before landing on your lips again.  “I finally feel ready to show you the depths of my love for you.  Tell me… are you ready to experience power that even legends fear?”

Her claws were already undoing your pants.

“Yes!”

The moans that followed could be heard even from outside the whirlwind.

*

“...And, as a final gift, Palkia gave me a short glimpse of other worlds.  Oh, the wonderful things I saw…”

Rayquaza lay beside you at the top of the tower, back in her normal form, tail still curled between your legs.

“What kind of things?”  You asked.

“Parallel worlds, some where bizarre beasts roamed, some where Pokémon were not nearly as similar to humans as in my world, some where evil had succeeded, and some where things like Mega Evolution never came to be.”

Her tail tightened around her leg.

“Of course, the one I was happiest to see was one where legends like my sisters and I could start families of our own.  It gave me hope that my own dream, of being part of your family, would come to pass.”

“Oh Ray…”  You ran your fingers through her hair.

“Of course, even in worlds where legendary Pokémon could have children, it could take dozens of attempts before they succeeded.”  She smiled and winked at you.

“I’ll just have to keep trying then.  Oh no.”  You laughed.  “I guess Arceus didn’t want too many immortals running around at once?”

Rayquaza put a hand to her chin. “That, and her worries about Kyogre and Groudon’s future children sharing their mothers’ attitude.  We have to be sure their husband truly understands what he is asking for.”

The image of toddler versions of those two fighting over toys while alternating between flooding and scorching the house came to mind.

“Yeah,” you nod. “That seems like a good call.”

Before you could say more, you could hear a panting sound, coming from the steps leading to the top of the tower. 

“ROOM!” Came one bark, followed by a few moments of panting.  “SERVICE!”

Rena climbed up out of the stairwell, and took a moment to catch her breath.  “Did… you two… have fun?”

“You alright, Rena?”  You asked, sitting up.

“I’m fine!  Just fine!”  She nodded, taking one more deep breath.  “But, uh… I think from now on, hotel policy will be we only deliver meals if you’re in a room, or on the ground level in the park.”

You and Rayquaza glanced at each other awkwardly. 

“Sorry about that.”  You said.

“It’s fine,” Rena said.  “Dinner is served.”  She took the lid off the platter, revealing one dish with a mix of meats and berries from the Hoenn region, and one that looked to be covered in some kind of tiny pebbles.

“Meteor particles from outside the solar system!”  Rayquaza cried, grabbing a fistful off the plate, and tossing them in her mouth.  She paused when she saw you and Rena staring at her.  “Oh, apologies, this is hardly proper behavior for a goddess, isn’t it?  I apologize, I just feel so giddy, after finally getting to make love with you, Anon!”

You made a dismissive wave.  “After that workout, I’m really hungry, myself.”

“By the way, Anon,” Rena said, as you popped a couple berries in your mouth.  “Kyogre and Groudon’s community service should be over next week.  Think you’ll be reserving a night for all four of you?”

Rayquaza shook her head.  “Anon getting them to stop bickering with each other was a miracle enough, I wouldn’t want to test fate further by joining in.”

*

You spent the next few hours enjoying more flight, tales of Hoenn’s history, and coiling hugs.  But eventually, the evening came to an end.  Rayquaza followed you to the Hotel’s entrance, giving you one final hug and kiss goodbye before you stepped over the threshold.

“Stay safe my love!  I look forward to many more nights with you.”

You held her hands, gently lacing your fingers together.  “Same here, Ray.  Good luck keeping your sisters in line back home.  Goodbye.”

You woke up back in your own bed, with a small weight on your chest.  Picking it up, you find a brilliant green emerald, and a note.

Unlike my sisters, I can give thematically appropriate gifts!

 

-Rayquaza

 XO

Chapter 4: Nagi Usui (The World Ends With You)

Summary:

Every night for over a year, you dream of Hotel Fantaisa, where you can spend the night with any woman you wish, in any way you wish. Tonight, you've chosen Nagi Usui, the eccentric otaku from The World Ends With You. Sally forth!

Notes:

The World Ends With You is a series with some big twists that make it kind of difficult to talk about without spoilers. Nagi is perhaps the easiest major female character from the games to write about without spoiling anything, and I've done my best to keep them to a minimum here, but a hint of a spoiler or two may have slipped through the cracks. If you're really sensitive about spoilers, and think you'd like to try this series in the future, then tread carefully.

At least it's not like trying to write a chapter about Shiki. I'd just have to throw up my hands and lead with a spoiler warning saying not to look until you'd hit credits in either game/seen the entire anime with that one.

Chapter Text

As you entered the hotel, you saw the orange-and-black-haired cat girl, Miyu, in her usual trucker’s outfit, standing beside a dolly cart loaded with bags of fertilizer.   Next to her was Talia, clipboard in hand, counting off the bags.  Miyu waved to you.

“OH, hey Anon!  Haven’t run into you in a while.  How’s it going?”

Talia looked up from her list with a gasp, nearly dropping her pen.  “Hi there, Anon!  Welcome!  You’re here early!”

“It’d been a long day,” you said.  “I needed some rest.”  You noticed a plastic “gold” star pinned to Talia’s tunic.  “Where’d you get that?”

“Oh, this?  Rena gave it to me when I came in tonight, to congratulate me on ‘becoming canon.’  Not sure what she meant by that.” 

“It’s her way of congratulating you on becoming full-time staff here,” Miyu explained. 

“Speaking of Rena,” you said, “where is she?”

“She was helping out with a big rush in one of the cafeterias,” Talia said.  “She should be back soon though.  Want me to look up your date for the evening while you wait?  Rena’s been teaching me how the hotel’s computer system works.”

“Sure.”  You nodded.

"Right!  Talia stepped behind the desk, hesitantly setting her hands on the keyboard.  “So, who's the lucky girl tonight?" 

"I was thinking of Nagi Usui, from Neo The World Ends With You. "

Miyu chuckled.  “Oh yeah, the otaku who calls herself a ‘creature of the darkness.’’  I’ve delivered a bunch of merch and knicknacks to her.  It’s always a laugh.”

“A creature of darkness?”  Talia repeated, as she began typing.  “Is she some kind of monster girl too?”

“No,” you said, “she’s just a bit over dramatic sometimes.”

“A bit.  Sometimes.”  Miyu repeated, shaking her head, but still grinning.  “I think she’s just lookin’ for a way to make being a shut-in sound cool.”

“Ah, here she is, floor 65535, room 27,” Talia said.  “I’ll ask if she’s open tonight.”  She sighed.  “But I can’t take you there.”

Before you could ask why, the elevator’s bell let out its signature “DING!” and Rena stepped out, her three fox tails swaying gracefully.

“Anon!  The dinner rush had gone so long, I was worried I’d miss you tonight!”  She gave you a kiss, wrapping her arms and tails alike around you.  “How are you doing?”

“I’m great,” you said, “Talia’s handling things just fine.”

Talia smiled at the compliment, before her attention was caught by something on the screen.  She squinted in confusion.  “Uh…  Maybe I’m not.  Rena, I think I’ve got a glitch in the messenger.” 

“Let me take a look.”  Rena let go of you and stepped behind the desk.  She laughed.  “Oh, don’t worry Talia.  I’ve seen this before, it’s not your fault.”

“Then, what is all that?  It looks like a jumble of random letters.”

“Keysmashing.  Nagi was so overwhelmed with joy to hear Anon wanted to see her tonight that she mashed out a reply without actually thinking about what to say.  That, or she got so excited she fainted, fell on her keyboard, and her head just happened to hit ‘enter’ last.”

Talia snickered.

“Anyway, I think I see an all-caps ‘YES’ somewhere in the middle of all that text.  You ready to go meet her, Anon?”

“Of course,” you replied.

Rena took your hand.  “I’ll show you the way.”

“Have fun!”  Talia said.  “I’m gonna get back to gardening duty.”

 

*

 

DING DONG! 

After a ride in the elevator with turbo mode engaged, Rena led you to room 27.  The door was covered in manga and video game posters, and a "do not disturb" sign hung from the knob.

“Here we are,” Rena said.  She knocked on the door.  A yelp, and a crashing sound, could be heard from the other side.

The door opened to reveal a short, pale girl, wearing purple-striped stockings, and a T-shirt with the Japanese phrase 推しが尊い written on it.  Her black hair was done up in pigtails, which were shaking as she jittered excitedly.  Her hands were clasped tightly, just under her wide grin.  Behind her large, round glasses, her brown eyes were sparkling.

Her smiling lips twitched for a few moments, and she leaned out over the threshold, before she finally opened her mouth to speak.

Instead of words, indistinct gurgling sounds came out.

Rena blinked.  “...Maybe she did hit her head.”

Nagi’s smile became sheepish, and she took a deep breath.  She looked slightly calmer, though her cheeks were still flushed, and she twiddled her thumbs nervously.  “My deepest apologies, your radiance!  The opportunity to finally behold your glorious visage in the flesh overwhelmed my capacity for rational thought!  Pray, forgive me mine disgraceful first impression, and grant this humble maiden a second chance.”  She took a deep bow.

You did your best not to laugh.  “It’s fine!  Not every day I hear someone tell me I made them speechless as a compliment.  You look really cute, too."

Her arms were already wrapped around you, as a high-pitched squeal filled the hall.  "This shall be the best day of my life!  Oh Anon, how shall our joyous evening begin?  A sublime bath in the hot springs?  A bountiful banquet?  A dive into the finest and most lurid of erotic literature?  The glories of virtual combat?  Or shall we proceed directly to the blissful joining of our bodies in wondrous love-making?"

The rest of the words were drowned out as she buried her face in your chest.

"Heh, I would love a few rounds in the arcade with you."

“An excellent choice, Lord Anon."  Nagi let go of you and dramatically pointed toward the elevator.  "Let us make way to the arcade, anon!"

"Hold up!"  Rena called, grabbing Nagi by the arm.  "You can't just go around saying that word like that!  The readers might get it mixed up with his name.  What if they use a script or extension to swap out the placeholder!"

"Placeholder?"  Nagi adjusted her glasses, magnifying her confused squint.  "Forgive me, Lady Rena, but I cannot possibly imagine anybody mistaking ‘anon’ for ‘Anon.’  They are completely distinct words."

"Yeah," you added, grinning.  "One is capitalized."

"Don’t YOU start now!"  Rena huffed.

 

*

 

The arcade was particularly busy that night.  The sounds of the machines and the hum of the crowd filled your ears.  It was difficult to hear the sixteen-bit music coming from the fantasy beat-em-up you were playing, over the noise.  Or Nagi’s battle cries.

“Have at thee, fiends!”  She called.  Her dark elf rogue charged into a swarm of little green goblins, hacking away at them with her daggers.  “None shall survive the wrath of my righteous blades!”

“Wow, you really get into these, huh?”  You said, protecting her character’s back with your own dwarven berserker.

“But of course!”  Nagi smiled.  “Tis true that arcade games of ages past may lack the narrative depth of later works, such as Final Fantasy, Persona, and my beloved Elegant Strategy, but that is hardly reason not to let oneself become fully immersed in the experience." 

She turned her attention back to the screen.  The stage boss, a massive red dragon, let out a roar, which summoned a gang of lizard folk to surround your characters. 

Nagi grinned.   "Now, these loathsome beasts shall know our power!  Drown in darkness!"

Her rogue raised her hands, and the screen turned black.  There was a flash of light, and the image of a dagger flew across the screen.  When the darkness faded, all of the lizards let out death cries, and the dragon was missing a chunk of its health bar.

"Nice timing on that super, Nagi."

Nagi was beaming.  "I live to please, Lord Anon!"

Unfortunately, the dragon caught her off guard, snatching her rogue in its claw.

Nagi furiously shook the arcade stick, in hopes of breaking free.  "Hrk!  I request release!"

"I got you!"  You ran your dwarf up to the dragon, and chopped away, only to be caught in a blast of fire breath before you could make it drop her.  Your dwarf fell, and the dark elf had her life squeezed out of her right after.  "Game Over" appeared on the screen.

Nagi sighed.  "And thus, is my final hotel credit of the night spent.  A tragic fate, indeed."  She turned toward the arcade's exit, and you followed.

"Sorry I couldn't bail you out, there," you said, giving her a pat on the back.

"No need to apologize, your radiance!"  She hugged you tight.  "Truth be told, I am ecstatic to simply be here in your presence!  After all, in this hotel, you have both literal and metaphorical supermodels and goddesses, heroes and villains of legend, all longing for you!  That a humble Otaku such as I am even considered at all, (much less before any of Elegant Strategy's spectacular cast, few though its female characters may be,) fills me with awe and gratitude."

You blushed, and kissed her on the forehead.

"Hey, I have a thing for 'humble Otaku,' too. Especially one as cute and passionate as you.  You don't need to compare yourself with them."

"Many thanks, Lord Anon.”  Nagi smiled sheepishly. “I must confess, I am deeply envious of your good fortune.  To have a tryst every night with one’s favorite characters, and iterations of them that reciprocate your feelings for them, at that, is a truly auspicious experience!  All with nary a hint of jealousy.  If I had but an ounce of such divine favor, oh, the lascivious nights I could spend with you, Lord Tomonami, and Lord Shadow…”

As Nagi descended into inarticulate gurgling at her own fantasies, it hit you just how odd it felt to be on the other side of this.

Seeming to notice, Nagi snapped back her senses, and took your hand.  “This is not remotely to imply my dissatisfaction in meeting you alone, Lord Anon!  To be graced by your presence is more than enough for this humble dweller of the darkness, given how few Otaku can truly say they’ve dated their husbando or waifu.”  She stopped, suddenly remembering something. “Speaking of, you would do yourself a great disservice if you don’t spend at least one night with EleStra’s Miki Satomi!”  She pulled out her phone, and showed you some fan art of the character, a stern-faced, short-haired brunette, in a military uniform that seemed to be based off Meiji period formal wear.  “She is a truly brilliant twist on the tsundere archetype, and-”

And you were back at the other end of this.  You briefly lost track of what Nagi was saying as you thought about how surreal it was for one of your girlfriends to actively recommend more girlfriends to you.  Even if it wasn’t the first time it had happened…

"-which in turn, is merely a final layer of obfuscation of the truly tragic, yet kindhearted woman within."

"I didn't know that any EleStra characters were here," you said, deciding to leave out that the series didn't even exist in your world.  You hadn’t even imagined the game had any major female characters, given it was apparently an otome game.  "I bet you had fun meeting them."

Nagi groaned, her head flopping down, causing the light reflecting off her glasses to hide her eyes.  "Truth be told, though I had long suspected their presence due to suspicious user names and posts on the hotel’s chat, thus far, I have been denied the opportunity to meet any of them in person.  Rena informed me that the majority of EleStra’s female cast prefer their privacy, and do not wish for their floor or room numbers to be known.  While there remains a possibility that I may yet meet one of them during a visit to the mall or park, with the innumerable mass of guests, the odds of such an encounter occurring randomly are infinitesimal."

"Oh, sorry.  Hey, maybe next time, we-"

You were interrupted by a ping from Nagi’s cell phone, alerting her to a text message.  She straightened up, and looked at it.

“Curious.  I’ve no memory of this number…”

Her eyes shot wide open.

"Elestra’s Miki Satomi sighted!"  She read aloud.  "If you wish to meet her, then follow the trail of clues.  Your first clue is in the mall: a familiar favorite fashion, made to serve.  Present photo proof to pass."

"This feels shady," you muttered.

"To say nothing of it being hauntingly reminiscent of that dreadful Reaper's Game."  She looked back at you, her face unreadable.  "You no doubt grasp the implications of this?"

"Someone is stalking Satomi?  And wants you to meet her, for some reason."

"Indeed!"  She pointed dramatically.  "We needs must pursue these clues, and find this fiend before she enacts some vile scheme!"

"We could tell Rena," you said.  "She might have a way to track the person who sent that message down, without having to follow any clues.  Or get in contact with someone who can."

"I, for one, refuse to stand idly by, while Lady Satomi's peace of mind stands at risk!  Call Lady Rena if you must, Anon, but we shall be the ones to solve these riddles, see that Lady Satomi is safe, and hunt down the fiend that is following her!"

Despite the situation, you chuckled.  You could tell Nagi sincerely wanted to help one of her heroes, but you suspected she just-as-sincerely wanted a chance to meet Satomi, too.

“Okay, we’ll go after I let Rena know.”

 

*

 

“You sure you know which shop the riddle was talking about?”  You asked once you’d finished the call.  “There are a LOT of stores here.”

The two of you had already passed by dozens of shops, and Nagi’s steady pace only halted once.  She’d paused briefly In front of a video game store with a window display for a limited edition copy of Elegant Strategy Sagas, but quickly shook her head, reminding herself of her greater goal.

“I have the utmost confidence.”  She adjusted her glasses.  “Tis not a difficult riddle to deduce.  It spoke of ‘familiar fashion,’ and there is but one shop in this grand marketplace which carries clothing brands from mine own timeline.”

Nagi came to a stop in front of It’s a Wonderful Style.  Inside, you could see dozens of articles of clothing from The World Ends With You, from Jupiter of the Monkey’s Sportswear, to Lapin Angelique’s frilly Gothic dresses, to Pegaso’s formal suits, and everything in-between.  So many styles all in one place might have clashed, but each brand’s clothes were carefully organized to avoid looking too out of place next to their neighbors.

“Huh, I guess there’s more demand for otherworldly fashion than I thought,” you remarked.  Especially odd given the guests probably weren’t allowed to bring these things back with them.  But you weren’t gonna judge what your girlfriends and future girlfriends spent credits on in their dreams.

Behind the counter was a brunette in a blue skirt with a floral pattern. "Hello Anon, Nagi.  Very nice to see you here.  Please, have a look around."

She smiled, and for a second you could have sworn she was subtly checking you out.   But seconds later, there was no sign of anything less than a professional attitude.

"So what do you think the clue was hinting at?”  You asked Nagi, walking down an aisle.  “'Made to serve.'  I guess it might be more on the practical side. "

"That is one possible explanation."  Nagi nodded, examining a denim jacket.

"Maybe something like this, then?"  You pulled a set of large black overalls off a shelf.

Nagi examined them.  "Yes, a practical, yet comfortable outfit.  One suitable for serving in any number of trades.”  She ran her hand over one of the legs.  “The material feels most comfortable, as well.  This may be the answer, and yet..."

Her eyes wandered to a black dress with a frilly white apron.

"That uniform is undoubtedly 'made to serve.'  To say nothing of it being far more fetching."  She picked it up, and smiled, motioning for you to follow her.  "Shall you accompany me to the changing room, Master Anon?" 

"You bet!"

A short while later, you and Nagi are posing in front of a mirror with her camera, the dress hugging her small frame.

Click!

"Excellent," Nagi cheered.  "Now we need only wait for confirmation."

She waited with bated breath.  After thirty agonizing seconds, there was a ping in reply.

"Correct," Nagi read aloud.  "Your second clue awaits.  Answer the questions of the woman in the red hoodie by the sculpture garden."

"That sounds more straightforward," you said.  "It’s probably in the park."

"Indeed.  Let us sally forth!"  She moved toward the door, before she realized she was still wearing the maid outfit.  "... Once we are in our own clothes, naturally."

"It looks good on you, though."  You smiled.

"Do you truly think so, Lord Anon?"  A mischievous look appeared in her eye.  "Then this humble maid shall be delighted to provide her master with any service he should desire…  After we have secured Lady Satomi's safety.  Mine default armor shall do 'til then."

 

*

 

You arrived at the sculpture garden, which, true to its name, was home to numerous statues, made of marble, bronze, and even some rarer materials, like gold.  They were lined up between hedges, at the tops of fountains, and on the paved path itself.  You were the subject of quite a few of them, though many also depicted beautiful women.  Talia had mentioned asking the sculptors to not go crazy with statues of you, figuring you would feel awkward if all of them were devoted to one subject.

You weren't given much time to appreciate the art, though.  Nagi pulled you around by the wrist, searching everywhere for the woman in red. 

Eventually, however, you spotted her, standing beside a statue of a little dog.  Nagi flinched when you pointed it out to her.

"Something wrong?"  You asked.

"Yes."  She gulped.  "The one we seek for our quest is almost certainly a Reaper!  I had suspected as much, and I dreaded I should be proven correct."

"She is?"  You looked at the woman again.  The combination of the hoodie, backpack, and jeans did look familiar.  "Huh, I hadn’t seen any girls in the rank and file Reapers when playing the games."

Nagi's eyes bulged behind her glasses.  "You survived your world's Reaper's Game?  Your world HAS a Reaper's Game?"

"Er, no, not that I know of."  You shook your head.  "I meant The World Ends With You.  The video game where I'd first seen you."

"Oh, that is a relief.  It pains me to even imagine you suffering through an awful ordeal such as that, Lord Anon.  Regardless, I speculate that the lack of women amongst the common Reapers in your game was a simple budget constraint.  Rindo and I observed many Reapers of both sexes during our Game.  I assume that these Reapers all looked completely alike, as well?"

"Yeah."  You nodded.  "So…  would you like me to try and do this one for you?  I don't want you to be reminded of the game if you don’t have to."

Nagi took a deep breath and clenched her fists.  "Nay, I shall not leave you to the Reaper's wrath!  We stand together!  For love!"

"Wrath?  The clue said it would just be some questions.  Probably like the Reaper Review."

"For the time being, yes.  But if our enigmatic stalker can employ the aid of a Reaper, then she is, in all likelihood, a Reaper herself, with all great and terrible powers that title entails.  We must face them eventually, for Lady Satomi's sake.  And we shall do so, united!"

You paused.  "If Reapers really are involved, shouldn’t we leave it to people that can deal with them?"

"There is wisdom in what you say, Lord Anon, but I have no intention of giving up now!"

She turned and marched up to the woman, and you followed shortly after.

"Yep," the woman whispered, her eyes hidden under her hood, "that's the face I was looking for.  Ahem!  Like a bolt from the blue, it's time for the Reaper Review!  Answer all five of my questions correctly, and you get your next clue.  Get even one wrong, and you might have a less than pleasant-" 

She stopped when she noticed you. 

"Wait…  Anon?  He's with you?”  She muttered to herself.  “I didn’t see this coming.  Looks like she picked a bad night to pull this stunt.”

“Who is this ‘she?’” Nagi demanded.  “Who is the mastermind behind this fiendish violation of Satomi’s privacy?”

“Hey hey, now!”  The Reaper snickered.  “Are you the one hosting the quiz, or me?  That’s not one of the quiz questions, by the way.  The answer is me.  I ask the questions around here.  Unless you’re fine not getting any more clues, of course.”

"We accept thy challenge, fiend!  The Queen Quizster will not cede easily."

"Alright, first question's practically a freebie: on which floor do guests from our world’s Shibuya stay?"

"Indeed trivial.”  Nagi smiled.  “65535."

"Okay,” the Reaper said, giving no indication   Next question: How many hotel credits would a maid outfit run you at It’s a Wonderful Style?"

“I believe the tag had read twenty.”

"If you’re sure.  Now, when it comes to competition, everyone remembers the winner, but usually second and third don't get nearly as much love.  That wasn't the case for runners up in the hotel’s first Splatfest Special, though.  Who came in third in that?"

Nagi groaned.  "Though it pains me to admit I could not even approach the top ten in that colorful competition, the sting is lessened when even an opponent as worthy as Kasumi Yoshiwara could not reach the peak."

"Not a bad guess.  Moving on, the hotel has had several additions since it opened.  Which was the first?"

"I am certain it was the onsen, was it not?"

"Could be.  Now, you seem the type to read a lot of Manga, right?”

“But of course!  ‘Taws the manga category in which I had acquired my title of Queen Quizster, after all.”

“Then this last question should be a cinch for you: Two of the hotel’s full time residents, Shirohime Tanoshi and Dokuko Kurosuke, hail from a horror manga, where the two met their tragic, graphic, grisly ends.  Who was the one responsible for their death?

The glare on her glasses hid Nagi’s eyes again, but dismay was written all over the rest of her face.  "Most troubling…  that manga doesn’t exist in my world."

You raised your hand and spoke up.  “It was the fly-faced monster, Mushisan!”

"Will you take his answer?"  The Reaper asked.

Nagi looked at you, surprised, and nodded.  "Yes, I trust Anon."

"Alright then.  Let's tally up the answers…"  The Reaper paused, and pressed a button on her phone, making a little “ding” sound.  "You got all five right.  Congratulations."

Nagi looked at you.  "How did you know?  I thought that manga didn't exist in your world either?"

"I did some reading up on their backstory a while ago.  I wanted to get to know them better, so they wouldn't be lonely. "

"A truly noble motivation, Lord Anon.  I would expect nothing less!"  She wrapped her arms around you tightly.

“We answered your riddles,” you said.  “So, can we have the next clue?”

“How can I say no to such a cute face?”  She pointed around the corner.  “Your final clue is held by tonight’s gardener. So… Nagi, was it? I was told you could Dive into people’s psyches, right?  You might find that helpful here.”

Nagi frowned.  “’Tis true I once possessed that skill, during the Reaper’s Game, but that ended the moment that game did. Even if I retained that ability, using it was a most unpleasant experience.  A mind can be a truly terrifying place.”

The Reaper shrugged.  “Suit yourself.  The gardener is down that way, around the corner, then the next right.  If you change your mind, just come back and see me.  I’ve got a pin that can let you back into the Game for a night if you need to dive.”

Nagi shuddered.  “Absolutely not!”

You and Nagi walked around the corner.

“Honestly,” you said, “I doubt we’d need you to Dive. you’re great at getting a read on people even without it.  If you ask me, Dive was just the power of the Reaper’s Game taking your greatest skill to its extreme.”

Nagi blushed and looked away.  “‘Tis rare indeed for me to hear such praise.  And from your radiance, of all people…”

“Don’t mention it.  I’m just being honest.”

She held you by the arm, keeping up a steady pace alongside you.

“Lord Anon, I wish to extend my gratitude to you.  For your kind words, and for your assistance in the quiz.  As well as accompanying me throughout this trial.  I cannot imagine this would be your ideal romantic evening.”

“Yeah, tracking down a stalker by solving riddles isn’t how I thought I’d spend my first night with you,” you agreed.  “But I know you want to help.  And I do too.”

Though, you still hoped that Rena and the hotel staff would find the stalker before you did.  You were no fighter, after all.  But you weren’t about to kill the mood by saying that outloud.

“Plus, I’m still spending the night with you, one way or another.”  You gave her a kiss.  “I’m good with that.”

Nagi hugged you giddily and returned the kiss.  “You truly my most precious fav, Lord Anon!”

A few moments later, you heard a familiar voice around the bend.  Turning the corner, you saw Talia, and a couple of plant monster-girls gathered around a floral display. 

One was an alraune, a green-skinned woman, merged from the waist down with a large pink flower, some of its petals tucking around her upper body to cover it like a shirt.  The flower, meanwhile, was buried in a pot with a set of wheels at the bottom, with one of her larger roots reaching down to push herself along.  Guess the hotel had some special accommodations for guests like her. 

The other woman had such long, thick, twisted, and vine-like hair that it was nearly impossible to anything underneath it, (which amounted to her entire body, save her eyes).  She was probably a Tangela or Tangrowth girl, if you had to guess. 

Though it didn't look like either of them were focusing on the garden.

“I can’t see why you’re making such a fuss, darling,” the alraune said. She had already ripped open one of the bags of mulch on Talia’s dolly, and was trying to reach one of her roots into it.

“That mulch isn’t for you!”  Talia said, yanking the dolly cart back from the alraune.  “It’s for the hedges, you-!”  She caught herself, stood upright, and tried to look professional.  “-Uh, ma’am.”

“I don’t see them tryin’ to take it, if they need it so bad,” the Tangela girl said, grabbing a bag of mulch for herself, huffing when she realized how heavy it was.  “Finders keepers, ‘n all that.”

Tali cleared her throat, and tried to speak firmly, holding out a hand to take the bag back.  “Y-you can get a bag of your own from the cafeteria, miss!  Please put that back.”

“Oh, I know that,” the Tangela girl said, tugging at the end of a bag to try and open it.  “But I’ve got a hankerin’ for some phosphorous now, and these bags are right here, sooo…”

“B-but that doesn’t-  You can’t just-”  Talia shook her head, trying to regain her composure again.

The alraune shrugged.  “Besides, by that same token, can’t the hedges simply order room service?”

Talia’s eye twitched.

“What an awful affliction,” Nagi whispered.  “I may be a creature of the darkness by choice, but the unfortunate dryad gives the air of one that has longed for the light, only to find it blinding.  Her attempts to communicate, choked out by inexperience.”

“Doesn’t help that the other two are being jerks to her,” you whispered back.

“Let us not be hasty, Lord Anon.  Their intentions carry little-to-no air of malice.  The guests at this hotel hail from countless universes and backgrounds, do they not?  Nay, this appears to be a case of cultural confusion.”

“It is?”

“Indeed.  Given their words, their demeanor, and their vegetation-based-physiology, I hypothesize the troublesome duo merely have very different societal norms.  If they even conceive of theft the way we do, it may well be that they do not perceive soil as belonging to anyone until roots have been set in it.  It is difficult to determine exactly where their unspoken assumptions differ from our own.”

“Okay,” you said, “Maybe they don’t mean to be mean, but we gotta help Talia out.”

“But of course, Lord Anon!  We shan’t let her struggle alone.  Especially not when, as a gardener, she may be the herald of our next clue!”  She closed her eyes, and put a hand to her chin. After a minute of thought, she took a deep breath, and stepped toward the arguing plant-monster girls.

“Pardon the intrusion,” Nagi stammered, as you both approached the trio. 

The three turned to look at Nagi.  When they saw you beside her, they all immediately straightened up.

“Anon!  You could hear that?”  Talia said, doing her best to keep a professional appearance.

“Why hello dear Anon.  This is a pleasant surprise,” the alraune said, batting her eyelashes while she flared her petals open wide, save for one that covered her chest.

The tangela girl subtly shifted her vines around to emphasize her chest and hips.  “Hey there.”  She looked back at Nagi.  “Oh, are you Anon’s lucky date tonight?”

“Indeed!”  Nagi said, beaming with pride.  “As I had been saying, we couldn’t help but overhear your discourse.  If you would permit us, we wish to contribute-”

“You’ve got some extra mulch for us?”  The tangela asked, leaning in toward Nagi eagerly.

“No, no.” Nagi shook her head and stepped back.  “We perceive there is a misunderstanding.  Am I correct in assuming that, in your home worlds, the pair of you spend most days rooted to the ground?”

The alraune shrugged.  “That’s true.  A little more for myself, than for her.”  She gestured toward the tangela.  “But even she doesn’t uproot herself very often.  Why do you ask?”

“So, am I correct in assuming that you rarely sought out new soil yourself?”

The two shugged, and nodded.

“Then, perhaps the difficulties in obtaining or creating an effective mulch have simply not occurred to you.”

The alraune raised an eyebrow.  “Difficulties? What do you mean?  Either you’ve got good soil around you, or you don’t.”

The tangela shrugged.  “I mean, I guess it can be tricky to find the good stuff sometimes?  When traveling a lot or something.  But it’s not a huge deal.”

Nagi nodded.  “As I suspected. Tell me, have you ever attempted to move a bag of mulch on your own?"

“Well… no?”  The alraune admitted.

“Then perhaps the difficulty in transporting them, much less determining or obtaining the optimal nutrient make up to begin with, has never occurred to you.”

“...Guess it’s kinda hard to drag this around,” the tangela noted, tugging at the bag she’d grabbed.

Nagi put her hands on her hips.  “Indeed!  To make such a long journey, with so great a burden, only to have it all rendered naught at the very end would be a tragedy!  And the hedges themselves certainly cannot obtain these on their own.”

“...I suppose I hadn’t thought of it that way,” the alraune said, looking down at the wheeled pot she sat in. 

“Yeah, sorry,”  The tangela said, setting the mulch bag back on the dolly.  “We’ll go to the cafeteria.  See ya!”  She waved goodbye, and helped wheel off the Alraune.

Talia released the breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding.  “Thank you for the help.  Sorry you had to see that, Anon.”

“Hey you were doing great,” you said, “Working with customers can be a pretty miserable experience.”

“Indeed, you displayed considerable restraint.  The world is filled with so many unspoken assumptions and subtle rules of etiquette, it can feel difficult to navigate any interaction.  But communication ‘tis a skill that can be practiced like any other, and I’ve no doubt you’ll learn how to help everyone feel welcome.”

“Thanks.  I was worried I’d do something stupid,” Talia said.  She looked at Nagi.  “Wait, you’re anon’s date!  Nagu Usui, right?”  When Nagi nodded, Talia pulled a sheet of paper out from between a few of the bags.  “Somebody asked me to give this to you.  Said it was part of a scavenger hunt, or something.”

“Excellent!  Our quest continues!”  Nagi said, looking over the paper, then back up at Talia.  “Pray tell, who gave you this map?”

“I didn’t get her name.  But she was wearing this really cute black cat hoodie.”

You and Nagi exchanged confused glances at that familiar description. 

 

*

 

When the two of you had made your final turn through the hedge maze, you weren’t sure what you were expecting, but Miki Satomi having a pleasant conversation with her “stalker” was not it.  And speaking of said “stalker,” the dark-eyed woman in the black hoodie, Shoka Sakuranae, smiled as she saw you.

“Hey there Nagi.  Finally figured everything out huh?  Took you long enough.  And Anon too.  Heh, of all the nights to set this game up for you, Nagi, it’s when you’ve finally got a date. What are the odds?  Still, congrats on being the first one of us to meet him.”

“Lady Shoka?”  Nagi stammered.  “Y-you were the stalker we sought?”

Satomi marched up to Nagi.  “Apologies for the confusion, young Usui,” she said. “This little game was Sakurane’s idea.  We had a chance encounter in the hot springs one week prior, and she recognized me, and told me you would wish to hear of my exploits.”

“I thought making this into a game would spice things up,” Shoka explained.  “I let Rena know in advance, so nobody else would get freaked out by it.”

Nagi sighed.  “...I appreciate the thought, but in the future, I believe simply meeting one of my idols will be an ‘interesting’ enough evening without a reminder of the Reaper’s Game.”

“Eh, maybe it was too soon.”  Shoka shrugged.  “If that’s an issue, we can go-”

“No no no!”  Nagi shook her head wildly.  “I am certainly most grateful for this meeting!  It truly is a serendipitous honor to encounter such a legendary hero.”

“A pleasure to meet you, as well” Satomi said.  “I’m not usually one to seek company in my time here, but on learning I had an admirer, I felt there would be no harm in it.  That I may meet Anon as well is quite the boon.  I feared for some time I would never see him face to face.”

“Nice to meet you too,” you said, reaching out to shake her hand.  “Hearing about you in passing from Nagi has been interesting but, I’ve been curious about what you’re really like, and-”

“WAIT!”  Nagi called out, stepping between the two of you.  “You were ‘curious’ about what Lady Satomi is like?  Does that not imply you have yet to experience her narrative arc to completion?”

“Er, I guess…” you mumbled, feeling awkward about saying it right in front of Satomi.

“Indeed, he could not have,” Satomi nodded.  “The story of Elegant Strategy does not exist in his world.  For that reason, I’m-”

Nagi’s gasp interrupted Satomi.  Her glasses fogged over and her head hung low.  “T-tragic.  Truly tragic…”

“Uh, Nagi, you okay?”  You asked.

“What a dreadful dilemma.”  Nagi groaned.  “We needs must rectify Anon’s incredible misfortune, but to do so now would be to abandon Lady Satomi, after so much effort had been made to arrange our encounter!  But to remain here and converse would be to expose Anon to spoilers that would sully the purity of his first experience with the game!  Neither outcome is desirable, and yet…”

Shoka and Satomi stood there awkwardly, unsure of what to say. 

You patted her on the back.  “Uh… if you’d prefer, I can go, while you meet Satomi.”

“And be denied precious time with your radiance?”  She turned and hugged you.  “‘Twould be a grave waste, indeed.”

Satomi spoke.  “I cannot say I fully understand this, but if you wish to speak on another night, I have no objections.  I would not deny you an evening with the man we love.”

She handed Nagi a slip of paper with her floor and room numbers.  Nagi looked up at her.

“You truly mean that?”  Nagi grinned, and grabbed your hand.  “Then tonight, Lord Anon, I shall have the honor of introducing you to the masterwork of art and narration that is Elegant Strategy!  The time has come to return to my room!  With all due haste!  There are many chapters to clear!  Sally forth!”

“W-wait!”  You sputtered, as Nagi pulled you away.  “Not that I mind getting to play games all night with you, but you don’t plan on going the WHOLE night, do you?  What about the maid uniform?”

“That, Lord Anon, is the brilliance of it!  The maid uniform will enhance the experience immensely come chapter 3!”  She turned back to Shoka and Satome.  “You have my gratitude for arranging this meeting, once again!  Good night!”

Shoka smiled and shook her head, affectionately whispering “later, losers.”

 

*

 

“You know what,” you said, laying on the bed beside Nagi (once again in a maid uniform), looking at the screen in front of you, “yeah, I can see why you got so into Tomonami.  He balances the game’s themes of the importance of communication with his bad boy image WAY better than you’d think.”

“I had no doubt for your eye for quality, Lord Anon,” Nagi said with a smile.

“Oh, I know quality when I see it, alright!”  You put an arm around her and kissed her, which she eagerly returned.

Nagi sighed happily when her lips finally pulled away.  “I love you, Lord Anon.  Words cannot describe how fortunate I am to spend even one evening with you.”

“I love you too, Nagi.”  You patted her as she leaned on you.  “I feel lucky to have someone so passionate, and so compassionate.  You’re utterly unique, in the best ways.”

“Room service!”  Rena’s voice called out.  She opened the door, wheeling in a cart of food.  “Nice to see you two relaxing after such a thrilling evening, huh?”

“‘Twould have been far less ‘thrilling’ had you informed us from the beginning there was no danger,” Nagi said, flatly.

“I didn’t want to ruin the surprise.”  Rena laughed.  “But I‘ll be sure to warn you in the future.  In the meantime, I’ve got a special order I know you’re gonna love!”  She pulled back the lid on a massive tray revealing;

“Ta-da!  SBY BBQ style grilled alligator!  You wouldn’t believe how hard it was to get this one right.”

Nagi’s eyes widened, and her mouth watered.  “Positively ambrosial!”  Without a second thought, she leapt off the bed, grabbed a fork, and pulled off a large piece which she bit into giddily.  “It is perfect!  A match to the original recipe in every respect!  Your mastery of the culinary arts has earned my respect!”

She bowed respectfully to Rena, then turned around, holding a piece out on a fork for you.  “Shall you partake in this divine meal, Lord Anon?”

Your nose was sending you all sorts of red flags, but despite yourself, you leaned forward, and took a bite.

“Isn’t in incredible, Lord Anon?”  Nagi asked, with a beaming smile.

“...Yes,” you lied, fighting your gag reflex every agonizing second as it slid down your throat.

Nagi sighed.  “There’s no need for dishonesty, Anon.  Finding the same joy as I in every activity is not a prerequisite for my love.”

“Right, sorry,” you gulped, choking down the last of it.

“I suspected your reaction to my favorite meal would mimic that of my companions back home, so I made certain to order extra dishes for you.”

“Here you go,” Rena said, handing her a bowl of noodles.

“Perhaps a sample of the Topsy-Turvy Noodles will help cleanse your palate?”

“It’s worth a shot,” you mumbled, letting her feed you a few.  The warm meal goes down far smoother than the last.

 

*

 

The evening passed with more laughs, cuddling, and sex, between the chapters of Elestra but eventually, it had to some to an end.  Nagi clung tightly to you all the way to the hotel’s entrance, before you finally kissed her good bye, and you crossed the threshold. 

You woke up the next morning feeling refreshed and relaxed.  When you got up, you noticed a notification light on your cell phone.  Unlocking it, you found that Elegant Strategy had been installed on your phone.  Well, you were up a little early.  It wouldn’t hurt to squeeze in a couple more minutes.  Nagi would want to see a progress report from you on your next date, after all.

Chapter 5: Humanized Latias (Pokemon)

Summary:

Every night for over a year, you dream of Hotel Fantaisa, where you can spend the night with any woman you wish, in any way you wish. Tonight, you've chosen a monster girl Latias, the Eon Pokémon. Better get psyched, cause there's no way this evening will drag-on.

This chapter was requested by dragon-girl enthusiast Lolz, on chapter one.

Chapter Text

“Hi Rena! Hi Talia,” you said.  “How are you two doing tonight?”

“We had some noise complaints from May earlier this evening,” Rena said.  “Some of the Ace Trainers on her floor were practicing their trumpets.  But since I cleared that up, it’s been pretty calm,” Rena said. “For an infinite, trans-dimensional love hotel.”

“How’s your day been?”  Talia asked, perking up.

“Pretty good.  I was feeling nostalgic, and went back to play through some of the Hoenn Pokémon games.  It got me thinking, are there any Latias girls staying here?”

“Oh you bet we do!”  Rena said.  “Several, in fact.”

“I actually met one on my way to the front desk,” Talia added.  “Her name is Astra!”

“Astra, huh?”  You repeated.  “She’s the first legendary Poké-girl I dated who didn’t just go by her species name.”

“She’d also be the first legendary Poké-girl who wasn’t the only one of her kind back home,” Rena pointed out.

“Oh yeah,” you said.  “That makes sense.”

Talia smiled dreamily.  “Astra’s a little shy, and she spooks easily, but she’s always been kind, loving and generous…  I heard a rumor she’s put together a special present for you, too.  I know she’d love to meet you!”

“Sounds good to me!”  You said.

“Let’s not keep her waiting then!”  Rena grinned.  “Talia, go help Anon get some Lati-ass!”

“Okay, that was terrible,” you said.

Rena laughed softly.  “I saw you cracking a smile!”   She gave you a quick kiss.  “Have fun out there!”

You took Talia’s hand, (her face brightening at your touch,) and followed her.

 

*

 

The walk through the park had been a short, but pleasant one, making one stop along the way to pick up a gift of your own for your date.  Talia had slowly and gingerly moved closer and closer to you as you walked, eventually leaning up against you.  She was quiet, but the sparkle in her eye made it clear she was enjoying herself.

As the two of you neared a part of the park filled with some particularly tall grass, she straightened up, and put a little distance between you, (without letting go of your hand).

“Right, gotta remember the rules,” you faintly heard her mumble.  She continued, at her normal volume.  “Astra was around here somewhere… There!”

She pointed, to your surprise, not at a Poké-girl, but at a red-head in a nurse uniform, taking a break on a bench.  Looking closer, you recognized her as the nurse that had been treating Rayquaza before your date with her.  Of course!  Latias could use their psychic and reflective down abilities to bend light around them, allowing them to hide themselves, or even disguise themselves as human.  The way her hair had been styled to resemble little fins above her ears should have been a giveaway, in hindsight.

That, and her using the move heal pulse rather than some kind of medical device when Rayquaza was injured.

“Oh, so she’s disguised, then?”  You whispered.

“Yeah, she doesn’t like to stand out, so she usually looks like a normal human when she’s visiting.”  Talia nodded, finally (if a little reluctantly) letting go of your hand.  “Come on, I’ll introduce you!  Hey, Astra!”

Astra looked up.  “Hi Talia, what’s…”  Her mouth hung open when she saw you standing beside her.

“Someone wanted to meet you tonight,” Talia said.  “Astra, this is Anon.  Anon, Astra!”

“Hi there,” you said.  “You look good tonight.  But I bet you’d look even cuter without the disguise.”  You held a hand out toward her.  “Up for a date tonight?”

Her cheeks flushed nearly as red as her hair.  “I…  Oh Arceus! I’d- Uh, ye- yes…” She reached you to take your hand, then froze.  With a timid “eep” and a flash of light, she’d suddenly disappeared.  You heard a woosh, and saw the grass rustling behind the bench.

Talia blinked.  “Wow…  I knew she could be jumpy, but I didn’t expect her to run away right after she saw you.”

“You sure she wants to see me?”

Talia put an arm around you.  “No, I know she does!  She’s nervous, that’s all!  I’ll help you find her again.”

“…You don’t happen to have a Master Ball or an Eon Flute around, do you?”

Talia shook her head.

You sighed.  “Well, generation three roamer hunting it is, then.”

 

*

 

You and Talia split up to cover more ground, as you combed through the grass for Astra.  It got taller the further you went in, eventually rising above your head.  After several minutes with no luck, you heard some rustling to your left, and followed it. 

When you reached the source, you bumped into a black-haired woman, with pointed, dog-like ears, and a bushy black tail poking out the back of her gym shorts. 

The Mightyena girl whirled around, with an annoyed scowl, but it flipped into a grin when she realized who it was that had run into her.

“Oh, excuse me,” you said, turning to continue your search.

She circled around to step in front of you.  Her smile showed off her fangs.  “No problem, Sugar!  I don’t mind bumping into a handsome hunk of meat like you.”  She leaned in closer.  “Looking for something?”

“Someone, actually.  A Latias named Astra?  Have you seen her?”

“A Latias, huh?”  Her tail swayed behind her.  “They can be pretty hard to track, with their ability to disguise themselves.  ANY girl you ran into here could be her…”

“Yeah, that and the flying, and the invisibility…”

“Well, since their disguises are all just psychic light shows, there is one way you can get the truth, easy.”

She grabbed your wrist, and pulled your hand up toward her chest.  “Just reach out, and get a good feel, all over!  If what you feel doesn’t match up with what you see, you’ve got your girl!  And if it does match, but you happen to like what you feel, well, I wouldn’t stop you…”

“W-WAIT!  STOP!”

With a rush of wind, and a flash of light, Astra appeared beside you, floating a few inches off the ground in her true form.

The startled Mightyena girl let go of you, allowing you to get a better look at your date.  Astra was on the short side, not coming to eye level with you even with her levitation.  She wore a dark red, backless dress that allowed her feathery red wings room to move, and carried a little bag over her shoulder.  A little blue triangle marking sat just above her petite chest, and an inverted, red triangle marking ran across her forehead, and down past her bright yellow eyes, its third point meeting at her cute little nose.  The red triangle, and her long, red hair, stood out against her pure white face, and her white, feathery ears poked out through her hair.

She rubbed her hands together nervously, her tiny claws lightly ruffling their red feathers.  “S-sorry to run away like that, I get really jumpy sometimes, and you’re just so…”  Her cheeks turned nearly as red as her hair, and she looked away.

You heard Talia’s voice getting closer “Are you guys okay?  I heard shouting, and-” More rustling came from the grass, and Talia stepped in.  “Oh, looks like you found Astra!  Great!  I guess Yei here helped you find her?”  She gestured toward the Mightyena woman.

“Eh, kind of,” you said with smiled.  “Thanks for the help Talia.  And you too, Yei.”

Yei mumbled a “welcome” as she poorly tried to hide her disappointment.

You turned to Astra, holding out a hand to her.  “So… are you ready to go this time?”

Astra nodded.  “Yeah!  There’s this quiet spot by the lake we can go.  It’s got a great view.”

You held her hand, and walked alongside her through the grass. 

As you went, you could faintly hear Talia and Yei in the distance.

“Wait, you did WHAT?  You know the rule about not getting frisky unless he asks!”

“I wasn’t getting frisky, I was just making a suggestion.  If he happened to act on it, that would’ve been his choice.”

 

*

 

The lake’s surface looked smooth and pristine; the water so clean you could almost see to the bottom.  Barely anyone was visiting it at that hour.  On the other side, you could see the cliffside of a towering plateau past a line of tall trees, their autumn leaves bright yellow or deep red.

Of course, you didn’t let this distract you from the beauty sitting beside you.  Astra nervously rested her hand on yours, trying to avoid staring at you.  The two of you were seated on a large rock that jutted out into the water, as a cool breeze blew through your hair.

“I can barely believe this is all real,” she said.  “After seeing you in my dreams for so long, I get to finally meet you…  You’re every bit as handsome as I remember.”

“And you are adorable, yourself.”  You said, pulling a Poké Ball out of your pocket.  “I’ve got a present for you.”

The ball opened, releasing a red light that solidified into a platter full of candies, pink Poké Blocks, Poffins, and berries, including a hefty watmel berry.  Astra’s eyes sparkled at the sight.

“All this is for me?”  She stammered.

You nod, and she quickly grabs one of the Poké Blocks and pops it in her mouth, letting out an excited chirping noise.  “Ooh!  So sweet!  I love it!  Thank you so much!”  She picked up another, and held it up to you.  “Would you like to try one?”

“Sure,” you said, taking it.  It had a soft, chewy taffy-like texture.  And she wasn’t kidding about it being sweet!  It was almost overpowering!  Once you’d gotten it down, you grabbed another from the platter.

“Want one more?”

She nodded, and reached to take it, but you moved in closer instead, holding it right in front of her mouth.  Realizing what you were doing, she blushed, and carefully bit into the candy, her lips gently kissing your fingertips.  When she’d finished chewing, she grabbed a berry from the platter, and held it out to you the same way.  With a smile, you bit into it.

After each of you had taken a few turns feeding the other, Astra took a deep breath, and reached into her bag. 

“I’ve got a present for you, too.”  She smiled.  “I’d been waiting so long to meet you, but it’s kind of a good thing, because it gave me time to make this.”

She pulled out a small box, and set it in your hands, giving you a nervous kiss on the cheek before pulling back.  You opened it, revealing a purple collar with a familiar design, and a smooth, shimmering, spherical purple crystal attached to it.  It takes a moment for you to remember where you’d seen a design like this before, during your first trip to the hotel’s mall.

“Is this a Poké Amulet?”  You asked.

“Y-yes,” she nodded quickly.  “I had to get it specially made.  There aren’t any others like it.”

“That’s why it has the purple crystal here, instead of the Poké Ball?”

“Yeah,” she said, tapping her claws on the rock.  “It’s… a Soul Dew. With it as the source of the amulet’s magic, you can become a Latios-boy for an hour.  It’ll wear off after that, but unlike the other ones, it can recharge.  I hope you like it.”

You picked it up, and turned it over in your hands, inspecting it.  As you did, you faintly heard Astra whispering.

Oh no, he’s not saying anything!  Does he not like it?  Is he creeped out? Does he think I don’t find him handsome the way he is now?  Is he thinking I’m only into Pokémon-guys?  I just wanted us to be able to fly together, even if it’s just for a little while!  Oh no!  What if he thinks I’ve got something against humans?  Oh shit!  What if he thinks I’m a member of Team Plasma?  Oh fuck, way to go Astra, your first date with the literal man of your dreams and your first gift makes him think you think he’s ugly, or worse, makes him think you’re a giant, flaming human-Pokémon segregationist!  Oh shit, oh-

You dropped the amulet back in the box, and hugged Astra to your chest.  She gasped in surprise, but almost reflexively hugged you back.

“Hey, hey!  Don’t worry!”  You whispered to her, patting he on the back, (the soft, downy feeling of her feathers whenever your hand ran over her wings was heavenly).  “I love your gift.  I know you love me as I am.  And I can tell you’re nothing like those Plasma jerks.  Don’t tell yourself that.”

Astra’s brows knit in confusion.  “I didn’t say anything about-”

Her eyes went wide as dinner plates, and her whole face turned as red as the triangle marking.  “Oh Mother Mew, I was thinking outloud, and the Soul Dew let you hear me!”

She brought both hands to her face, muffling an embarrassed scream, her head falling into your lap.

You gently scratched behind her ears, hoping to ease the awkward atmosphere.  Astra leaned into it, making a soft, cooing sound.  When you pulled your hand back, she sat back upright, and took a deep breath.

You picked up the amulet again.  “Would you like me to try this on now?”

Astra nodded.  “Y-yeah.  I’ll try to be more careful to keep my thoughts to myself while you’re wearing it.”

“I don’t mind hearing what’s on your mind,” you said with a chuckle.

She blushed again.  “But I mind it!”

You smiled, shook your head, and put on the amulet.  As soon as you fixed the collar’s buckle, you shuddered, feeling a strange energy flowing through your body.  For a moment, your head felt fuzzy, and your thoughts disoriented, as if your mind had been set into overdrive.  At the same time, a powerful, fiery energy burned in your chest. 

Both feelings quickly leveled out, and you took a breath to regain your bearings.  Several things felt off.  You’d been expecting it, on some level, but that didn’t change how weird it felt.  You raised a hand in front of your face, and found the back of it covered in blue feathers, with little claws in place of your fingernails.  Leaning over the edge of the rock to look at your reflection in the water, you could see that your ears had moved up toward the top of your head, becoming longer and fluffier, like Astra’s.  There was also a blue triangle marking across your face, and, tugging down on your shirt’s collar slightly you saw a red triangle marking just above your chest.  Speaking of your shirt, it seemed the amulet’s magic changed it to fit your new wings, which arced out behind you.

The fact that you have wings hit you all at once, and you reached back and feel over them.  Moving them was awkward at first, like trying to walk after having your legs fall asleep, and the sensation of two new limbs was a lot to deal with all at once, but you slowly started to feel in control of them.

“It worked,” you mumbled.

“You look great!”  Astra said, scooting up beside you.  You could feel… something, emanating off her, but couldn’t tell what.  It was a warm sensation, comforting, but with a slight tingle of excitement. “Would you like to fly with me?”

You flapped your new wings experimentally.  “That’d be great!”  You stood up. 

Maybe it was the strange energy of the amulet filling you with confidence, maybe it was a rush from all the candy, or maybe the thought of flying on your own was already too good for you to pass up, but either way, you took a few steps back for a running start, spread your new wings wide, and leapt off the rock.

And immediately started plummeting toward the water.

You heard Astra gasp, then grunt, and suddenly, your fall gently stopped in mid-air.  You felt something soft below you but couldn’t see anything.  It gently lifted you back up the short distance to the top of the rock.  You could feel tension emanating from Astra’s direction, coupled with a sense of concern.  It dawned on you, the amulet was letting you pick up on her feelings, as well.

You were gently set down in front of Astra, whose eyes were glowing, until the force that had held you up dissipated.  “Thanks for the save,” you said, with a sheepish grin.  “Sorry, I got a little excited.”  You leaned over and kissed her on the head.

“It’s fine,” she said, giggling nervously, before kissing you back.  “It means you really do like it.”

“Yeah, but clearly, I’m gonna need some practice,” you said.  “Could you show me how it works?”

Astra grinned, shaking excitedly.  “I’d LOVE to!”  She leapt to her feet, tugging you up with her.

“Alright!  First things first, we’re not like most flying Pokemon.  We don’t actually use our wings to keep ourselves up.  We move ourselves through the air with our psychic abilities, and our wings help us steer and balance when we speed up.”

You nodded.  “Okay.  So, how do I make myself float then?  Do I imagine myself flying and focus on that?”

“It’s different for different psychics, but for me and my family, it’s sort of like having two or three extra arms.  Just, invisible, and more flexible.”

Astra looked back to the platter of food you’d brought, her eyes glowed softly, and two pecha berries lifted off the platter and through the air, dropping them into her hands.

“Let’s start small.  Try to grab these berries from me.”

“Alright,” you said.  “So, I focus on grabbing the berry with an invisible arm, and-”

“Did you focus on moving your arms when we took turns feeding each other earlier?  Just… try to do it first.  If that doesn’t work, then we’ll try focusing on specific stuff.”

You sighed, not sure you got it, but shrugged, and briefly thought about gabbing one of the berries. 

To your surprise, the berry started floating out of her hand and toward you.

“Woah!  Are you seeing this?  I actually-”

In your excitement, your “grip” on the berry tightened, forcing the juice to squirt out and into your face.

“Did it…”

Astra covered her mouth, but she couldn’t completely muffle her giggles.  You could faintly sense that she was laughing even harder on the inside.  But it was mixed with a sense of pride, and genuine happiness.  She was laughing with you, rather than at you.

“Sorry, Anon!  Sorry.  But that’s a good first try!  We’ll just need to keep practicing!”

“It’s fine.  But first…”  You pointed to the juice dripping down your cheek.  “Would you mind helping me clean up?”

Giggling again, Astra kissed you.

 

*

 

“You’ve got it this time for sure!”  Astra said.  “This time, try feeding it to me.”

You focused, slowly moving a magost berry through the air toward Astra.  She opened her mouth wide, and closed her eyes in anticipation.

And squeaked in surprise when you overshot and squished it against her nose.

She shook her head.  “You almost got it.  Maybe next time you can-”

She gasped and blushed when you kissed her on the nose, “cleaning” the stain.

“…Did you miss on purpose?”

“Of course not,” you said.

She put her hands on her hips, and huffed with fake indignation.  “Oh don’t play innocent with me! I can feel you laughing on the inside!”

 

*

 

You took a deep breath, and felt your feet slowly lifting off the ground, as your own psychic force lifted you up into the air.

“Now, remember,” Astra said, “When you start levitating yourself, you have to support your weight evenly, and be careful where you grip yourself, or-”

You suddenly felt yourself slipping downward, while your clothes remained in the same position, leading to an unpleasant chafe.

“That will happen.”

 

*

 

Your first few attempts at moving through the air could best be described as psychically throwing yourself along the lakeside and rapidly attempting to catch yourself after a few panic-stricken seconds of mid-air terror, only to accidentally launch yourself again.

You winced after your latest attempt had come a little too close to a tree, one of the longer branches leaving a cut on your forehead.  You let yourself drop to the ground, gently pressing on the cut, as Astra flew to your side, and wrapped her arms around you.  Even before she spoke, you could feel the concern radiating off her.

“Oh, you’re hurt!  I’m so sorry!”

“It’s not your fault,” you said, hugging her back.  “But I don’t mind an excuse for a hug.” 

She grinned nervously.  “O-one second, I can heal you right up!”

She motioned for you to lean down, and when you did so, she kissed the cut, and released a heal pulse, filling the area with a cool, soothing sensation, as well as giving the rest of your body a warm, tingling sensation.

“Thanks, Astra,” you said, as she lifted her lips.  “It feels way better, now.  How about I return the favor?”

Before she could respond, your lips were on hers.  She blushed brightly, practically melting into your arms.

 

*

 

With Astra’s hand in yours, you hovered over the lake.  Your movement through the air was slow, shaky, and prone to starts and stops, but you were really floating, all on your own.  Even if your flight wasn’t elegant, it was a liberating sensation. 

“You’re doing great!  Especially when you’ve only been at it for less than an hour.”  Astra cheered, beaming with happiness.  “I…  Seriously, it means so much to me that you’re willing to try something like this with me!”  She twiddled her claws nervously.  “I know how embarrassing it can feel to have people watching when you’re trying to practice new stuff.  I was never the best battler back home, myself.  And I hate seeing you get hurt and flung around on our first date.  And-”

“Are you kidding?”  You said.  “This is incredible!  I mean, yeah, it takes some getting used to, but being able to fly is great.”  You chuckled, and grabbed both of her hands.  “Even if I didn’t like it, seeing you smile while you show me the ropes makes it worth it.  You’ve been a great teacher.”

She smiled sheepishly and looked away.  “Th-thank you for saying that.  It means a lot, coming from you.”

“No, thank you. For the amulet, and the flying lessons.”  You gently reached up, and turned her face back toward yours.  “I love your gifts.  But not nearly as much as I love you.” 

You leaned in, and she let out a quiet “eep,” just before you kissed her.

“I love your sweet smile.”  You kissed her again.  “I love how excited you got when you saw you could teach me how to fly.”  You kissed her again.  “I even love how cute you look when you’re feeling shy.”

You gave her one last, much longer kiss, and suddenly heard her voice whispering at the back of her mind.

Oh, this is good!  Wait!  I need to come up with something to compliment him with once the kiss is done!  Think!  Think!  His lovely eyes?  His handsome face?  His sexy voice?  How kind and thoughtful he’s been?  Come on, think of something, Astra!

As your lips finally parted, Astra stammered out, “I- I love you too…”

The two of you spent a few quiet moments there, hovering just above the lake’s surface, taking each other in.

However, your head started to feel fuzzy again, and you felt your psychic “grip” on yourself shaking.  Just as you realized that you had lost track of time, the you felt the amulet’s magic fade, and you returned to normal, dropping into the water with a crash.

You heard Astra yelp as you surfaced, and saw her eyes glow. She lifted you into the air.  She huffed, struggling to keep you airborne.

“H-hang on!”  Her “grip” on you faltered slightly.  She pulled a bracelet out of her bag, and handed it to you.  “P-put it on!”

You complied as quickly as you could, and she grabbed a necklace embedded with a Mega Stone from her bag, slipping it over her head.  The two items resonated, glowing brightly, and filling and Astra with the same light.  Her psychic grip on you became steadier, but remained gentle.

When the light faded, Astra had grown, standing taller than you. Her modest bust had gone up a few sizes, and her hips had flared wider.  Her red hair and the markings on her body had turned a deep purple.  Even her dress had changed color to match.  Her arms were completely covered in soft, purple down, as if they had fused with her wings during her mega evolution.

She set her hands on her hips, and smiled confidently.

“So this is what Mega evolving feels like, huh?  I like it!”

You nodded.  “Yeah, you wear it well.”

She whirled you around her in the air, and leaned down, letting you grab her shoulders from behind. 

“Sorry I couldn’t react in time to keep you from falling in.  Would you like me to fly you some place private, so you can get out of those wet clothes?”  She winked at you.

“I’d love to.  Though I don’t think we’ll be getting dry for a while.”

Astra snickered, and took off, her psychic powers keeping you steady on her back, and protecting you from the wind.

After a brief stop to pick up what was left of your platter of snacks, (no reason to let good food go to waste,) you flew out past the lake, over the forest, and toward a distant plateau.  She landed on a roomy outcropping, and let you step off.

As you undressed, and set your clothes out to dry, countless tiny feathers flew off Astra’s body and were psychically formed into a misty ball of down.  With a bit of focus, she made it expand, covering the area around the two of you in a shimmering mist.

“That should keep anyone flying by from getting a peep at us,” Astra said.  She sighed contentedly, took a deep breath in…

And as she released it, her clothing just vanished.

“Woah!”  You blinked a few times, taking in her beauty, while wondering; “How did you get out so fast?”

Astra giggled, pressing up against you.  “Well, it’s pretty easy to undress when I’d only been ‘wearing’ a ‘psychic light show,’ as that Mightyena girl put it.”

You blushed.  “Wait, so you’ve been naked this whole time?”

Astra laughed.  “Yep!  It’s been tricky to keep you from feeling it too early, it’s worth it for the look on your face!”  She kissed you, and grabbed your hands.  “But let’s keep this our little secret, okay?  The hotel isn’t super-strict on guest dress code, but I like feeling the air on my skin without people staring.”  She hugged you tight.  “I’m all yours, Anon!”

 

*

 

After the two of you had worn yourselves out, and took some time to cuddle together afterwards, you got dressed, and headed back to the hotel to Astra’s room, which had been decorated to resemble a small garden, including a fountain that produced a steady, relaxing trickling sound.  Astra had reverted to her normal form, and her shy, easily-flustered personality had returned with it.

The two of you were sitting back on her bed, while you felt over the cool, smooth surface of the Soul Dew amulet in your hands.  Astra rested her head on your shoulder, listening as you talked about the antics your harem of Poké-girls back home had gotten up to.

“…Of course, once she’d realized I caught a glimpse of THAT in her drawer, Torch immediately grabbed me, thanked me for helping clean her room, and shoved me out the door.”

Astra giggled.  “She really did that?”

“Yeah,” you shook your head.  “With how shameless Torch is, I didn’t expect her to be embarrassed by anything.  But I guess everybody has something they don’t want to admit to.”

Astra nodded.  “Yeah, I guess everyone does.”

Before you could respond, an image came to your mind of Astra standing in her hotel room, alone, in front of a full-length mirror.  Her body shimmered for a moment, before becoming a replica of you.

“Oh Astra,” you heard her say, doing her best impression of your voice.  (It wasn’t accurate, if you were honest, but she still sounded cute.)  She then proceeded to continue talking to herself in your voice, giving cheesy attempts at romantic and sexy dialogue, culminating in her kissing the mirror, then sighing.

You weren’t sure where that image came from… but looking back down at the Soul Dew for a second, you had a guess.   With a grin, you put an arm around her, and repeated what you’d just heard.

“Oh Astra, my sweet little red-headed pet.”  You patted her on the head.  “Your radiant golden eyes capture my soul, and make me long to taste the sweet honey…”

Astra’s smile didn’t change, but her eyes slowly grew wider as she recognized what she was hearing.

The next telepathic message you received was high-pitched internal screaming.

You dropped the Soul Dew, and shuffled away from her.

“Sorry, sorry, I didn’t mean to dip into your private thoughts,” you explained.  “But since I HAD seen them, I thought-”

Astra’s face turned red, and she shuffled back to your side.  “I- uh… I didn’t say you had to stop…”

“Room service!”  Rena’s call interrupted your embarrassing moment, and both of you, eager to change the subject, rushed to open the door for her.

“Wow, that was fast,” Rena said.  “Something going on?  You two look nervous.”

“Oh, no,” you said, “we’re great.”

“It’s fine, everything’s normal,” Astra added, grabbing a Lavaridge style Lava Cookie off the plate Rena had brought in.  “Nothing embarrassing whatsoever.”

“Oh,” Rena said.  “Well, that’s a relief.  ‘Cause I’d gotten your name mixed up with another Astra staying here, and I turned on the Lewdstream in here tonight.”

“YOU WHAT?!”  Astra froze in terror.

Rena burst into laughter.  “Oh, you should see the look on your face!  Don’t worry, it was just a joke. “

 

*

 

You and Astra spent several more hours cuddling, chatting, and playing together.  But eventually, as always, the night had to come to an end.  Astra walked with you to the door, hugged you tight and gave you one last kiss before you crossed the threshold, and woke up, back in your own bed.

You felt something in your hand, and looked at it.  It was a small box, containing the Soul Dew Poké-Amulet.  You were definitely gonna keep this one safe.

Chapter 6: Luna Platz (Mega Man Star Force)

Summary:

Every night for over a year, you've dreamed of Hotel Fantaisa, where you can spend the night with any woman you wish, in any way you wish. Tonight, you've chosen to meet Luna Platz, the high-class (former) class-president from Mega Man Star Force. Let's shoot for the moon!

Notes:

(See the end of the chapter for notes.)

Chapter Text

On the night of Anon’s first date with Sonia Strumm:

Platinum-Moon: Of course I’m coming to the concert!  I know you’ll steal the show.  Your performance will be…

Platinum-Moon:  Ahem

Platinum-Moon: …Stelar.

HarpHero: That joke still feels weird coming from you.

Platinum-Moon: How do you think I feel?

HarpHero: But thanks for the compliment.

Platinum-Moon: I know you can sing better than a couple of squids.

HarpHero:  Hey, those squids have got great rhythm.

HarpHero:  Anon would definitely agree, with all the time he’s spent with them.

Platinum-Moon:  Maybe they do.  Still think you’ll do better than them.

Platinum-Moon: I tried to get VIP seating tonight, but they’ve reserved that for Anon and his date, if they decide to watch.

Platinum-Moon: Such a pain I can’t just buy them.  I hope I’ll be able to see you from wherever I end up.

HarpHero:  I’m just happy you’ll be there.  It’s nice to know I’ve got a friend in the crowd.

HarpHero: Gotta go!  See you later!

Platinum-Moon: Good luck!

 

*

 

Platinum-Moon:  Ugh, this crowd can be sooo pushy.  Don’t know if you have time to check your DMs backstage, but I thought I’d send you some encouragement.

Platinum-Moon:  Just so you know, Anon is watching tonight!  I couldn’t get a seat close enough to the VIPs to see who his date is, but I know you’ll be able to leave an amazing impression!  Do your best!

Platinum-Moon:  Hey, you’re right, those squids DO have rhythm.  Who’d have thought?

Platinum-Moon:  Sending this message for once you’ve finished the curtain call: you did amazing out there.  I know Anon’ll love it and

Platinum-Moon: !!!!!!!

Platinum-Moon: WHAAAT?

Platinum-Moon: YOU WERE ANON’S DATE TONIGHT?

Platinum-Moon: …Congratulations!  He’s got great taste!  You give him a night he won’t forget for me!

Platinum-Moon: …But remember to recommend he try dating a wealthy, determined, high-class kind of woman, too, okay?

 

*

 

Platinum-Moon:  Vogue!

Vogue [BOT]:  Yes, Luna?

Platinum-Moon:  Order me as many tubs of ice cream as 10000 hotel credits can buy!

Vogue [BOT]:  …I don’t think that will help with your envy, Luna.

Vogue [BOT]:  Or your figure…

Platinum-Moon: JUST DO IT!

 

*

 

Present:

 

You stepped into the park.  The air smelled clean, and the sky was clear and blue.  And not too far ahead of you, watering the flowers, was Talia.  She looked up, and waved at you.

“Good evening, Anon!  How are you doing tonight?”

“I’m doing great.  Getting ready for my next date.”

Talia set her watering can down, and stood up, dusting off her tunic.  “Naturally.  Who’s the lucky girl tonight?”

“Luna Platz.  After my last date with Sonia, she suggested I spend some time with her, and I didn’t want to leave her out any more.  Rena told me she was at the beach?”

“Yeah!”  Talia nodded.  “I saw her head that way a while ago.  It’s hard to miss those curls.  I can show you the way.”  She held out her hand.  “Uh, if you want, of course.  You’re probably getting more familiar with where stuff is in the park, now…”

“I’d be happy to go with you!”  You smiled, taking her hand.  “Lead on!”

Along the way to the beach, you saw a young woman pushing a water tank on wheels, with a mermaid inside it, in the same direction as you.  The two were having a lively conversation, stopping only to give you a friendly ‘hello’ and wave as you passed.

“Now there’s something you don’t see everyday,” you remarked.

Talia nodded.  “Yeah, it was another suggestion of mine while we were putting together the park.  I wanted to find ways to let as many guests as possible enjoy the park, so we made room on the paths for some of the hotel’s special accommodations, like that movable tank.  Makes it a lot easier for all our guests to get out, enjoy a change of scenery, and meet new people.” 

“That’s nice.  I’m guessing the woman pushing the tank works here?”

“Sort of,” she replied.  “We offer hotel Credits to guests who help out with stuff like that, but sometimes you have volunteers from worlds without magic, who are just happy to get to meet real mermaids and the like.  We still give them extra hotel credits, of course, but they’d do it either way.”

“It’s great when things work out like that.”  You nodded.

“Yeah, it’s been fun to watch a little community form here!”  She pressed closer to you.  You could hear her faintly whisper.  “It’ll be incredible when we get to be a part of your family…”

The smell of salt and the sounds of waves filled the air as you approached the beach.  Coming over a small hill, you could see hundreds of women in swimsuits unwinding in their own ways.  On the shore, some were laying back, reading books, collecting shells, or playing volleyball.  Others were wading into the water, swimming, engaging in splash fights, or even surfing (with the biggest waves provided by Kyogre, who was looking relieved to finally be done with community service).  Mermaids and other aquatic monster girls showed off with impressive twirling leaps out of the water, or deep dives.

Of course, there was the question of how you were going to spot Luna out of the huge crowd.  Thankfully, you didn’t have to worry about that for long.

“There you are,” a firm, refined voice called out. 

You turned, and your eyes were immediately drawn to the two massive, blonde pigtails trailing down either side of Luna’s head, like a pair of rabbit ears, their spiraling curls preserved despite the seawater.  Talia was right, they were hard to miss.

She had grown into a fine young woman since her time in the games, her figure slim, and just a little shorter than you.  Her lips and beautiful brown eyes were pressed into a pout, and her arms were crossed in front of her pale blue one piece swimsuit.  Around her wrist was a new model of the Hunter-VG terminal, (tech always seemed to move on to the next big thing so fast In that world,) and you could just make out a text message from Rena on it, telling Luna you were on your way.

Luna stepped right in front of you.

“Weren’t you ever taught it’s rude to keep a lady waiting, Anon?”

“Hey, I came straight here after checking in at the front desk!”

“Not that!” Luna shook her head.  “I’ve been waiting since your date with Sonia to finally have my night with you!  What took so long?”

“I don’t think it’s entirely his fault,” Talia said, before continuing in a low mumble.  “Rena said something about trying not to run ladies form the same source material back-to-back, and the difficulty of balancing that when there were so many Pokemon girl requests…  I couldn’t follow all of it…”

You wrapped your arms around Luna.  “Look, the important thing is I’m here tonight, right?” 

Her expression softened, and she returned your embrace.  “I guess you DO have a point.  Better late than never.  Thank you for coming.”

She pressed her soft lips to yours for a long, warm kiss, each of you getting a good taste of the other.

When you parted, she walked back to her bag, and handed a pair of swim trunks to you.  “Now, hurry up and get those on!  Unless you want to just sit on the shore and watch me swim.”

“What, you want me to change right here, on the beach?”  You asked.  “Well, I suppose I could try… that technique.”

Luna frowned, unamused, while Talia looked curious.

“What technique?”  Talia asked.

“A technique allowing a guy to switch out of his street clothes and into swim trunks without completely undressing.  An ancient, forbidden quick-change art: Boxers Off.” 

Talia blinked a few times, confused.  “Why is it forbidden?”

“If it isn’t performed properly, well…  there’s a big risk of exposure.”

Talia looked away, trying to hide her blush.

“Yeah, no.”  Luna snorted.  She pointed over her shoulder.  “There’s a changing room right over there.  I’ve waited too long for this date.  Nobody gets to see you naked tonight before I do!”

 

*

 

You and Luna had fun bobbing up and down in the smaller waves, enjoying the brief weightless feeling as you rose up with the water, and the tumbling sensation as you dropped, afterward.  As you swam, the two of you talked about how each of your days had been.

“… And then there was the press conference after that, with questions about if I supported of the WAZA space program, what my hacker-prevention policies were, my thoughts on potential Satella Police corruption…”  Luna shook her head.  “Politics can get so exhausting.  I think half the reason I enjoy this hotel, and this park, is it feels like a little vacation from all of that.  And getting to share it with you, at last, makes it even better!”

“Heh, I can relate.”  You nodded, as another small wave lifted you up.  “Even before the park was added, it felt great to be able to come here each night, and be able to hear someone tell me ‘I love you’ each night, and really mean it.  It really helps give you the energy to face the next day, you know?”

“Oh, I know,” Luna said, moving in closer.  She gave you a quick kiss.  “I love you!” 

Another kiss.

“I love you!” 

And a third.

“I love you!”

You grinned, and peppered her with quick kisses and “I love you”-s as well, and she couldn’t help but giggle.

The two of you were so busy showering each other with affection, you hadn’t noticed the next wave had built up a bit bigger than last few.  That is, until you heard it crashing as it swept over both of you.

You both reached the surface, clearing the salt water out of your eyes.

Luna shook her head, her curls swaying around.  “We should-” She stopped and coughed.  “We should probably save the PDA for somewhere more stable.”

You nodded, and coughed.  “Yeah, probably.”  You grinned.  “But while we’re still here…”

You splashed her.

Luna huffed indignantly.  “Oh come on!  I’m already soaked!”

“Then a little more water shouldn’t bother you.”  You ran your arm through the water again, making a bigger splash.

“Ah!”  She glared at you.  “Well, in that case, it shouldn’t bother you, either!” 

She splashed you right back, and the battle was on.

 

*

 

Platinum-Moon: IT FINALLY HAPPENED!

HarpHero: Anon asked you out?

Platinum-Moon: Anon asked me out!

HarpHero: Congratulations!

HarpHero: What did I tell you?  He’d come around soon enough!

Platinum-Moon:  Yes, you were right.

Platinum-Moon:  Thank you for the encouragement.

Platinum-Moon:  And putting in a good word for me.

HarpHero: I barely had to, tbh.  You should have seen the way his face lit up when you came up in conversation.

Platinum-Moon:  …Not that I can’t naturally read what a man likes and give it to him, but was there anything you found out about him on your date that might help me out?

HarpHero:  Just try not to go full tsundere on him, and you’ll do great.

Platinum-Moon:  I make no promises.

 

 

*

 

Luna closed her Hunter-VG, and caught up with you.

After Luna had declared herself the definitive winner of your skirmish at sea, the two of you had tired yourselves out, and decided to head back the hotel, making a detour at the mall.

You’d changed back into the clothes you’d arrived in, while Luna had put on a navy-blue dress, whose top half resembled a blazer, as well as a set of cyan stockings with a thin spiraling trail of yellow running down their length. 

“And if you see anything you like, anything at all, just let me know, and I’ll get it for you.” she told you, walking beside you, “I’ve built up quite a supply of hotel credits.”

“That’s really nice of you,” you said, “but you don’t have to-”

“Oh, what else would I use them on?  I’ve got all the best things money can buy back home.  I’ve been looking forward to treating you to this since I first came to the hotel.”

One of your first stops was an art shop, filled with paintings, mosaics, and little sculptures by the hotel’s more artistic guests.  There were a variety of art styles on display, from classical, to cartoony, to anime-esque, to abstract.  The subjects were just as varied, with simple still-lifes, pretty portraits, lovely landscapes, and more.  And, of course, a few artists just couldn’t help but make pictures of you, too.  Some standard portraits, a few depicting you cuddling with various women, (presumably the creators of said paintings,) as well as some “tasteful nudes” and even a few that dipped into kinkier or more explicit territory. 

“We’ve got to commission a portrait of the two of us some time,” Luna said, as you looked around.  “Something dignified, but romantic.  The two of us holding each other, staring longingly into each other’s eyes…”

“We could take a photo like that right now, if you want.”

“Anyone can get a photo.”  Luna shook her head.  “You and I deserve to have our likeness captured by the brush of a master painter.  I wouldn’t settle for less.”

“Yeah,” you said, “But if we take a photo now, we could give it to the artist as a reference, so we wouldn’t have to sit there the whole time.”

She put her hands on her hips.  “Oh, so you’re saying you WOULDN’T like to hold me in your arms for a few measly hours while a master paints us?  Is that it?”

“No!  No, nothing like-, er, I mean, I WOULD like to do that, I just-”

She interrupted you with a kiss.

“Don’t worry, I’d get tired of holding that pose eventually, too.”

After some more time browsing, Luna picked an abstract piece for her room, and paid for a painting to your tastes as well.  The two of you continued your shopping trip, half the fun coming just from seeing the wide variety of specialty shops with otherworldly items.  One of the last stops was a video game shop, where an arena combat game starring a colorful cast of robotic NetNavis caught your eye on one of the demo displays for a console you didn’t recognize. 

“Oh, is that Undernet Arena 3?”  Luna said, grabbing one of the controllers.  “That’s a retro classic!  And so hard to find, too!”

You looked back at the screen.  Even knowing Luna was from centuries into the future of a world that was already technologically ahead of yours in its “present,” it felt weird to hear a game with graphics and presentation far beyond anything you’d seen be called “retro.”

“I didn’t think you’d be into video games,” you said, taking the other controller and picking a character.  “Not that I mind.”

“Well, you can’t spend most of your childhood being friends with Bud Bison and Zak Temple without spending a few hours playing games.  I fell off a little as I grew up, but after seeing you enjoying them over the streams, I figured it wouldn’t hurt to get back into them.  Especially when those Splatfests happened.  Anything to get a shot at a night with you.”

Her eyes narrowed as she returned her focus to the game.  You saw her character drill into the ground and disappear.  As you tried to figure out where she’d strike from, a giant drill emerged from the ground, causing your Navi to explode dramatically.

“Round one’s winner is: QuakeWoman.EXE!”  The game’s announcer shouted.

Luna grinned smugly.  “Looks like you need more practice.”

“It’s my first time playing this game, cut me some slack!”

“A lady doesn’t accept excuses.  Now get ready for round two!  If you can pull off a win, I’ll let you pick the first thing we do once we get back to my room.”  She winked at you.

With newfound motivation in your heart, you began the next round.

 

*

 

With your shopping trip finished, the two of you went to the elevator, heading back to your rooms, (with Luna’s many bags in your arms).  To your surprise, waiting at the bottom was Sonia.

“Anon!  Luna!  Perfect timing, huh?”  She smiled.  “Congrats to both of you for getting together.  You make a cute couple.”

“Thanks,” you said.  

“Of course we do.”  Luna locked an arm around yours, (making holding the bags a bit more difficult). “I would never settle for less than the best.”

The elevator doors opened, and the three of you stepped inside, with Sonia and Luna on either side of you.

Sonia smiled.  “I heard rumors that Rena sometimes broke her own rule about girls you hadn’t picked for the night not getting frisky with you.”  She leaned on your shoulder.  “They say you’ve had a LOT of fun in this elevator.”

“We played a few rounds of Smash Bros. and Splatoon, yes.” 

“So that’s what they call it where you’re from?”  Luna asked, leaning on you with a wry grin.

“Rumors like that could really give a girl ideas, you know,” Sonia continued, reaching up and gently running her fingers through your hair.

Luna became flustered.  “And by ‘a girl’ you mean the girl he agreed to date tonight, yes?”  She leaned on your other side, slowly rubbing your chest.

“Don’t worry, Luna, I’m not gonna steal your date!”  Sonia shook her head.  “I know how long you’ve been waiting for this.  You two deserve a night all to yourselves.  Still…”  She kissed you on the neck.  “You can’t blame me for wanting to flirt a little with the love of my life, can you?”

“Oh, you underestimate my power to blame people!”  Luna snorted in feigned indignation.  “But I’ll be fair and say it’s hard not to fall for a handsome, charming, thoughtful, funny, and brave man like Anon.”  She kissed you on the opposite side of your neck.  “So I’ll forgive you.”

“You’re both too kind.”  You kissed each one back, and attempted to hug both of them at once (your efforts were hampered by the arms full of bags, but it was the thought that counted).  “I love you both.”

“Thanks, Anon,” Sonia said.

“We love you too,” Luna nodded.

“It’s kind of funny,” Sonia said, “hearing you so willing to share Anon, considering how we met when we got here.”

“How you met?”  You repeated.  “What do you mean by that?”

Sonia paused, as if thinking how to best explain it.  “Well…”

 

*

 

Sonia looked around the hotel cafeteria, in awe of how many women were staying on this floor alone.  It was her first night at Hotel Fantasia, and while at first she’d been excited about the chance to finally meet the boy from her dreams, seeing just how many other women had been extended the same invitation, she was starting to wonder about her chances.

Then again, she thought, maybe this was just an unusually lucid dream, rather than another world, and she’d get her night with Anon, wake up the next day, and never dream about something like this again.

As she looked for an empty seat, she nearly bumped into a blonde woman about her age.

“Sorry about that,” Sonia said, “I need to pay more attention to- Luna?  Is that you?”

Luna blinked, and tilted her head.  “Sonia?”

Sonia looked just as confused.  “What are you doing here?  I thought everyone here was one of Anon’s potential girlfriends?” 

“We are!”  Luna replied, wide-eyed.  “So why are YOU here?  Aren’t you already married to Geo?”

“I- You-  WHAT?  No!  Even if I wasn’t waiting to meet Anon, my idol job would make it near-impossible to get a boyfriend back home!”  She shook her head.  “Besides, I know this is a weird dream world thing, but seriously, didn’t YOU marry Geo?”

“Me and Geo?  Are you really suggesting-”

“Honored guests!”  Rena stepped up to the two of them.  “Please, don’t make a scene.  In a way, you’re both right… And you’re both wrong.”

Both women looked at her in confusion.

“I can explain,” Rena continued, “but first, we need to talk about parallel universes.”

 

*

 

“I almost forgot how formal Rena was early on,” you mumbled.

“So it turned out that even though we were from the same ‘series,’” Sonia continued, “we were actually from two different timelines.”

“Yeah, it felt kinda weird to learn that we were both competing in a love triangle in the ‘canon’ universe, considering how easily we agreed to share you, here.”

“Even if you can’t help getting a little jealous,” Sonia said, winking.

“I was NOT jealous!”  Luna huffed.  “I was just fine watching you and Anon over the stream.  I happy that you and Sonia were happy, and-”

“Oh, so you’re fine with watching Sonia and I?”  You teased.  “Because we could do it again tonight if you really feel-”

“NO WAY!”

You dropped the bags as Luna hugged you tight and forced you into a kiss, Sonia giggling all the while.

DING DONG!

The elevator doors opened, and Sonia stepped out, holding them open for you as the kiss ended, and you grabbed the bags again.

Luna led you to her room, right next to Sonia’s.

“Good night, you two,” Sonia said, slipping through the door to her room.  “Have fun!”

Luna tapped the screen on the device on her wrist.  “Vogue, I’m back.”

The door was opened from inside by a hard-light projection of Luna’s AI “Wizard,” Vogue.  Though, instead of the robotic rabbit you’d come to expect from canon, she looked more like an android playboy bunny popping out of a floating top hat.

“Welcome back, Luna!”  She said.  “Oh, and it’s nice to properly meet you Anon!  Let me get your bags!”

You felt relieved as she took the bags from you, and followed her and Luna inside.

Her room was similar to her apartment from the games.  You passed a big living room with a massive futuristic wide-screen TV, an expensive looking sofa, and a handful of potted plants.  On the walls were pieces of abstract art. But where there had canonically been a photo of her sitting nervously between her parents, instead was a picture of Luna and her friends as adults, smiling confidently.

As Vogue retreated to the kitchen, you followed Luna into her bedroom.  The wall displaying all her trophies immediately grabbed your attention, followed by the wide pink canopy bed, and the Piano in the corner, across from her PC.

“So,” you spoke up.  “Seeing how you won the game back at the mall, you get to pick what we do first.  What’ll it be?”

She stood beside her bed, with her back to you.  She turned to look over her shoulder at you, and beckoned you closer with a finger. 

“First, you will have the honor of undressing me.  Slowly.  I want to make your you have time to appreciate my beauty.  Then we get in bed, start with the basics, and then experiment to see what works best for us from there.”

She didn’t have to tell you twice.  You carefully reached around her dress, undoing the buttons and clasps, while kissing her neck.

 

*

 

Some time later, the two of you were dressed again, (Luna having switched into a white nightgown,) and were sitting on the living room couch, with Luna’s head in your lap, relaxing as a nature documentary played on the TV in the background.

“You know,” you said, as you gently ran your fingers through her hair, “You haven’t been that tsundere tonight.  Not that I’m complaining.  Just a little surprised.”

She giggled softly.  “Well, if I’m here at all, it’s not like I could pretend I didn’t love you, could I?”

“Yeah, I guess so.”  You nodded.

“Plus, the Luna from the games only really acted tsundere toward the ordinary boy who always ran away whenever danger came, a few minutes before her knight in shining armor appeared.  The same boy who didn’t come back until a few minutes after the problem had been solved and the hero had left.”  She sat up.  “I really should have seen through that sooner, looking back.”

She put her arms around you, resting her head on your shoulder.  “But with you, I knew from the start that you were sweet, and kind, and clever, and brave, and sexy, and-”

“Brave?”  You repeated.  “I don’t know if I’d go that far.”

“Well, what do you call rushing out to help when those two weirdos were wrecking the park fighting with each other?”

“Oh, that?  Come on, both of those girls were in love with me, I knew they wouldn’t hurt me.”

“You knew they wouldn’t hurt you on purpose,” Luna corrected.  “But I had seen the doctors and nurses in the lobby expecting the worst.  Plus, the way you got them to stop was pretty clever, too.  You’re a hero in my book.”

She gave you a long, passionate kiss, as you hugged her tight.

“Thank you.”  You sighed happily.  “I love you, Luna.”

“And I love you, Anon.”

You sat there quietly in each other’s arms for a few moment.  Then Luna spoke again.

“Speaking of heroes… there’s this… fantasy, I’ve had…”

“Oh?”

Before she could respond, you heard a knock at the door.

“I’ll get it!”  Vogue said, floating past you.

You looked toward the door.  “Isn’t it a bit early for Rena to show up?”

“It’s not Rena,” Luna said.

The door opened, and Sonia stepped inside. 

“Hi Luna, I got your text.”  She reached for her guitar, as Lyra emerged from it.  “Is something up?  I assumed you’d want to have the whole night to yourselves.”

Luna stood up.  “Well, there was something I wanted to try… A fantasy I wanted to indulge in.  But I wanted you to be here, in case something went wrong.”

Sonia raised an eyebrow, confused.  “Uh… what kind of fantasy?   And go wrong how?”

“It’s just…  I’m tired of seeing all my other friends out risking their lives as heroes, while I’m stuck sitting on the sidelines as emotional support at best, and a damsel in distress at worst!”

Sonia shook her head.  “Luna, you know we don’t think less of you just because you’re not a fighter.”

“Yeah,” you added.  “I love you for who you are, not what you can do.”

“I know, but that just makes me feel more guilty about it!  Just once, I’d like to be more than a supporting character in someone else’s story! I want the power to take charge!”

The lights in the room flickered, and the image on the TV turned to static, with a blurry outline in the shape of a woman.  A low, seductive voice came from the TV’s speakers.

“Is that truly how you feel, Luna?  If so, I’d be happy to help…”

Lyra’s eyes shot wide open.  “Ophiuca?  She’s here?”

“I see how things might go wrong now,” Sonia mumbled.

Luna looked back at the TV and nodded.  “Yes.  I’ll let you in again.”

The voice laughed.  “Oh, I thought you’d never ask!”

“Luna, don’t!”  Sonia reached for her guitar, as Luna raised a hand and called out:

“EM Wave change!  Luna Platz!  On! The! Air!”

With a crackling sound, a mass of purple electrical energy flowed out of the TV, and took the shape of a woman with a wispy tail in place of legs, holding a snake-charmer’s flute.  She took Luna’s hand and the two glowed brightly, before suddenly merging. 

When the light cleared, Luna had changed completely.  Her skin had turned a pale blue color, and her modest blue nightgown had been replaced with a revealing black top and a thin, pink loincloth, alongside a pink veil, a red helmet shaped like a snake’s head, and a pair of large, purple shoulder pads.  But those were the small changes.  Her blonde, spiral locks had become a pair of large purple cylinders, each with a robotic snake curling around its surface, while below the waist, her legs had been replaced by a long, cybernetic, serpentine tail, the same shade of blue as her skin, with a stripe of deep purple down the underside.

She smiled, and when she opened her mouth, both her voice, and Ophiuca’s spoke in sync.

“Anon?  I think it’s time we had a little fun!”

 

*

 

You stood atop a tall tower in a cyberspace world in Luna’s computer, surrounded by a dozen or so virus monster-girls of various shapes and sizes.  They stood in a circle, weapons facing outward, constantly vigilant (aside from the occasional lust glance or shy, nervous wave back at you) for anyone attempting to free their target.

In the purple sky, amongst the shifting circuit patterns in the distance, you could see Sonia in her Harp Note outfit. She flew in circles around the tower, keeping a close eye on the situation, but seemed hesitant to move in.

“Don’t even try to run, babe,” said an android-like virus-girl with a hefty cannon strapped to her back.  “Nobody gets by us.”

You heard a pair of synchronized voices ring out from below:

“Finally, I’ll have you all to myself!”

Luna slithered up to the top of the tower, grinning when she saw you.

“Oh Anon!”  Both her and Ophiuca’s voices called.  “Once I’m done here, nobody will ever come between us ever again!”

Her eyes glowed, before unleashing a laser blast that paralyzed two of the virus-girls, who fell to the ground.  The rest let out battle cries and charged Luna, save one who stayed back, remaining hidden under a hard hat large enough to completely cover two people.

As Luna fought and weaved her way through them with serpentine speed and grace, the last virus lifted her helmet up.  Her eyes blinked up at you from the darkness within. 

“Hey, I know we’ve got no chance of winning this fight, but I’ve been waiting way too long to say…” She paused, her eyes glancing back and forth in a flustered way. “…that you’re super cute, and I want to give you this.” 

A little blue card slipped out from under the helmet. “Here’s my number so you can-”

Luna charged into the final virus, sending her flying over the edge of the building.

“CAAALLL MEEE!”

With stunning speed, Luna slithered to your side, and wrapped the end of her tail around your waist, pulling you into her arms.

“They weren’t too rough on you, were they Anon?”  Both voices asked.  She gently lifted your chin up to look at her.

“No, I’m safe.  Thanks to my hero, Luna.”  You chuckled and kissed her.  “Or, should I call you Queen Ophiuca when you’re fused?  I mean, that’s what the fusion was called in canon, but in that case Ophiuca was more in control, so I don’t know if it fits…”

“Just Luna is fine,” Luna’s voice said.

“Yes,” Ophiuca’s voice added.  “I know you asked for Luna specifically tonight, and I won’t take that from her.  I’m happy enough to spend time with you through her like this.  That said…”

Both voices finished the sentence.  “I LOVE hearing you call me ‘Queen.’”

You smile.  “Very well then, my Queen.”

Luna laughed.  “And Anon…  Thank you for letting me play the hero for a bit.  It really means a lot to me, even if it is just an act.”

“You’re welcome,” you said.  “It was fun watching you fight.”

You looked back to the various virus girls on the floor. 

“Uh, they’ll be okay, right?”

“Don’t worry, dear,” Ophiuca said.  “My troops are a hardy lot.  And I know how much they can take.  Isn’t that right, girls?”

A few of them raised their hands and gave a thumbs up, then each slowly got up and gradually shuffled out, to give you some privacy.  Once they’d left, Sonia flew out of sight as well.

Ophiuca continued, their tail coiling further around you.  “You know, half the reason my troops and I took part in the invasion of Earth in our timeline was in hopes of meeting you, sweet little Anon.”

“I’m… touched?”  You responded.  “This is kind of a tangent, but speaking of invasions invasions, how often do you get to use your power to control snakes?  I’d be surprised if every planet your king tried to invade had them.”

“I find more opportunities than you would think,” Ophuica said, with a laugh.  “For example…”  Their coils grew tighter around your waist. “If that bulge is any indication, Luna and I have charmed one snake already.”

“Oh that is awful!”  Luna said, laughing despite herself.

“It could be worse,” you said.  “Before the night was over, I was expecting one of you to make a joke about how you didn’t even need to use your Gorgon Eye to get me hard.”

“Never mind,” Luna said.  “That’s even worse.”

“Oh I’ve got plenty worse,” you said.  “I’ve spent so many nights in the elevator with Rena.  I’ve heard more cheesy innuendos than you can imagine.”

You felt the end of their tail slipping into your pants

“Perhaps we ought to make our lover scream in pleasure before he can think of a way to top that,” Ophuica suggested.

“Absolutely!”  Luna agreed.

You grinned.  “Before I can top that, you-”

Your moans interrupt your joke, as you’re pulled to the ground in a mass of serpentine coils.

 

*

 

Soft piano notes and guitar riffs mixed as you sat beside Luna in her room, listening to her and Sonia playing their instruments of choice.  Even Lyra and the no-longer fused Ophuica hovered in the corner, occasionally adding their harp flute into the mix.  You hummed along to the beat, and put an arm around Luna, careful not to get in the way of her playing.

As the song faded out, you hugged Luna closer, and kissed her.

“That was a great way to relax,” you told her.  “All of you really play well together.”

“Thank you, Anon,” Luna said, kissing you back.

“I’m happy to play for you any time!”  Sonia nodded.

“I’m happy someone appreciates my being here,” Ophuica said.

Sonia sighed.  “Look, I’m sorry I told Luna not to wave change with you, okay?  The Ophuica from my timeline almost killed me!  I panicked.  And the creepy way you showed up didn’t help!”

“That is… understandable.”  Ophuica said, sheepishly.  “All is forgiven.”

The doorbell rang again.

“ROOM SERVICE!”  Rena called.

You got up, and headed to the door as Vogue opened it.  You were surprised with what Rena rolled in.

“Not every day someone orders just the ingredients for a meal through Room Service,” Rena noted.

“I know,” Luna said, “But I wanted to make the meal myself.  I’d heard Anon mention his favorite food over the one of the lewdstreams, and I know nothing beats a home-made dish prepped with love.”

Rena set her hands on her hips, in exaggerated indignation.  “Are you saying I don’t make my meals with love?” 

Luna smirked.  “No.  But I want to keep every cook in this hotel on their toes.”

Sonia shook her head.  “You’ve still got a way to go before you’ve caught up to your mother, much less Rena or the chefs.”

“Which is why I don’t plan on letting any chance to practice pass me by.”  She turned to you.  “Just you wait, Anon, I’ll have the tastiest meal you’ve ever had ready soon!”

 

*

 

While it wasn’t the tastiest meal you’d had at the hotel, the food was still delicious.  After you, Luna, and Sonia had eaten, you spent several more hours chatting, cuddling, and enjoying music and games together.

But eventually, the night came to an end.  Luna followed you to the threshold, kissed you goodbye, and told you she’d look forward to your next date.

As you slowly woke up in your own room, you felt something wrapped around your wrist.

Pulling it up to have a look it, you saw a much later model of the Hunter-VG terminals, like the one Luna had been wearing.  It took a moment to figure out how to turn it on, but you found it came pre-loaded with Luna and Sonia’s numbers, a few small games, and quite a few photos of Luna.  There was also a notification going off:

You formed a Brotherband with Luna Platz!  You gained 60 Link Points!

Notes:

Fun fact: Luna was actually the first character I'd started writing a chapter for, when contemplating doing a spinoff/variation of the Hotel Fantasia formula. The scene of her wanting to fuse with Ophuica to play hero for a change (even if the "villians" were just playing along,) was actually what inspired me to take the setting in a more outdoors direction, to give room for a big fight to happen. (And then when I finally wrote it for real, I remembered it'd be even more fitting to happen in cyber-space, rather than the park anyway. Such is life. *laughs* But it arguably worked out better this way.)

Coming at it after having written the Kyogre and Groudon chapter DID make it a lot easier to play into her canon desire for a heroic "knight in shining armor," though.

Chapter 7: Humanized!Gardevior and Gothitelle

Summary:

Every night for over a year, you dream of Hotel Fantaisa, where you can spend the night with any woman you wish, in any way you wish. Tonight, you'll meet a lovely humanized psychic Pokemon pair in Garedvoir and Gothitelle, the Embrace Pokemon, and the Astral Body Pokemon, who doubtlessly see good things in your future.

This chapter was requested on chapter three by DarkFear34, clearly a fan of keen-minded ladies. (Side note: I hope you don't mind my covering both in one chapter, but the dynamic just felt right.)

Chapter Text

“Good evening Anon!”  Talia said, as you entered the park.  Her smile flattened into a look of concern as you got closer.  “You look tired.”

“It’s been a long day,” you said.  “Do you know of any nice, quiet, out of the way spots?  I’d like to rest a little before I pick my date tonight.”

“Yeah.” Talia nodded, holding out her hand.  “I’ll show you.  Follow me!”

Talia smiled and lead you away from the square, toward the park’s forest.  She took you off the main path, between many large, older looking trees, leading you deeper and deeper into the forest.  The sound of singing birds could be heard in the distance as you reached a small clearing.  Sunlight slipped through an opening in the canopy above, shining down on a set of tree roots that had grown out in the rough shape of a bench, cushioned in layers of leaves and moss.

“I’ve been practicing guiding other plants’ growth!” she explained, motioning for you to take a seat.  “It shouldn’t leave any stains when you sit on it!  …I hope.  Let me know if it’s comfortable!  I’ll find something better if it’s not!”

You caught her nervously tapping her fingers together as you turned and sat down.  The all-natural cushion turned out surprisingly comfortable, and you told her so as you leaned back.

“Oh, thank goodness!”  She smiled and nodded.  “I’ll, uh, let you rest here for a bit, and come back later.  Take it easy!”

You laid back on the bench for a while, just listening to the rustling of leaves and the chirping of birds and bugs.  When you finally felt rested and ready to go, however, you heard a couple of unfamiliar voices nearby.

“I’m telling you,” said an excited, sing-dong voice, “destiny is waiting for us, somewhere right around here, right about now!”

“Around here, about now…”  Muttered a lower, more muted voice.  “Just admit you got us lost.”

You stood up, and moved toward the voices, curious.

“I did NOT!”  The first voice huffed.  “But if you don’t want us to miss out on our destiny, maybe you could try to see exactly where and when the big moment’s gonna happen?  You’ve always been better at seeing the future than me.”

“Oh, NOW I’m better at reading the future, when we’re lost.  But when I tell the future when other people are around, I’m ‘ruining the moment’ or ‘being a downer.’”

“Look, I’ll admit you’re a genius at reading the stars!  But when it comes to reading the room…”

You finally got a look at the pair.  The first voice belonged to a Gardevior woman, with short, green hair, a long, flowing, white and green dress, bold, red eyes, and a fin-like organ in the same color growing from the center of her back, and chest.  She had a slim build, and stood about as tall as you did…  Though you couldn’t quite tell if she was levitating to boost her height or not, under the dress.  She also wore a silver necklace, with a Mega Stone embedded into it. 

The second was a Gothitelle woman, her skin a pale shade of purple, and her dark hair tied into two large spiraling curls that bobbed at either side of her head.  She wore a long, black dress, lined with thin frills and a trail of white bows down the center.  Her cute, round face sported bright blue eyes and plump red lips.

The Gothitelle woman smiled, then turned in your direction, resting her hands on her hips.  “Well well, Gwen.  Looks like your prediction was right after all.  Turns out destiny’s pretty handsome.”

“What do you mean-” the Gardevoir woman started, before she turned and saw you, too.  She gasped, bringing both of her hands to her mouth.  “Oh gosh, it’s him!”  She floated over to you with surprising speed, grabbing you by both hands.  “It’s great to meet you, Anon!  My name’s Gwen, and this is my sister, Giselle!”

“Hey,” Giselle said, casually.  “And I’m her half-sister, actually.” 

“What brings you all the way out here today?  Er- tonight?  It’s really out of the way!  Did you get lost too, or were you out here looking for something?  Oh, were you already on a date?  I-”

“Gwen!”  Giselle raised her voice, and gently pulled one of Gwen’s arms back.  “You’re not giving him room to get a word in.”

Gwen pursed her lips.

Giselle chuckled.  “Sorry, Anon, she tends to talk a lot when she’s nervous.”

“Who’s nervous?  I’m not nervous!  You’re nervous!  I can totally handle talking to a hottie like Anon just fine!  You can-”

“Shh!”  Giselle put a finger to Gwen’s lips.  “Let him answer your original questions first, hm?”

“Oh, right.”  Gwen nodded.

“Thanks,” you said to Giselle.  “And thank you both for the compliments.  You two are pretty cute, yourselves.  Anyway, I asked Talia, the Dryad who works out here most nights, if she knew some place out of the way to get some peace and quiet before my date, and-”

“Oh shoot, were we too loud?”  Gwen said.  “I’m sorry about that, sometimes things just-”

“Gwen…”

“Sorry.”

“…Anyway, I just happened to hear you two, and wanted to see what’s up.”

“Well you can see it now,” Giselle shrugged.  “Just a couple of gals getting lost in the woods.”

“We’re not lost!”  Gwen insisted.  “We’re THIS close to our destiny!”  She held up her hand, leaving a narrow space between her thumb and pointer fingers.  “I can feel it!”

“Destiny?”  You asked.  “What do you mean?”

Giselle half-snorted, half-chuckled.  “Now, isn’t that the question of the hour?”

Gwen rolled her eyes.  “Look, sometimes I get random flashes of the future, but it’s usually not the whole picture.  I get a rough idea of the time and the place we need to be, and when we head there, good things tend to happen.”  She smiled.  “Like meeting you!  Even if it’s only for a little bit before your date shows up!”

“I hadn’t actually picked my date yet,” you said, looking back and forth between the two of them.  Gwen’s eyes widened, while Giselle seemed to be staring at something above you, her face twisted in a look of confusion.  Before you can ask Giselle what she’s looking at, Gwen speaks up.

“You haven’t?  Do you hear that, Giselle,” she tugged on Giselle’s arm.  “He hasn’t picked his date for tonight yet!  What if my vision was showing us that our date with destiny would be a literal date?”

Giselle was too distracted by whatever she was looking at.  “Oh, yeah, destiny,” she muttered, without looking away.  “Yeah, I hear you.”

You chuckled.  “Well, I wouldn’t want to get in the way of your destiny.  Especially if it means getting to know you lovely ladies better.  So… Would you like to be my dates for tonight?”

“You bet!”  Gwen cheered, floated up to you, and hugged you tight, while covering you in little kisses, and you were quick to return the favor.  She paused, and looked back at Giselle, who was still staring just above you.  Gwen let go of you and gently elbowed her.

“Oh, right,” Giselle said, still staring.  “I’d like to go out with you, too.”

You stopped, and looked above you, then over your shoulder.  Not getting a clear view of whatever Giselle saw, you finally asked, “what are you looking at?”

“I just can’t figure out when and how you’re gonna die,” Giselle said, nonchalantly.

“I’m sorry, WHAT?”

“GISELLE!”  Gwen yelled.  “This is what I was talking about!  This is NOT how you start your first date if you want there to be a second!”

Giselle ignored her, and explained.  “Oh, yeah, I can see the lifespan of, well, everyone, usually.  If I look a little harder, I can even see how they’ll go.  For example, Gwen here will pass out after a-”

Gwen slapped a hand over Giselle’s mouth.  “Shh!  I told you not to talk about that!”

Giselle pulled Gwen’s hand away.  “It’s gonna happen whether I say it or not, why should it make a difference?”

“There’s a time and a place for conversations like that.”

“Yeah, funny how that time and place never seem to come up.”

“Uh, if you don’t mind my asking,” you interrupted, “you said you CAN’T see my lifespan, right?  Why do you think that is?”

Giselle crossed her arms, looking off to the side, in thought.  “The place where I’d normally see a person’s lifespan is… ‘smudged,’ is the best way I can put it.  I can see something there, but I can’t make out what.  Maybe the goddess that was giving all of us these dreams wanted to keep us from telling you how it ends.  Or maybe souls, or fate, or whatever, work so differently in your world that I just can’t get a read on you.”

“Or maybe you’re immortal,” Gwen suggested.  “Or will be.  Later.  That’d be pretty cool, if that’s what it was.”

Giselle dismissed the suggestion with a “pah” and a wave of her hand.

“What, would it really be that weird?”  Gwen asked.  “He’s already dating several literal goddesses!  If one of them can’t give him immortality, maybe he’ll end up dating Xerneas or something, and just being around her so often will be enough to give him eternal life.  That’d be awesome!”

“Hmm…”  Giselle rubbed her chin.  “I guess living in the vacuum of space for a few millennia after earth is gone, before getting to see and feel the end of the universe in person would be pretty awesome…”

Gwen groaned.  “And there you go, killing the mood again!”

“What?  Are you saying seeing the end of all things wouldn’t be awesome?  Especially in the old meaning of the word.”

“ANYWAY!”  Gwen said, desperate to change the subject.  “Talia led you out here, right?  So maybe you know the way back?”

“Oh, yeah,” you said, “I can…”  It suddenly dawned on you that, in your exhaustion, you hadn’t paid close attention to your surroundings.  You could lead them back to Talia’s makeshift bench, but that was about it.

Before you had time to admit this however, you heard Talia calling out your name.

“Anon?  Anon?”

She stepped out from behind a tree.  “Oh, there you are!”  She sighed in relief, and rushed up to your side.  “When you weren’t on the bench, I was worried something bad might’ve happened!”

“I’m fine, Talia.  Thanks.”  You smiled.  “Not that you needed to worry.  This park is one of the safest places I could be.  What could have happened to me, anyway?”

“Besides getting lost,” Giselle murmured.

“I don’t know,” Talia admitted.  “Maybe an impatient villainess could have tracked you down and tried to kidnap you, or something.” 

Gwen wrapped her arms around you smiling proudly. “I’d never let something like that happen to you, Anon!  We Gardevoir aren’t just partners for life, we’re protectors for life, too!  If anyone tried to hurt you, or kidnap you, or anything like that, I’d deal with them myself!”

“And how would you ‘deal with them,’ exactly?” Giselle asked.  “Anyone who’d try to kidnap Anon here, when he’s got multiple goddesses fawning over him, would have to be either powerfully stupid, or stupidly powerful.”

Gwen grinned wider.  “If I really focus, I can make a small black hole!  Gravity is a cruel mistress that few can fight.”

“Given the hypothetical kidnapper we’re talking about here would be someone I’d probably ask on a date willingly, at some point,” you said, “I feel like that’s overkill.”

Talia giggled softly.  “I guess it was silly to worry.  You’re clearly in good hands.”

“I’m glad to hear that you care, though,” you said, putting a hand on Talia’s shoulder.  “Plus, you showing me the way out here led to me meeting these two gorgeous gals, and my two newest girlfriends, so I gotta thank you for that.”

Gwen nodded enthusiastically in thanks, as well, while Giselle shrugged and smiled.

“Oh!  You’re welcome!  And congratulations to you two, too!  If there’s anything else I can do to help, just let me know!”

“Do you know any scenic routes back to the main path?”  You asked.  “It would be nice to have some pretty scenery while we’re traveling.”

“I think it’s all pretty,” Talia said, “but, uh, I can try to find you the nicest path back.”

“Thank you,” you said, pleased you wouldn’t have your sense of direction questioned this night.

 

*

 

With Talia leading the way, it didn’t take too long to get back on the main trail through the forest. 

“Thanks for leading us back, Talia,” Gwen said.

“You’re welcome,” Talia nodded.  “I’ve gotta go tell Rena about your dates, for the hotel’s records, so I can’t stick around.  But you three have a great evening, Okay?  See you!”

You and the two Poke-girls waved goodbye, then turned, and continued down the path, Giselle on your left, and Gwen on your right.

“Probably for the best I didn’t have to lead us out of there,” said Giselle with a smirk.  “You know what they say about the whole Gothitelle line, when it comes to people getting lost.”

“What do they say?”  You asked.

“There’s lots of rumors of us, especially during our Gothita phase, using hypnosis to lead innocent children out in the woods to be our playmates.  Forever and ever…”

“I’m sorry people would spread lies like that about you,” you said.

Giselle leaned in closer, smiling wider.  “Are they lies though?”  Her eyes glowed a bright blue.  “Are they, really?”

Gwen rolled her eyes.  “Yes, they are.”

“And you say I kill the mood,” Giselle scoffed, her eyes returning to normal.  “But you don’t need to be sorry, Anon.  The rumors made for a good filter back in school.  Anyone who’d talk to me despite them was someone who didn’t just blindly believe whatever they heard.  Made friends with a couple chill Absol ‘cause of that.”  She pressed closer as you walked.  “That you called them out as lies right away means my dreams were right about you.  Like my dreams always are.  So… thanks for that.”

“You’re welcome,” you said, turning and kissing her.  She blushed, but leaned into it, savoring the sensations.

Gwen giggled, wrapping her arms around both you and Giselle.  “You look cute together.”

“Feeling left out?”  You asked, turning your head to give her a kiss as well.

“Nah, I just-” she was interrupted by your lips on hers, and she relaxed into it, letting you take the lead as your tongues met.

“She’s just being true to herself,” Giselle said.  “They don’t call Gardevoir the Embrace Pokemon for nothing.  Gwen’s super huggy.”

Gwen sighed happily as you finished, then shook her head, regaining her bearings.  “I’m not THAT huggy.”

“It’s been how you’ve greeted anyone you’ve considered a friend or family since you were three,” Giselle said.

“Maybe I just feel like people need a little more physical affection in their lives, huh?  Doesn’t mean I’m ‘super huggy.’”

“You haven’t let go since you started hugging us,” Giselle said.

“Oh…” Gwen blushed, and her arms dropped to her sides.  “Sorry, got a little carried away.”

“Hey, it’s alright,” you said, hugging her back.  “I’m one hundred percent fine with ‘super huggy.’”

She smiled, wrapping her arms around you again and patting your back.  “Thanks.”

When she let you go, you took her hand, and Giselle’s.

“Really?”  Giselle said.  “All three of us holding hands, walking through the woods?  Feels a little corny to me.”

“I think it’s cute,” Gwen said.  “Besides, he’s got two hands.”

“Yeah, but if one of us is slower than the rest, then everyone has to slow down.”

“If it bothers you,” you said, letting go of Giselle’s hand, “we don’t have to do it.”

Giselle hesitated, but grabbed your hand again, anyway.  “I never said I didn’t want to.”

You smiled, and continued down the trail, enjoying the calm atmosphere, and the two beauties at either side of you.

 

*

 

As you came to the end of the forest trail, you heard wind and string music in the distance, and Gwen perked up.  “Oh, that sounds nice!  Can we go take a look?”

“Why not?”  you replied.

You saw the music had been coming from a little gazebo.  A handful of women sat or stood around it, listening as a woman in what looked like a Victorian era dress played on a violin, and a faun wearing a tunic of leaves played on her flute.  Their tune was fast-paced and jaunty, and their audience were bobbing their heads in time with the beat.  The musicians looked up briefly, smiling and exchanging knowing glances when they noticed you, but kept playing without missing a beat.

“Oooh, I love a live performance!”  Gwen cheered, lifting off the ground in glee, tugging your hand.  “Come and dance with me, Anon!”

“I don’t know,” you said, “I haven’t danced much, in public.”

“Don’t worry about it!”  She said, tugging you closer to the Gazebo. “Just follow my lead, and I’ll show you!  I’ve literally dreamed of this moment for years!”

“I could try,” you said.  “Still, that’s a lot of people…”

“All people who would LOVE to see you!”  Gwen reminded you.

“True,” you acknowledged.  “But still…”

“Oh come on,” Giselle said, “you weren’t this flustered when Kyogre and Groudon were tearing this place up!”

“Adrenaline can make you do some crazy things.”

Giselle shrugged.  “Maybe one of us can come up with a way to make it easier, if Gwen’s got her heart set on dancing so much.”

“I can make some cover for you, if you want,” Gwen said.  “Watch!”

She let go of your hand and took a step back, before slowly spinning, her dress fanning out as she rose off the ground.  Soft, pink mist spread out around her.  Light danced off the floating particles, creating an ethereal glow.

Giselle shook her head.  “I feel like a pink cloud appearing out of nowhere is gonna make MORE people look your way, not less.”

“Yeah, but if all they see is the cloud, and not our dancing,” Gwen said, raising her hand, causing the edges of the misty terrain to rise into glowing pink walls, between you, and any onlookers, “then there’s no need to worry about who’s watching.”

Giselle shrugged.  “I was gonna suggest we hypnotize you to ignore the other girls and just dance however you wanted, but that works too.”

You chuckled.  “Well, okay, Gwen.  I’ll give it a shot.”

Gwen seemed to glide effortlessly through the mist as she led your dance.  (And perhaps she really was gliding.  You couldn’t see if her feet were touching the ground or not.)  Despite the music’s fast pace, she managed to guide you through it gently, while still keeping up with the rhythm, the two of you twirling around together in near-perfect sync.  Each of you had one arm around the other’s waist, as the other gripped their partner’s hand, and her chest pressed up against yours.  Your eyes were locked on her own ruby red eyes, and her sweet smile and occasional giddy giggles gave the whole experience a sense of warmth like little else back home.

“This has been my first time dancing with a guy since I was a Kirlia!”  She said.  “And the first time ever I’ve danced with someone I loved.  I’ve been looking forward to this for so long!  Oh, it’s like heaven on earth!”

“Thanks,” you said.  “I was nervous going in, but just the look on your face makes this all worth it.”  You gave her a quick kiss, just before the song reached a crescendo.  A ripple shot through the mist around you, making it sparkle and shine.  Gwen laughed, let go of you, and leapt into the air.  Surprised, you instinctively reached out to catch her, even as her telekinesis slowed her fall, letting her land gently into your waiting arms, in a bridal carry pose, just as the song faded out.  She embraced and kissed you once again, giggling.

“That was great, Anon.  Thank you.”

“No, thank you!”

She turned her head and looked to Giselle.  “Would you like the next dance?  I think I can hear the musicians starting up again.”

“I’m good,” Giselle said.  “Besides, this music’s not really my style.”

“Okay then,” Gwen said, smirking.  “I guess Anon will go back home remembering MY time with him best!”

Giselle frowned slightly, as the music slowly started up again.  You set Gwen down, and got in position to dance.

“What was that about?”  You asked. 

“I’m just making sure she doesn’t miss a chance to dance with you,” Gwen whispered.  “She plays it cool, but she can get super competitive if you push the right buttons.  I think she recently learned the Ally Switch techni-”

In a flash, Gwen was gone, and Giselle had taken her place.  Though, not being as tall and/or skilled in levitation as Gwen, she found herself quickly dropping a few inches, in your grip.

She gasped, but quickly regained her composure.  “Sorry if you were expecting another round with Gwen, but I had to show you something that was REALLY worth remembering.”

On the sidelines, you could see Gwen, arm raised to her forehead as she leaned back dramatically, feigning deep disappointment at her ‘loss.’

Giselle’s narrower dress didn’t allow for the wide, flowing movements Gwen had made look effortless, forcing the two of you to dance at a slower pace as the music went on.

“What did you have in mind?” You asked.

She grinned.  “You ever wanted to see how the universe ends?” 

Hundreds of little points in the misty walls around you glowed brighter, as the rest slowly went pitch black, creating the illusion of the two of you floating through deep space as you danced.

As you took in the breathtaking sights, you saw one particularly large star go from yellow, to orange, red, then white, seeming to shrink slightly.

“I sped the process up a little,” Giselle said.  “You’re seeing the last few centuries unfold in minutes.”

The white star went cold, then collapsed in on itself, becoming a massive black hole, slowly drawing in all matter and light toward it.  Planets collided and crashed through each other, larger ones smashing the smaller into rubble.  The light pulled into the hole swirled around it, creating a shimmering spiral that laced between the flying planets.  One after the other, more and more stars went white, then collapsed, the resulting black holes pulling together and drawing in more matter.

And while all of this went on, Giselle danced with you, unfazed by any of it.

“Beautiful, isn’t it?”  She asked

“Not half as beautiful as you.”

“That’s so corny,” she scoffed. “But from you, I’ll take it.”

The ever-larger black hole seemed to create a whirlpool of light beneath your feet, every visible star and planet all drawing toward a single point, the light growing brighter as everything around it went dark.  The light around the black holes built brighter and brighter as the music swelled.  Giselle leaned in for a long kiss, as the last of the light was pulled in, the black hole collapsed in on itself, and the world went dark.

You let out a breath you hadn’t realized you were holding.

“That was incredible,” you said, running your fingers through her curls.

Giselle stroked your cheek.  “So are you.”

As the mist returned to its usual pink color, you noticed Gwen, again.

“So, I poked my head out of the could while you were dancing,” she explained.  “There are a LOT of girls curious what’s going on in here.”

“Who could have guessed?”  Giselle said.

“Hey, the cloud kept them from seeing our dance, I never said it wouldn’t be noticed.  But there is a bit of a crowd out there now.  It might be difficult to get through.”

You shrugged.  “I figure a lot of them would let us pass if we asked.”

Gwen smiled.   “Yeah, but why fuss with that, when I can just teleport us straight to our hotel room?”  She leaned in closer.  “Then we can have some REAL fun!”

“Sounds fine to me!”  You said.  “Let’s go!”

Gwen pulled you and Giselle into a big hug.  Her body glowed, the light enveloping all three off you.  And then, you felt a sudden burst of energy, and a sharp sense of speed, like your body was being thrown through the air.

Meanwhile, as the mist cleared behind you, the onlookers were surprised to see nobody left behind.

“…Oh shit!”  Cried a Lilligant girl, “That Gothitelle kidnapped Anon!  The rumors were true!”

 

*

 

Gwen and Giselle’s hotel room was split into two bedrooms, and a living room, the latter of which had a small, but beautifully carved wooden table and chairs, a large sofa placed in front of a TV, photos of their large family hanging from the walls, and a few shelves lined with a mix of books and decorative knick-knacks belonging to them.  Gwen’s side of the shelves featured high-fantasy stories (Such as the Gears Of Time Trilogy, and The Sacred Agieslash)  and romance novels, (Destiny’s Knot, and From Trainer To Lover In Six Easy Steps,) as well as some plushies and little sculptures of several “cute” species like Ponyta and Buneary.  Giselle’s side featured horror novels, (The Crobat Countess, Tinkenstein,) and other works of gothic literature, (Giratina’s Elixir, The House of Seven Gabite,) alongside a collection of porcelain dolls of ghost Pokemon wearing frilly black dresses.

“Wait,” you said, as you looked them over.  “Aren’t all Pokemon basically monster-folk in your world?”

“Yeah,” said Gwen.  “Why?”

“If that’s the case, how’d you get these dolls of the…” You stopped yourself short of saying ‘normal versions.’ “…Main universe’s Pokemon?”

Gwen giggled, and patted you on the back. “There are some questions you aren’t ready to hear the answer for.”

“She got them from someone that lives in a world like yours, that was selling hand-crafted plushies in the hotel mall,” Giselle explained, flatly.

“Aw, come on, Giselle!  I thought you of all people would appreciate a little mystery.”

“Was it really a mystery, though?”

“It was to him,” Gwen said, hugging you.  “Sooo… would you like to… er… do it, now?”

“Gwen, you know what this hotel was set up for,” Giselle said, “you don’t need to be all coy and polite about it.”

“I like to keep things sweet, though,”

“Don’t worry about that,” you told her, hugging her back.  “Be as sweet as you like, I don’t mind, especially from you.  And the answer is absolutely yes.”

“Aw,” Giselle said.  “And here I was hoping I’d get to go first.”

“You can if you like,” Gwen said, still hugging you tightly.

“Or we could have a threesome,” you suggested.

“Not that I mind the sound of that, but I’m a big girl,” Giselle said, “I can wait.  Just promise me you won’t mega-evolve on him the first round, Gwen?  I don’t want him completely drained before I get my turn.”

Gwen winked.  “I’ll do my best.”

She glowed, and you felt the sudden rush of teleportation again, before finding yourself in her bedroom, judging by the relaxing green color, as well as the presence of more cute posters and shelves fantasy stories. 

And judging by the sudden breeze, plus the feel of skin on skin, she’d neglected to teleport either of your clothes.

“I’ve waited so long for this,” she said, pulling you gently toward the big, soft bed.  “But I want to say ‘thank you’ for going out with Giselle, too.  She likes to play it cool and tries not to make her feelings obvious, but I could feel the joy radiating off her during your dance.  That’s the happiest she’s ever been!”

“Thank you,” you said.  “I’ll be sure to make this a night to remember for both of you.”

“I know you will, my love.  I can feel how much you love us and want us.  And I love you every bit as much!”

 

*

 

Giselle’s room had been decorated to fit her own gothic tastes, painted black, with spots of white on the ceiling, forming various constellations.  Astronomical and astrological charts lined the walls sat on the walls.   The furniture was all ornate, the posts and legs carved to look like different spooky or monstrous Pokemon.

You were slowly helping Giselle undo the numerous ribbons and laces that held her long, fancy dress up, when she looked back, and spoke to you.

“Hey.  Thanks for helping me get out of this thing.  I know it can be a pain when you’re feeling horny and it takes this long to get undressed, believe me.  I’m just as eager to get this off as you.”

You chuckled.  “Heh, no problem.”

“…By the way…  I know it’s kinda cliché to just… say it, but since I can’t tell your future, I don’t want to waste the chance, if this does happen to be our last meeting:  I love you.  And I wanna stick with you until the very end.  Even when we’re old and gray.  Okay?”

“I want that too, Giselle,” you said, kissing her neck.  “Cliché or not, I love you, too.”

“Thanks…”  She said, her dress slipping off her as you undid the final ribbon.  She grabbed you by both hands, your fingers interlocking together.  “Now, let’s not waste time, okay?  Give me everything you’ve got!  If things get good enough, there might be a little something extra for you.”  She winked.

“What do you mean?”

“Well, you know how the whole Ralts line tend to gradually sync up with their trainer’s feelings of happiness when near them, becoming happier when their trainer does, and powering up from that?”

“Yeah, I think I remember a Pokedex entry about that,” you said.

“Well, when they reach adulthood, and form a particularly deep bond… say, after they’ve fucked for the first time…” She set a hand on your chest, steadily stroking downward, a teasing grin on her face. “That can happen with other feelings, too.  Like arousal.”

She chuckled as realization dawned on your face.

“Let’s just say, if you can make things interesting enough, Gwen’ll be begging to join in.”  She slipped a bracelet with a keystone on your wrist.  “Still up for a threesome?”

 

 

And sure enough, midway through your first time with Giselle, you heard load moans from outside, followed by the sounds of Mega Evolution.  The door burst open, and Gwen glid in, her once-simple green and white dress replaced by what looked a pure-white wedding down, her white face red with arousal.  The red fin on her chest had split in two directions, and you could hear her heartbeat racing from within, in perfect sync with your own.

“A-Anon!  S-sorry to interrupt Giselle’s t-time, but I need you again!”

Giselle grinned between gasps.  “C-come on, Gwen!  There’s room for… oooh… more!”

 

 

*

When the three of you had thoroughly exhausted yourselves, Gwen had suggested watching a movie, to relax as you got your energy back.  The three of you had piled onto the couch in various levels of dress, with you sandwiched between the two women as Gwen flipped through the options.

“Oh! I’ve heard great things about Danger in the Dreamyard,” she said.  “I just know you’re gonna love it.”

“Yeah,” Giselle said with a shrug.  “The ending’s kinda bland, though.  And the betrayal by-”

Gwen reached across you to cover Giselle’s mouth.  “What did I tell you about using your psychic powers to spoil movies?”

Giselle pushed her hand away.  “I didn’t. Gwen, it’s a Pokestar Studios production.  You don’t need psychic powers to guess how it’s all gonna go in the first five minutes, if not from the trailer.”

“But these films aren’t about the destination,” Gwen replied.  “They’re about the journey.”

“If they’re about the journey, why does it matter if I spoil the movie or not?”

“…Just let us watch in peace.”

As the film started, there came a knock at the door.

“ROOM SERVICE!”  Called Rena.

She unlocked the door and stepped inside.  “Well, looks like you three have had a good time.”

“The best,” said Giselle.

“It was wonderful,” Gwen said.  She put a hand on your chest.  “HE was wonderful.”

“Isn’t he just?”  Rena smiled.  She turned to look at the screen.  “Oh, Danger in the Dreamyard, huh?  Too bad I didn’t bring popcorn for you with the meal.  Still, you guys are in for a treat.  This is one of those movies where the director gave Rosa a ton of creative freedom.”

“Rosa?”  Giselle asked.  “Like, the Unova champion?  I didn’t know she could act.”

“Oh, there’s a lot of things she can do that’ll surprise you.”

“I doubt it,” Giselle said.  “Not much can surprise me.”

 

*

 

Giselle was indeed surprised by the film’s ending, (and you had been left wondering how the part with the Octillery-woman was legal,) and when it was finished, the three of you spent several hours more chatting, cuddling, and reading.  But, as with any other, the night had to end.  You walked hand in hand with Gwen and Giselle to the door, hugging and kissing them goodbye, before you crossed the threshold.

You woke up, back in your own bed once again, when you felt something around your wrist.  Bringing it up to look at, you saw it was a Mega Bracelet of your own, along with a pristine white ribbon.

Chapter 8: Humanized! Darkrai (Pokemon)

Summary:

Every night for over a year, you dream of Hotel Fantaisa, where you can spend the night with any woman you wish, in any way you wish. On this Halloween night, you've chosen Darkrai, the legendary Pitch-Black Pokemon. You might just be setting yourself up for the best Bad Dreams of your life.

This chapter was requested by nightmare enthusiast Austin Morrison on chapter 1, (and had been on my personal pick list, as well, for the sheer story potential in this setting). Enjoy!

Chapter Text

As you stepped into the hotel, you found the lobby decorated with pumpkins, paper bats and witches hanging from the ceiling, and more.  Rena stood behind the reception desk, munching on some candy from a bowl labeled “take one.” 

“Good evening, Rena.”  You called.  “Got the place decorated for Halloween, huh?”

Rena swallowed her candy.  “Yep!  I’ve been feeling festive.  And a bunch of girls on the basement floors are loving it.  So, who’s getting tricks and treats from you tonight?  You want to go with the theme, and meet a monster girl?  Or are you in the mood for something sweeter?”

“I’ll go with the theme.  Let’s meet someone spooky,” you said. 

Rena tapped on her keyboard, then started scrolling down the list.  “Let’s see, so, so many to choose.  We’ve got more vampires and werewolves than you can count, those cute Zombieland Saga girls, plenty of hot witches…”

“I think I’ve got one,” you said.  “Any Darkrai girls here?”

Rena frowned, and stopped scrolling.  “Well, we do have a few here on the guest list, but there’s only one who’s actually HERE tonight, and she- well…  There’ve been some concerns about her…”

“Oh.” 

You paused.

“She’s not the one from Pokemon Mystery Dungeon, is she?”

“What?  No!  No no nonono nooo.  No.”  Rena shook her head emphatically.  “We aren’t taking in guests that’d try to convince you the world would be better off if you ‘made yourself disappear.’  No, this Darkrai goes by ‘Melanie.’  She’s friendly, but she can’t consciously stop her nightmare creating self-defense ability.  And given…”  She gestured around the room.  “Where we are, that’s a big problem!”

“Yeah, I see what you mean.”  You nodded.

“Honestly, I wonder what Somnatrix was thinking, inviting a guest that can affect the dream world she made, without meaning to, but she must have her reasons.  Thankfully, she brought in a Cresselia from the same world: Lucile.  Since they were invited to the hotel, they’ve always come in and left as a pair.  She’s able to keep Melanie’s ability in check long enough to let them go from the lobby to her room without any permanent damage to the upper floors of the hotel.”

“She’s gotta be lonely,” you said.  “That makes me want to see her even more.”

“Are you sure?” Rena asked.  “I get wanting to help her feel better, but a LOT could go wrong here, even compared to the other basement residents.  Lucile will need to be there as your Lifeguard.  And even that might be enough.  I don’t want you getting hurt.  Or worse…”

Considering how worried the normally upbeat kitsune looked, you could tell she was serious.  You gave it some thought before you answered.

“Yes.  I want to spend the night with Melanie.”

Rena sighed.  “Alright.  I’ll call up her and Lucile to let them know.”

After a few minutes of chatter with Rena about each of your days with Rena, (anything to help distract her from your next date,) the elevator rang it’s iconic (Rena’s words, not yours,) “DING DONG!”

As the doors opened, the room seemed to grow subtly brighter, and out stepped Lucile. 

She stood a head taller than you, even without her high-heeled slippers.  She wore sparkling yellow dress, atop which she had a long, flowing blue coat, with golden and purple trim, and golden crescent patterns on its side.  Four feathery wings, shimmering pink and purple, extended from her back, the two longer, lower ones stretching forward around her, while the shorter, upper two formed a small circle behind her.  A silk sash, glittering like gold, ran down her sides and around the back of her neck, where it rose, suspended in mid-air, around her face, before dropping down the other side, creating the impression of a halo.  In her bright blonde hair, she wore a Tiara with two golden crescents centering around a large, round, purple gemstone.

Little twinkling particles drifted off her wings as she walked toward you, smiling brightly.  She seemed to give off an aura of happiness; the potted plants looked a little greener as she walked by them, and even the smiles on the jack-o-lanterns seems wider.  As she stepped up to you, you couldn’t help but feel joy, comfort, safety, (and a little turned on,) just by being near her, and it looked like Rena was feeling it, too.

“Good evening, Rena, Anon!”  Lucile fluttered her purple eyes at you.  “Oh, I’ve wanted to meet you for so long!”  She pulled you into a hug, wrapping her arms and lower wings around you, then gently rubbing your back.  “You’re just as handsome as I dreamed.”

Rena coughed, and Lucile shook her head, and pulled her wings back.  “Oh, thank you, I almost forgot!  Melanie will be delighted to see you, too!  I won’t keep her waiting, let’s go, Anon!”

She put an arm around you, and walked beside you to the elevator.  Rena followed, pressing the buttons for Basement 803, before taking a seat beside you and Lucile.

“It’s gonna be a long way down,” Rena said.  “We basically gave Melanie a whole floor to herself.  And kept floors above and below that floor clear too, except for a few who actually enjoy the nightmares.”  She grinned.  “On the plus side, that means I’ve got at least fifteen minutes with a sexy pair of guests.”  She leaned over and kissed you, resting a hand on your upper thigh.

“Rena?  Lucile asked.  “I thought there were rules about getting frisky with Anon unless he requested you.”

“Okay, for one, he HAS requested me before; I have Girlfriend Privileges. For two…”  She leaned toward Lucile.  “I won’t tell if you don’t.”

 

*

 

DING-DONG!

Rena and Lucile helped you wipe away any remaining lipstick marks as you got up.  But as you peered out of the elevator, something looked off, even for the deliberately spooky aesthetic of the basement floors.  You could see patches of the usual rusty metal floors and walls, but they were obscured by masses of pitch-black… stuff… that you couldn’t clearly identify in the dim lighting.  The air felt damp and heavy.  You could hear faint, wet squelching sounds, and the occasional skittering of something crawling around the halls.

“Melanie’s spending each night here has had an effect on this floor, as you can see,” Rena explained.  “It stays like this even when she leaves in the morning.”

As Lucile stepped out of the elevator, her body’s soft glow seemed to dissipate the mass in a circle around her.  Though as she stepped further out, and you got a better look at what was happening, you realized that the floor hadn’t just been covered in that mass; the floor had BECOME that stuff.  With each step Lucile took, the mass exposed to her light writhed, then straightened out, turning from the strange pitch-black, flexible, and moist mass, to the rusted-gray, stable, dry metal.

“Are you ready, Anon?” Lucile asked, looking back at you.

You nodded, and followed her out of the elevator.  You looked back at Rena.

“Aren’t you coming, too?”  You asked.

“I’d love to, but I’d need Lucile’s help to get back to the elevator, and that would mean leaving YOU alone down here.  So this is as far as I can go.”  She reached out, a kissed you.  “Stay safe, okay?”

“I will,” you said.  “I mean, you used to be worried about my visiting any of the basement floors for a while, but the last couple times you pointed out I was fine every time.”

“Yeah, maybe it’s just the nightmares down here getting to me.  Still, be careful.”  She gave you one more kiss.  “I love you.”

“Love you too, Rena.”  You said, before the elevator doors closed.

“Stay close,” Lucile advised, as she started walking.  You followed beside her arm in arm, trying to ignore the sensation that the walls were watching, and the claws you could swear you saw reaching for you out of the corner of your eye, only to vanish when you looked back.  As you went down the halls they seemed to bend and twist at odd angles.  The doors to other rooms opened with ominous creaks as you passed, and inside you could catch flashes of staring eyes, gleaming fangs, or silent, eerie figures shrouded in shadow.

“So,” you started, “You come in here with Melanie each night, what’s she like?”

Lucile smiled.  “We’re actually good friends back home, too.  She does her best to put on an intimidating act, to scare people off before her powers can hurt them, but she’s really very gentle and caring.  If she could help it, she wouldn’t hurt a Cutiefly!  She loves poetry, literature, and dancing.”

She sighed.  “I know why she can’t leave, but I wish she could enjoy the rest of the hotel, like I can.  It’s not like I don’t affect this place just by being here, either!”

“You affect the hotel?”  You asked.

Lucile nodded.  “I bring pleasant dreams to everyone around me.  Anyone who comes near me feels joyful, safe… and, given the kind of dreams this place is focused on, they usually get a bit horny, too.  I’m sure you noticed in the lobby, and on the way down.”

“Yeah…”

“Melanie’s power and mine cancel each other out, which I don’t mind.  It means the smile on your face right now is genuine.”

At the end of the hall, you saw a set of large, wooden double doors, covered in thick, crisscrossing chains, bound by heavy, black locks.

“Locking her in her room seems like overkill,” you said.

Lucile giggled.  “Oh, those are just part of the nightmare.  Watch.”

She let go of you, and walked up to the door, the locks coming undone and dissolving into thin air as she approached, while the door became the typical design for the hotel’s basement.  She knocked on the door.

As you stood at the edge of Lucile’s circle of protection, waiting for the response from the other side, you suddenly got a sensation of something sharp slowly tracing down your back.  You felt alone and exposed, and your teeth felt eerily loose, as if they were on the verge of falling out.  On top of that, you could hear whispers in familiar feminine voices.

Worthless.

Ugly.

You thought I LIKED you?  That any of us did?  You really are an idiot! 

You were a fun toy on the nights you were half decent in bed, but we don’t need you, anymore.

“Anon!”  Lucile took your hand, bringing you back to your senses.

“Sorry,” she whispered.  “I should have thought to give you this sooner.”  She plucked a feather from her wing, tied it to a string, and draped it over your neck.  “That should help keep the nightmares from affecting you for a little while, if you get too far from me.”

You heard a deep voice ring out from the other side of the door.  “I apologize, Lucile.  I didn’t mean to keep you waiting.  The door is unlocked.  Please, enter.”

When you stepped through the door, you found yourself in what looked like a room in an old castle.  A chandelier hanging from the ceiling, half-covered in patches of the nightmare mass, dimly lit the stone walls and floor, which were speckled with more of the mass.  A large pipe organ had been built into one wall, while on the other, a portrait of a humanized Arceus hung.  There were some tears in the portrait, as if something had dragged claws through it, but each had been carefully repaired as much as was possible.

But at the far end of the room, was the Darkrai girl herself, Melanie, staring out a window into the moonless night sky, with a glass of wine in hand.  Despite her dress somehow being darker than anything else in the room, your eyes were quickly drawn to it.  It wrapped tightly around her waist, highlighting her alluring, ample hourglass figure, and ended in tatters about halfway down her thighs.  A pair of similarly tattered black opera gloves covered her hands.  A necklace made of jagged red gems sat around her neck, and to its sides, two strips of cloth on her shoulders billowed in the wind behind her.  Her long, white hair blew back the same way, dissipating into a cloud of mist at the ends.  Her dark skin looked smooth and flawless.

“How are you this evening, Lucile?”  She asked, turning around. “I had been-”

Though you could only see one of them peaking out from under her bangs, her bright blue eyes widened at the sight of you.  She shook her head, blinked, stood up straight.

“Lucile?  Are you trying to give me a happy dream?  Or is that Rena, or a Zoroark in disguise?  I know you mean well, but-”

“It’s really me,” you said.  “I wanted to see you.”

Lucile nodded.  “I wouldn’t dream of lying to you like that!  Anon asked to see you, specifically.”

Melanie took a few steps closer.  “Were you told about my… powers?”

“Not being able to control causing nightmares?”   You asked.  “Even if they hadn’t told me, I would have noticed on the way in.  I’m still here.”

You blinked, and she was suddenly right in front of you, seeming to tower over you.  She reached out a hand toward you, but hesitated just short of touching you.

With a grin, you grabbed her hand and kissed it.

Melanie leaned back in surprise, but the ends of her lips curved up subtly.  “It seems you aren’t easily intimidated.” 

“I can’t help it,” you said, “even if I was scared, it’s hard not to get pulled into your beauty.”

She bent down and kissed you on the forehead.  “You realize, Anon, that if you let me ‘pull you in’ you might never break free.”

“I’m not sure I’d want to break free from you.”

You blinked again, and suddenly felt her behind you, both arms wrapped around you.  Her chin was resting on your right shoulder, her blue eye locked on your own, her chest pressed against your back, and her finger gently stroking your left cheek.  You felt a chill run down your spine.

“You are brave, Anon.  Brave, or foolish.”

“Or I know what it’s like to feel lonely,” you said, quietly.

Melanie froze.

Lucile sighed and shook her head, smiling.  “Melanie, please.  He genuinely wants to spend the evening with you, and he’s under my protection!  Every minute you spend trying to scare him off, is a minute you aren’t spending doing something you love with him.”

Melanie let go of you, and took a deep breath, and stood up.  “You are right, as always, Lucile.”  She rested a hand on your head, ruffling through your hair.  “I apologize, Anon.  I simply… wanted to be sure you were genuine.”

“I understand,” you said, turning around and taking her hand.

“Lucile,” Melanie said.  “Would you kindly play some music for us?”

Lucile nodded, and took a seat in front of the old pipe organ.  A slow, soft song sounded, and Melanie took your other hand.

“May I have this dance, Anon?”

“I’d love that!”

She led you across the floor to the steady rhythm of the song.  Her movements were natural and well-practiced, though it was clear from the way she occasionally bumped you that she hadn’t had much experience dancing with a partner.  Not that it mattered much, when you had no familiarity with this particular form of dance, resulting in a few stumbles of your own.

“So, what was your day like,” you asked. 

“The days and nights blend together for me, after all these eons,” Melanie said.  “I spend most days foraging on New Moon Island.  The distance from civilization keeps most safe from me.  If a trainer or Pokemon flies or sails in, I will frighten them off, without putting them to sleep first, if it can be helped.  Sometimes, Lucile will visit, sharing books with me, or teaching me things she’s learned from the outside world.  Such as this dance.”

She raised one of your arms, and spun you around, then leaned you back over her other arm, and bent down to kiss you, before straightening up and continuing the dance.

“You don’t leave?”  You asked.  “Or see anyone else?  Not even during the day?”

“No.  There are so many nocturnal Pokemon, on top of humans that work… ‘graveyard shifts,’ I believe is the new term?  They sleep during the day.  Any of them could become locked in nightmares were I careless in approaching them.  Even if I travel with Lucile, unless we stay practically arm in arm the entire time, there is too much risk of my aura of nightmares reaching out beyond her aura of joyful dreams to afflict some poor sleeping soul.  If neither of us noticed until it was too late...”  She looked away.  “I simply could not live with that.”

You nodded, and, hoping to get her mind off that, changed the subject.

“You seemed surprised to see me,” you noted.  “Did Rena forget to send you a message, or did you really think I wouldn’t want to see you?”

“I would be lying if I said I never doubted you would come,” Melanie said, deliberately directing your dance to the side of the room.  “But in this case…”

You danced past a computer covered in nightmare mass, it’s monitor displaying blurry, vaguely unsettling images and completely illegible text.

“Yeah,” you said, “I see why her message might not have reached you.  Doesn’t that make it hard for you to read books, too?  Lucile told me you enjoyed that.”

“In the waking world, it is no issue,” she said, as the music sped up.  With two clean motions, she swung you out by one arm, then pulled you back, hugging you to her chest.  “But here?  Yes, it’s almost impossible to get any reading done unless Lucile is here to hold back my power.”

“Doesn’t she spend every night with you?”  You asked, one hand in hers, the other resting in her hip.  “Rena told me she takes you in and out of the hotel whenever you come in.”

“She stays with me often, but it would be selfish of me to demand she spend every night with me, when there are so many others when could meet and enjoy the company of.”  She brought her voice down to a whisper.  “I sometimes need to push her to leave and enjoy herself.  She can be too compassionate for her own good.”

“And what do you do while she’s not here?”

Melanie was silent for a while.  “I… rest here.  Dreaming of you.  Of life outside.”  She shook here head.  “But enough about that.  What are things like in your world?  How are you spending your days?”

You talked and danced for a while, as Lucile went through several songs.  Melanie becoming quite curious about your world, and hobbies…  And much more curious about getting to know you more intimately.  When final the song had faded out, you took your bows, and Melanie guided you to the door to her room.  Lucile took a seat on a small sofa just on the other side, flipping open a Rotom Phone (which, naturally, booted up with the image of a Rotom girl flashing a fanged grin and winking).

“I’ll stay on this side to give you privacy, but my aura should reach the bed and help keep you safe if the feather I gave you earlier falls off, or isn’t enough on its own.  Also, so I don’t panic and rush in each time I hear a scream, you’ll need a safe word in case nightmares overwhelm you.  How about Lunar Dance?”

“Now now, Lucile,” Melanie said, “Are you implying your dancing skills aren’t a nightmare?”

“Oh hush.”

“Sounds good to me,” you said.  “Thanks Lucile.”

You and Melanie stepped into her bedroom, and shut the door behind you.

“There’s something I should probably tell you before we get started, Anon,” Melanie said, putting an arm around you.  “We told you that Lucile’s power and mine cancel each other out, but that’s not the whole truth.”

“It’s not?”  You asked, trying not to sound concerned.

“If one of us focuses on consciously trying to make a good or bad dream, and the other is only passively relying on their aura, we can overpower each other.”

“You don’t say…”

Her fingers drummed on your shoulder, her nails (or were they claws? They suddenly seemed so much sharper,) carefully poking your skin.

“Another little half truth?  I can’t turn off my aura of bad dreams, but if I realize I’m causing a nightmare, I can control it.  I can make anything a person fears manifest in their dreams… or cause any of the most common nightmares.  For example…  Did you ever have a dream where you were suddenly naked, and it felt like everyone was watching?

You suddenly felt a cool breeze all over your body, as the only thing resembling clothing you had left was the necklace with the crescent feather.  Not that the chill did anything to stop the heat.

She laughed softly.  “My, I hadn’t realized just how excited you were for this!”

You blinked, and opened your eyes to find yourself in bed, with Melanie once again seeming to tower above you, her hands resting on your chest.  This time without her dress.

“You sure this still counts as a nightmare?”  You asked.  “Because I’m liking this so far.”

“Did you forget the part where I told you everyone was watching?”

She motioned to the corner of the room, where, sitting pristine in the center of a mass of nightmare matter, was a camera, connected to the lewdstream.  Funny, you didn’t remember seeing an obvious camera any of the other times your girlfriends had agreed to let your evenings be recorded.

“Well, that’s a little weird, but not quite a nightmare.  Not like this is the first time.”

Her lips curl into a smile.  “The nightmare hasn’t truly started yet…  But give it a moment…”

A dumb thought slipped into you head.  The corniest innuendo you could think of for her.  You’d never live it down if you said it while being recorded.

Good thing I have some self control, you thought to yourself…

At around the same time your body involuntarily blurted out “Girl, I’ll fill your dark void ‘til it’s all white!” 

You blushed heavily.

“Forgive me, Anon!”  Melanie managed to sputter in between bouts of surprisingly sexy laughter, “I couldn’t resist indulging just once.  It won’t happen again!”

 

*

 

hexmaniac6: lol

BigChestedMimic:  Instant classic right there.

SpectralSeductress77: BOO!

HorrorFan42: Getting into the spirit of Halloween, huh?

SpectralSeductress77: No, that was a ‘boo’ of disappointment.

SpectralSeductress77: I was hoping that a date with a girl that causes nightmares just by being around would get us something spectacularly scary.

SpectralSeductress77:  A good nightmare’ll really get the adrenaline going.

hexmaniac6: totally

HorrorFan42: I get that.

Horrorfan42:  But Darkrai’s nightmares can cause real world pain and injury if they get intense.

HorrorFan42: So I hear you.

HorrorFan42: But consider:

HorrorFan42: we’d like Anon to live.

SpectralSeductress77:  Eh, living’s overrated.

SpectralSeductress77:  If you think the 78 position is kinky, you haven’t tried sex as a ghost.  I could take you to the afterlife right now and show you things you’ll never forget!

HorrorFan42:  I am 100% fine with waiting ‘til my natural death to try ghost sex.

SpectralSeductress77:  Prude.

Eldritch-Maid:  kinda unironically want anon to tell me he’ll fill my dark void, ngl.

 

*

 

After several rounds of love-making that had left both of you exhausted, you woke up in Melanie’s arms, still in the hotel.  You kissed the sleeping Pokemon girl on the forehead, decided not to wake her, and slipped out of bed, finding your clothes in a neat little stack by the door.

You stepped out into the living room, where Lucile was reclining on the sofa by the door.  She sat up, setting down her Rotom Phone.

“Done already?  With how long Melanie’s been alone and, ah- pent up, I was expecting you two would be in there for a while.”

“She really went at it,” you explained.  “We both ended up tired out.  Felt great, though.  She’s still asleep.”

“I thought it’d been strangely quiet.”  She giggled.  “Though it made it a lot easier to read.”

“What were you reading?

“Pokedex trivia, mostly.  For example, usually the only Pokemon immune to techniques that can change or disable a Pokemon’s natural ability are those whose abilities are related to their form changing in some way.  But then there’s Komala.  Doesn’t matter what technique you use, they’ll keep on sleeping, no matter what you do.  Kinda makes you wonder why Mother Arceus would go to such great lengths to make sure they’d never wake up?  Did one of them learn something she didn’t want getting out?”

You decided to sidestep that question.  “You know, that reminds me…  I came out here to ask how safe it would be for the three of us to try to go to the park together, but thinking about Abilities…  Have you ever tried using one of those Ability-hindering or changing moves on Melanie?”

“I had never learned any, so no.  Why?”

“Well, in the games back home, Darkrai passively inflicting bad dreams on everyone around them is a result of their natural Ability.”

Lucile’s eyes lit up.  “And you think we could temporarily hold it back?  Of course!  We could head to the shop upstairs, buy a Skill Swap Technical Machine, and then she and I could switch Abilities!”

“Yeah, but then YOU would be stuck making nightmares until it ended,” you said.  “It’d be a break for her, but I wouldn’t want to put you through that.  Don’t think she would, either.”

“If she can handle it for centuries, I can handle it for a night.”

An electric buzzing sound came from Lucile’s phone. 

“That’s a nice thought, ‘n all,” said a voice from the phone, “but Skill Swap’ll wear off after the user ‘n the victim get too far apart from each other.  The Darkrai babe’ll have to stick with you while you’re making nightmares left ‘n right.  That wouldn’t do anybody any good.”

“Hello?”  You said, as the phone floated up on it’s own, the orange-haired Rotom girl appearing on the screen again.  She waved an arm crackling with electrical energy.

“You can call me Fortuna.  Roto Fortuna.  You want to know how to stop a pokeon’s natural ability?”  I’m your girl!  I got pokedex trivia for days!  I can show you the whole list of techniques that’ll let you mess with them, let you see what works for you.”

“I’d appreciate that,” you nodded.

“Sure thing, cutie.”  A text box showed up in front of her, listing a bunch of moves and their effects.  “Here you go!”

“Let’s see,” you said.  “Gastro Acid…  Yeah, no, I don’t think being covered in digestive juices will Improve her night.  Worry Seed?”  You read the description aloud.  “Turns the target’s ability into Insomnia.”

“By planting a seed in them that makes them so anxious they can’t fall asleep,” Fortuna added.  “Not exactly romantic.”

“It may even force her out of the hotel,” Lucile noted.  “Though I don’t know for sure if that’s how it works.”

“Yeah,” you nodded, and scrolled down.  “Next is Weezing’s Neutralizing gas.  That just disables all passive abilities in range.  That sounds safe.”

“It is safe,” Lucile nodded.  “But the smell is… well, it’s a mood killer, let’s leave it at that.”

“Alright,” you sigh.  “Oh, hey, how about Simple Beam?  It just replaces the target’s ability with Simple.”

That would stop the nightmares,” Lucile agreed, “but, well… you see, in our world, ‘Simple’ also tends to be a more polite term for… er…”

“A fucking idiot,” Fortuna said.  “Normally it’s just Bidoof and Numel that have it.  That should give you an idea of what we’re talking about.  That said, if you have a bimbofication kink…”

Lucile blinked.  “That’s a kink?”

“Nah, Melanie doesn’t seem like the type who’d be into that...”  You scrolled, and continued reading.  “Next is Mummy.”

“Oooh, that one can make for some crazy times if you use it right.  Basically, anyone who touches a Cofagrigus gets wrapped up in cursed bandages that stop their ability, and spread the curse to anyone who touches them, and on and on it goes!  Great at parties if you’ve got a mummification kink!”

“THAT’S a kink?” Lucile stammered.

Fortuna laughed.  “Lady, if you think that’s weird, you haven’t spent nearly enough time on the internet!”

“Sounds like you’ve spent too much time on the internet, to me.”

You shook your head and kept scrolling.  That wouldn’t work for letting her interact with others. 

“We’re running outta options here,” Fotuna muttered.  “Let’s see…  Zygarde’s Core Enforcer move CAN turn off abilities, but…”

She brought up a video demonstration of the move, showing Zygarde floating high into the air, and concentrating all her will into a powerful laser, using it to etch a giant, glowing “Z” into the ground.  She turned around, snapped her fingers, and the Z exploded in a devastating blast that left a deep crater behind.

“I see what you mean,” you said.

“Oh!  Wait, here’s a new one!”  Fortuna said, pointing to the next entry.  “The Lingering Aroma creates a pleasant scent that sticks to anyone that touches the user, overpowering some of their natural Abilities.”

“That’s perfect!”  You cheered.  “We just need to look in the hotel directory for a Pokemon girl with that ability, and ask for her help!  What Pokemon can have it?”

“Loading it up!”  Fortuna said, as she followed the reference link.  “Oh… Uh…  says here it’s exclusive to oinkologne…  And only MALE oinkologne…”

“OH COME ON!”  You groaned, exasperated. 

“Hold on,” Said Lucile, “at the bottom of the list: ‘Entrainment.  The user performs a dance that forces the target to copy it exactly, changing the target’s Ability to match the user’s.”

“Any hidden downsides to that?”  You asked.

“The Darkrai’ll probably mimic some tics from whoever she ends up copying,” said Fortuna, “But as long as it’s not from someone annoying, you should be good.  And there’s quite a few someones it could be, since a bunch of Pokemon can do it: Lilligant, Durant, Alcremie, Lopunny, Pangoro…”

“Lopunny, you say?”  You smiled.  “I know just the girl for the job!”

 

*

 

“I’d heard that the basement floors were creepy,” said the Lopunny girl by your side.  “But this takes the cake!!”

Having second thoughts, Lola?” you asked. 

“No!!  If one of your girlfriends needs help, I’ll be there for ‘em!!”  She cheered.  “I just didn’t think it’d be this freaky!!  And not the fun kind of freaky, either…”

“Here we are,” said Lucile.  You could hear organ music playing from inside as she opened the door to Melanie’s room.

The music stopped as Melanie turned to look at you.  “Oh, Anon, you’ve returned!”

You blinked, and were suddenly in her arms again, arched back as she kissed your neck.

“I’m ashamed to admit, I was worried you had abandoned me.”

You hugged her tight.  “Sorry.  Didn’t you get the note I left?”

“I had.”  She nodded, stroking your cheek.  “But after all this time, I couldn’t help but worry.”

She looked up, and noticed Lola standing behind you.

“Hello,” Melanie said.  “Who is this?  Is she the ‘surprise’ your note mentioned?”

“Yep!!”  Lola said, springing up to Melanie’s side.  “I’m Lola!!  Anon told me you were feeling lonely, and could use some cheering up!!”  She hugged both of you while you were still in Melanie’s arms.  “Gotta say, this level of goth isn’t usually my thing, but you make it work!!”

Melanie gave her a curious look.  “Thank you?  My name is Melanie.”

“That’s a cute name!!”  Lola said.

“I appreciate getting to meet more people,” Melanie said, releasing you from the hug, and turning toward Lucile, “But won’t it be difficult to keep so many people close enough to you to stay safe?  Your feathers can help, but they can only provide so much protection on their own, with how thoroughly my nightmares have affected this place.”

Lola grinned, and grabbed Melanie by both hands.  “That’s where the second part of your surprise comes in!!”

She winked, then pulled Melanie across the floor, her massive hips and bust swaying with every rhythmic step.  The confused Melanie held on tight as Lola twirled and leapt with her.  You and Lucile did your best to stay close to the pair, to stop the nightmares from interrupting, but keeping pace with the nimble Lola was quite a workout.

The longer the dance went on, the more in sync Melanie’s movements became with Lola’s, until she matched every bounce, leap, and sway perfectly.  Eventually, it finally ended with the two hip-checking each other, and giggling excitedly in mirror images of each other.

As soon she stopped giggling, Melanie scrunched up her face in confusion.  “What was THAT??”

Lola put an arm around her.  “We’re besties now, that’s what!!”

“Pardon?”

Lucile smiled.  “That dance brought you in sync with her, for the next few hours, or until you’re put in a Poke Ball,” she explained.  “But in the meantime, you might find it a little harder for some of your natural abilities to work, while you’re so subconsciously focused on showing off your cutest charms.”

Melanie’s eye lit up.  “You don’t mean…”

To demonstrate, Lucile, held you, and Lola, and walked to the other side of the room, leaving a path completely free of nightmare mass across it.

Melanie looked across the path, then down at the ground below her.  She marched back and forth a few steps, checking the cleared path for any signs of regenerating nightmares.

She covered her mouth, making a barely audible gasp, then rushed back.  She still stood about a head taller than you, but didn’t seem to loom eerily over you like before.

“Was this your idea, Anon?”

You nodded.  “I wanted to let you see some of the other parts of the hotel, and meet the guests.  Even if it’s just for a little while.

She brought all three of you into a hug, resulting in all three of the poke-ladies’ buxom bosoms pressing against you from all sides.

“Thank you all so much!!”  She kissed all three of you in turn, giving you a few extra on the cheeks and forehead, leaving black lipstick markings.

You felt a drop of water land on your cheek.

“Melanie?  Are you crying?”

She reached for her cheek, then shook her head, and stepped back.  “No!!  My nightmare made a small storm cloud just outside the window earlier.  It must have blown in.”

Lucile giggled.

“Come Anon!!”  Melanie said, grabbing your hand.  “I want to make the most of this before it ends!!  Let’s go!!  Hurry!!” 

 

*

 

“…So I just started writing stuff I wanted to see, or thought was exciting, sexy, or funny,” Rena said, sitting back at the front desk, “and stopped worrying about what everyone else thought of it.  And I actually built up a pretty good audience that way.  Of course, there were plenty of one-shots that only got a few Kudos, too.  But it’s nice to know someone enjoyed what I did, all the same.”

“You make the ‘stopped worrying’ part sound easy,” Talia said, standing opposite Rena.

“Yeah, it’s way easier to say that, but-”

DING-DONG!

Both girls looked up at the elevator, and Rena tilted her head in confusion as you, Melanie, Lucile, and Lola stepped out.

“Wait, is it time to wake up already?”  Rena said, glancing back at her computer’s clock.  “Are you heading home early, or something?  And what’s Lola doing here?”

Lola and Melanie giggled in unison.

“Actually, I was gonna take Melanie out to see the park,” you said.

“WHAT?”  Rena looked ready to vault over the desk.  “Anon, are you crazy?”

“Let’s see, I’m dating a living origami figure, a radioactive Samus impersonator, four zombies, a burning sunflower girl, a pair of titans that were constantly butting heads with each other, and a certain pun-loving kitsune, along with dozens of other lovely ladies…”  You paused.  “It’s possible.”

“Okay,” Rena said, holding up a hand for you to stop.  “But you saw what her powers did down there.”

“We found a way to stop that,” you said.

To demonstrate, Lucile stepped away from Melanie.  Rena’s eyes widened in terror, but when nothing happened except Melanie curtsying to her, she let out a relieved sigh.

“How did you stop her nightmares?”

While you explained, Talia held out a hand to greet Melanie.  “It’s nice to meet you, Melanie!  Since this’ll be your first time visiting the park, allow me to welcome you!  I’m Talia!”

The two shook hands.

“If there’s anything you need to know, or some place you’d like to go, just ask!  We’ve got the place set up for Halloween, and have some stalls giving out free candy, too.”

“That sounds lovely,” Melanie said.  “Though I’ll be looking forward to finally meeting new people, more than anything!!”

“Oh.  I could tell from what Rena said that you couldn’t do much in the hotel before.  Do you have any friends back home, at least?”

“Besides Lucile?  No.  My power was too dangerous to risk getting too close to anywhere someone may have been sleeping.”

“So this is your first time going out to meet people, EVER?”  Talia blinked.  “I’m so sorry you never got that chance.  I know what it’s like to feel trapped.”  She perked up, then leaned in to whisper. “A little advice: if you have trouble thinking of stuff to talk about, you can always ask the other person to talk about their life, or things they like.  Most people love talking about themselves, and you can just listen while they go on.”

“I see,” Melanie said.  “So… what’ happening in your waking life?”

“Well, um…”

There was an awkward pause.

Talia looked off to the side.  “…This works better when BOTH people in the conversation aren’t the quiet type.”

Your conversation with Rena finished, you walked up to the two of them. “Hi Talia, nice to see you again.”

Talia smiled.  “Good evening, Anon.”

You took Melanie’s hand.  “Come on, we’ve got a few hours!  Let’s make the most of them!”

“Absolutely, Anon,” Melanie said, following your lead.

“Have fun on your date!”  Talia said, waving you off.

 

*

 

Decorative bats, spider-webs, and jack-o-lanterns had been placed around the park, which, combined with a starry night sky, a bunch of guests eager for an excuse to cosplay, and a higher-than-usual number of monster girls, created a festive atmosphere.  You had barely even made it to the main square before Melanie had started pulling you back and forth every which way, trying to take everything in.

Lucile and Lola trailed after you, enjoying the excitement that broke through the cracks in Melanie’s reserved, gothic demeanor.

“I’d seen photos of Halloween celebrations that Lucile had shared with me,” Melanie said, “but this is my first time seeing it in person!!  I wouldn’t call it frightening, but it is charming, isn’t it?”

“Yeah,” you said, grabbing a wrapped chocolate from a bowl labeled “Take one,” and handed it to her.  “And don’t forget the best part: free candy!”

“Yes, that too, thank you.”  She smiled.  “As well as more types of flowers than I’ve ever seen, lovely statues… and of course, so many people!!  It’s almost overwhelming!!  I hardly know where to start.”

“Well, we might not have costumes, but you heard Talia mention stalls around the park giving out candy.  What do you say we do some trick or treating together?”

“It sounds childish…”  she said.  “Then again… I’d never had the chance to do it as a child, myself.  Perhaps we can indulge in it.”

You smiled, and led the way.

 

*

The sight of a half-dozen girls sticking their heads in a large wooden bucket caused Melanie to raise her eyebrow.

“What are those women doing?”

Behind the nearby trick-or-treating candy stand, a blonde, freckled cowgirl (of the fully-human “old west style cattle rancher” variety, rather than the monster girl variety,) pushed up her hat.   “Ya’ll ain’t ever bobbed for apples before?” 

Melanie shook her head.

Lola leapt up beside you.  “Oh, it’s super fun!!  Me next!!”  Without a hint of hesitation, she dashed up to the bucket, and dunked her head in the water, her long ears floating on the surface.  A few moments later, she popped back up with an apple between her teeth, and a proud look in her eyes.  She then pulled the apple out, and shook her ears, sending the water flying all around her.

The cowgirl looked toward Lola, then back at you and Melanie.  “It’s pretty much just that.  Stick your head in the water, see if you can pull out an apple with your teeth.” 

“That seems unsanitary,” Melanie said.  “Why not simply take it with your hands?”

“Because doing things the hard way on purpose can be really fun, sometimes!!”  Lola explained.

The cowgirl added: “And if you can do it, you get the apple, and some extra candy from me.”  She tapped the jar on her stand.

Melanie looked at the barrel for a moment, then turned to you.  “I’ll try if you come with me.”

You agreed, and stepped up to the bucket, Melanie standing on the opposite side.  You leaned over the water, and tried to get your teeth into an apple, only for it to slip out and away from you.  You tried again, and again, going in at different angles, until finally, with eyes closed to avoid splashing water, an apple seemed to catch on something, and you bit into it.

When you opened your eyes, you blinked in surprise to see that Melanie had caught the same apple.  Slowly, carefully, and awkwardly, the two of you rose up together, each of you trying to avoid bending into an angle that would be difficult for the other to hold.

Lucile giggled from the sidelines.

The cowgirl chuckled.  “Heh, I’d say that counts.”

 

*

 

The next trick-or-treat stop, along the beach, looked unattended at first, with nothing by the small table but an old-fashioned “treasure” chest.  The low tide waves barely made any noise as you approached the table.

“Hello?”  You called out.

The chest opened up, and a young red-head in a black hoodie poked out of it. Larger-than-normal zipper teeth ran up the sides of the hood, giving the impression of her head being surrounded by a mouth full of fangs. “Hello!  Welcome to Mimi the mimic’s trick or treat stand, Anon.  You’re looking good.  And I love your girlfriend’s costume, too!”

Melanie opened her mouth to correct her, but stopped, shrugged, and gave a simple “thank you.”

Mimi took a small box out of her chest, (the one she was sitting in, not the one under her shirt,) and placed it on the table in front of you.

“I’ve got a little game for you, if you want some extra candy,” she said.  “Just stick your hand in this box, feel around, and give me your best guess at what’s inside.  Guess right, and more free candy is yours!”

Agreeing to give it a shot, you reached your hand into the box, feeling something moist and jiggly.

“Is it some kind of jello?”  You asked.

“Let’s look inside and see!”  She opened the box  “…Guess I made that one a little too easy,” Mimi said, opening the jar of candy, and putting a few pieces in a bag for you. “Any other takers?”

“I’d like to try,” said Lucile. 

As you wiped your hands off with a napkin, Mimi took the box back, and brought out a new one.  Lucile slowly stuck her hand in the box, and felt around.

“Let’s see… a lot of long, thin things…  Kind of wet…”

A mischievous smile appeared on Melanie’s face, and her eye glowed for a second.

“I think it’s some kind of noodles?” Lucile asked.

“That your final answer?  Then take your hand out of the box, open it up, and-”

Mimi and Lucile both gasped as Lucile pulled out her hand and saw it covered in worms.

Somehow, under Lucile’s frantic screaming, and Mimi’s panicked insistence that the box was full of spaghetti when she got here, you thought you could hear Melanie laughing faintly, before she rushed to Lucile’s side to help.

 

*

 

When the trick-or-treating had finished, you had gathered around a bonfire, not too far from the park’s concert stage.  Hand-in hand with Melanie, gently leaning on each other, you listened as some of the other guests told spooky stories.  The energetic zombie, Rottytops, had taken center stage, and was finishing her story.

“…But when he looked inside the vault, the only thing he found was her severed head!”  She plucked off her own head to emphasize, letting her tongue loll out, while the other girls shivered or let out “oohs” of disgust, interest, or a mix of the two

“That was great, Rottytops,” Talia said, as the zombie girl reattached her head.  “I think we’ve got time for one more story tonight!  Any volunteers?”

A few girls who had already told a story raised their hands, but Talia dismissed them.  “Let’s give someone else a chance.”

For a few moments, all was quiet, except for the crackle of the bonfire, and the gentle blowing of the wind.  Then Melanie stood up.

“I’d like to tell a story,” she said.

“Go ahead,” Talia said, stepping aside while Melanie gave you a quick kiss, then stepped down to the bonfire.

“This tale is an old one,” Melanie said, “One I may have… accidentally inspired, in my less cautious youth.  It started in a remote village in Sinnoh, though at that time, the land was called Hisui.  In that village, there lived a wealthy young man, whose refined good looks, and opulent home made him popular throughout the village, particularly the women.  All who knew him sought to please him, and his wealth allowed him everything… and every woman, his heart desired.”

You blinked.  For a second, you could have sworn you’d seen the image of a man in the bonfire, being tended, hand and foot, by numerous women.  But as quickly as it came, the image vanished.

“But though the man was a great lover, his heart had little love in it.  Even though, in that land, for one man to take multiple wives was not uncommon, he would quickly tire of each woman he romanced, and cast them out without a thought when some new girl caught his eye.”

The flames near the top of the bonfire took the shape of three figures, the one in the middle appearing to fawn over the one on the left, before noticing the figure on the right, and pushing the left figure away to pursue its new catch.

“But one attraction was to prove fatal to him.  A dark, mysterious maiden entered the village one evening, capturing his lustful eye.  Once more, he rejected his old lovers, in favor of new, but this time, his prey showed little concern for his wealth, nor his influence.  His approach was rejected.  But being denied only made him want her more.  He tried again and again, with new, and more elaborate tactics.  He claimed she was the only one to ever truly hold his heart, that he would be loyal to her, and her alone.”

A figure in flame danced around another, appearing to offer gifts on a bended knee.

“Eventually, the maiden relented.  If his heart truly was hers alone, then they would have their marriage bed in three months’ time.  But should the man be found sleeping with another until then, she would never see her again.  The man agreed, happily.  And for two months, it seemed he might keep his promise.  But he could not lay his old ways to rest, and the thought of having finally caught what he had desired emboldened him.  So, in the third month, he secretly made love to many more women than he had in the past year, paying all of them handsomely to keep quiet.  And the night before his wedding, he believed he had won, the man fell into a deep sleep.  But he was awakened by the howling of the wind outside his home.”

The bonfire’s light went dim, and the wind grew louder, sending a chill through your body.

“As he rose, he felt something cold and wet dripping onto him from the ceiling above: blood.”

You felt something drop onto your hand.  Looking down, it was hard to make out the color in the dim light, but it didn’t look like a raindrop…

“Confused, he rushed to his attic, where he saw the bodies of every maiden he’d slept with littering the floor, a red stain over each of their hearts.”

Looking around, were your eyes deceiving you, or were each of the guest’s shirts discolored?

“As the far end of the attic, he saw the dark maiden, staring out the window.  The man asked what she had done.  Without turning around, she returned the question; what had HE done?  When he said he had done nothing, she turned around, and said…”

Suddenly, the bonfire burst to life again, leaping higher, brighter, and fiercer than before.  The flamed appeared to surround Melanie as her voice boomed:

“‘So you add lies to broken promises!  May you lie with the lovers whose hearts you’ve broken, for all eternity!’  And when she spoke, the bodies rose up, each of them grabbing the man toward themselves, threatening to tear him apart!”

You yelped as you felt two hands grab yours tightly.  But got a sense of relief when you realized it was just Lucile and Lola, who were looking every bit as startled.

The flames died down to the level they had been at the start, Melanie’s voice going back to its usual volume.  “When he was found the next morning, he was dead in his bed, a look of terror forever frozen on his face.”

After a moment’s pause, another of your girlfriends, the Gothitelle, Giselle, spoke:

“Oh, that’s GOOD!  We should do this again some time.”

“Thank you…”  Melanie smiled, perking up as other guests began to murmur praise and compliments all around her.

“You did great down there,” you told Melanie as she walked back up to you.

“Thank you, too, Anon!!”  She hugged you tight, briefly mimicking Lola’s boundless energy and charm again.  “And don’t worry about the story.  I know for a fact that your love is true, even as you share it with all of us.”

 

*

 

Over the next few hours, the two of you explored the park, taking in the sights, the people, and of course, the treats, together with Lucile and Lola.

But, as always, the night had to end eventually.  You walked back to the entrance together, and kissed Melanie goodbye, before crossing the threshold.

You woke up, back in your bed, bur the room seemed darker than usual.  You blinked a few times, and tried to get up, only to find you were still dealing with lingering sleep paralysis.  You felt a large weight on your chest.  Looking up, your vision still blurry, you could make out a tall, dark figure, with flowing white hair that covered one of her blue eyes.  The figure leaned down toward you.

Her lips were on yours, her tongue exploring your mouth while you felt her hands over her chest.

She rose up again, raised a black finger to her lips, in a “shushing” pose, and then vanished.  You found yourself in control of your body again.  As you got up, and went into the bathroom, you saw black lipstick on your face.  Well, that was one nightmare you wouldn’t mind having again.

Chapter 9: Lara Croft (Tomb Raider Classic)

Summary:

Every night for over a year, you dream of Hotel Fantaisa, where you can spend the night with any woman you wish, in any way you wish. Tonight, you've chosen Lara Croft, the Tomb Raider. What depths shall you explore together?

A reader decided to make his own luck and request this chapter: none other than Cecil Rivers.

Notes:

I am so sorry for disappearing for so long. I wish I could give one of the dramatic explanations for their absences AO3 authors are known for, my absence mostly boils down to a combination of a job change and writer's block. I'm feeling a little more optimistic about overcoming the latter hurdle recently, but I know better than to make promises I can't keep. Here's hoping I can update a little more regularly, regardless.

Chapter Text

“Good evening, Anon!” Talia waved to you from the front desk.  “It’s nice to see you again!”

“Good to see you, too, Talia,” you replied, “I take it Rena’s still taking some time off as the receptionist?”

Talia nodded.  “Yeah, and I think it’s doing her some good.  She’s been looking much better rested lately.  How have you been?”

“I’m in an adventurous mood today.  Do you know if Lara Croft is here?  The one from the Classic timeline?”  You paused a moment.  “Well, ‘classic’ in my world, anyway.  It might be labeled differently here.”  You shook your head.  “Things can get confusing when dealing with the multiverse.”

Talia nodded.  “Yes, she’s here.  She passed by the desk about twenty minutes ago, actually!  I’ll send her a message.”  She moved over to the computer, and began typing, glancing back at you.  “And don’t worry, I know what you mean.  It took me a while to get used to the existence of so many worlds too.  I couldn’t travel far back in my world, and then I got invited here, where millions of worlds meet?  It was overwhelming!  Thankfully, we’ve got a register of what the story of each girl’s world is called in yours, if there is one, so it’s not too tough working back here.”

A small ping rang.

“Ah, that’s her!  She’s in the park, and asked if you’d like to join her, or if you’d like to meet her here.”

“Meeting in the park sounds good,” you nodded, holding out a hand to her.  “Would you like to lead the way.”

Talia blushed, stepped out from behind the desk, and took you hand.  “Absolutely.”

She led you through the doors to the park, and down the path to the park square.  Quite a few heads turned as you passed, some giving you a friendly smile or way, some blushing, or gazing longingly at you, while others turned away the moment they realized you were looking their way, blushing, or fidgeting.

As she guided you down the less-crowded road to REM Ruins, Talia spoke again.  “I’ve seen Ms. Croft exercising the park every now and then, and I can really see why you’d like her.  She’s so nimble and tough, so calm and confident, and absolutely gorgeous on top of it all. Not to mention she gets to travel all over her world.  I’m a little jealous.”

“Of her confidence and good looks?  Or her getting to travel?”  You asked.  “Because I don’t think you have much to be jealous of in the beauty department.”

Talia’s eyes opened wide, and she gripped your hand tighter for a moment, before regaining her composure.

“Thank you, Anon.  That’s very sweet of you.”

The ruins soon came into view, starting with a stone archway, its pillars carved to resemble coiling Lamia.  Dozens of small stone buildings, fountains, and carvings dotted the area, but your eye was naturally drawn to the two largest buildings in the crumbling city; an imposing ziggurat at the center of the ruins, and behind it, the towering spire where one of your previous dates had taken place.  Looking around, most of the visitors in this area were monster girls, though a handful of other guests could be seen exploring, as well.

“Ah, there you are,” a voice with an English accent called out. 

Turning to the source of the voice, you see her leaning back against one of the smaller buildings; Lara Croft.  Her brown hair was braided, draping over her shoulder, her eyes were locked right on you, and her full lips were curled into a self-assured smile.  The familiar brown shorts and green tank top hugged her chest and ass, while leaving her smooth and subtly toned arms and legs on full display.  She straightened up and strode right to you.

“I’ve been waiting for this night for quite a while.  I was starting to wonder what a girl would have to do to get that kind of attention from you.”  She gestured toward Talia, who blushed, and let go of you.

You were half-tempted to ask that question about her.  Lara Croft had been THE video game sex symbol for years back home.  Even after dating royalty, monster girls, and so many more, it still felt surreal to have someone like her showing interest in you.

“Hard to say,” you replied.  “But you’re off to a good start.”

“Nice to meet you, Miss Croft,” Talia said.

“A pleasure… Talia, was it?” 

When Talia nodded, Lara continued, putting an arm around you.  “Thanks for coming out here, Anon.  I don’t mind a good dinner date, or a fancy hotel, but some days you just want something more exciting, don’t you?   I was just getting a little exercise when I got your message.  Would you care to join me?”

An odd start to a first date, but it wouldn’t have been the first time.

“Sure,” you said.  “What kind of exercise?”

“Running the Ziggurat,” Lara said, gesturing toward it.  “A few of the girls change up the traps there every day.”

“Traps?”   While you had visited the tower on your previous date, you hadn’t spent much time inside the ruins themselves, on account of said date’s ability to fly letting you skip the climb.  Did they seriously have this place rigged to hurt the guests?

Talia picked up on your concern.  “It’s just an obstacle course,” she clarified.  “There’s nothing in there that’ll do any serious harm.”

Lara chuckled.  “Yes, the worst these things’ll do is leave a bruise.  A pity, really.”  She shrugged, letting her braid swing around behind her.  “It’s not nearly as fun without the rush of real danger.  But I suppose it’s for the best; wouldn’t want that handsome face of yours getting ruined on our first date, would we?”

You shook your head.

She gave you a pat on the back, then started for the ziggurat.  “Right.  Let’s get moving then; time’s wasting!”

“Be careful in there,” called Talia, waving you goodbye.  “And have fun!”

You returned the wave, and followed Lara up the steps and into the ziggurat. 

The antechamber was dimly lit by candles on golden lampstands.  On its walls were paintings of women dressed in something like Aztec garb, working together to construct this place, as well as images of others, in more modern garb, trying to dodge around various traps, including swinging axes, flying darts, and crumbling floors that threatened to drop their victims into pools housing aquatic monster girls. 

“Well, it’s not the finest work I’ve seen,” Lara commented, “but the artist has good taste.” 

She gestured toward the opposite wall, which had been painted with a stylized portrait of you, sitting atop a throne near the top of the ziggurat surrounded by a number of fawning ladies.

“Still feels a little weird seeing that kind of art of me,” you said.

“Don’t tell me you don’t want the attention,” Lara said with a smile.  “I’ve seen enough of the Lewdstream to know you enjoy it.”

“Oh, I’m not complaining!  I really do appreciate the love you all show me, it just feels surreal seeing it like this, that’s all.”

With nothing else to see in the room, you started toward the door, but Lara yanked you back as a giant black spider dropped from the ceiling in front of you. 

“Oh, Anon, well well, this is a surprise,” it said, turning around to reveal it was a drider, the body of a woman rising up from where the spider’s head would be.  She smiled, displaying a pair of little fangs in her mouth.  “What brings you here?”  She leaned toward you.  “Looking for a date in the depths of these catacombs?”

“He’s here with me, as a matter of fact,” said Lara, your hand still in hers.  “Also, catacombs are underground burial sites.  If you had any dead here, it’d be a tomb.”

There was a brief hint of disappointment in the drider’s eyes, but her smile came back as she continued.  “Well, you chose a good day to come!   Today we’re offering a special prize; if any team of explorers can make it through the whole course in under thirty minutes, without getting touched by any traps, they’ll get to keep the golden idol at the end!  Not only that, the winner will also get six months’ worth of hotel credits!”

Lara dismissively looked at her fingernails.  “Sounds easy enough, but you can keep the prize for the runner up.  I only hunt for sport.”

“I don’t know,” you said, “with that many credits, I could shower my girlfriends in gifts for a while.”

Lara shrugged.  “Fine by me.  When we get that prize, you can spend it to your heart’s content.”

The drider laughed softly.  “So confident!  But beware, this is the toughest course we’ve designed yet.  None will be able to escape unscathed.”

“If I had a coconut for every time I heard that…”  Lara sighed, and headed through the doorway, pulling you along.

Once you’d passed through, there was a grinding sound as a thick stone door slowly descended behind you, locking you into the dim, gray corridor.

“Guess there’s no going back that way,” you said.

“Having second thoughts already?”

“Of course not!”  You said, not wanting to look like you’d lost your cool a minute in.  You stepped forward.  “Besides, like you said, there’s no real danger; this place is basically just a theme park attract-”

You heard a whizzing sound on your left and instinctively arched back, watching a blurred object zoom right past your eyes.  Luckily, Lara caught you, and your head landed on something soft before you could tumble all the way to the ground.

“I know you’re eager to get that prize Anon,” Lara playfully chided, “and the idol.  But let’s not rush things, okay?”

You grinned sheepishly as you realized you’d fallen back into her bosom, and regained your balance.  On the ground to your right, a toy dart had hit the wall and fallen to the floor.

“Right.”  You looked down at the tile you’d stepped on, which raised slightly as you let your foot off it.  “Guess we need to take it slow and watch our step.”

“Well, you know what they say: Ladies first!”  Lara glanced over the floor, then effortlessly jumped from one tile to another in sequence.  You followed her, carefully watching where she landed, and mimicking her movements the best you could, and watching for the lower, more stable, tiles.

It started off simple enough, with many safe tiles only a step or two away, though the further down the corridor you went, the fewer and further between they were.  Eventually, you had to leap between them to make it, and more than once, you’d nearly lost your balance on landing.  At one point you’d heard a dart shoot right over your head, after underestimating a jump.

Lara had made it about three fourths of the way through the corridor when she’d stopped.  You halted a few tiles behind her.

“What’s up?”  You asked.

Lara examined the path before her.  “Looks there aren’t any more safe tiles left.”

“What?”  You groaned.  “Are you sure?  These things are supposed to give you a fair chance.  Maybe there’s a puzzle?  Like the tiles have letters and you’re supposed to spell out a message?”

“Sorry, Anon, but unless you brought a blacklight to read invisible ink, I don’t think there’s anything here.”

“Well, this sucks,” you shook your head.  “How are we supposed to get through?”

Lara took as much of a step back as her tile allowed.  “Seems pretty straightforward to me.  We do things the fun way!”

With that, she bolted down the hall, the sound of grinding machinery and the whizzing of dozens of darts in either direction following her.

You gasped as she leapt over the final rigged tiles, and through the doorway to the next chamber.  She turned around and smiled back at you.

“See.  No trouble at all.”

“Yeah, that’s pretty cool,” you said.  “But I’m still on the other side.”

“Oh come now,” Lara teased, “don’t you have dozens of girlfriends to impress?  How disappointed do you think they’ll be if you don’t even try?”

You took a deep breath, and bolted down the remainder of the hall, trying to ignore the whistling as darts launch at you from either side.  One narrowly missed your arm, and you ducked under another, before you finally made it through the doorway.

You took a moment to catch your breath, and Lara patted you on the back.

“Not bad.  Looks like you can really move when you’re motivated.”  She turned around, facing a steep, rocky incline.  “Which is good, because we’ve got a bit of a climb ahead of us.”

She moved to the base of the incline, and leapt, grabbing the edge of an outcropping, yanking herself up.

“Come on, we don’t have all day,” she called down to you.

You sighed, took a deep breath, and leapt after her.  You didn’t quite reach the ledge, but Lara grabbed your hand.

“Try to brace your legs against the wall,” she said.  You quickly did so, and climbed up with Lara’s help.  From there, you could see a series of handholds leading to another outcropping.

“…Shouldn’t we have some ropes for this?”  You said, looking up.  “Or harnesses, or something?”

“My my, getting kinky on the first date, are we?  No wonder you got past those darts; you take things fast.”  Lara pulled off her back pack. “Don’t worry, though, I’ve always got fall protection.”

As you were trying to come up with a witty retort, you heard another whirring sound.  Instinctively, you backed away from it, (as much as the outcropping allowed, anyway,) but when you turned to face it, you saw a bat… hovering in place.

Looking closer, despite the dim lighting, you saw it was some kind of camera drone, with a pair of decorative bat wings glued on.

“Don’t mind that,” Lara said, rummaging through her pack.  “Those little cameras are there to keep an eye on guests in case they truly get stuck somewhere, and to take souvenir photos when they clear the big obstacles…  Ah, here we go!” 

She pulled a rope out of her bag, and started tying it. “Though considering today’s challenge, they’re probably also here to catch if anyone gets nicked by one of their little traps, too.”

Lara tossed a looped end of the rope up to the top of the incline, caught it on a rock, then gave it a tug to make sure it was stable.

“Makes sense,” you said.  “I thought it might’ve been for the Lewdstream, or something.”

“I doubt these silly obstacle courses make for prime television,” she said, wrapping a part of the rope around herself, then handing the other end to you.  “So, while we’re taking things fast, ready to tie the knot?”

 

 

Kaze.mon: And I thought Rena’s jokes were corny.

Tattlin-Goom: Dang it!  Of all the nights to skip my trip to the ruins!

Platinum-Moon [GF]:  I doubt the view would be much better than the stream, unless you could keep up with them in there.

Tattlin-Goom:  That’s fair, but it’d be great to catch a glimpse in person, ya’ know?

VariaSuitor [GF]:  I don’t see what all the fuss is about.  Those traps aren’t that difficult.

EleStrianOtaku [GF]:  With all due respect, most participants bear neither power armor with Speed Boosters and Space Jumps, nor extraterrestrial genetic modification.

AFuckingCorduroy:  I mean, that’s never stopped Lara.  Not like she has any superpowers.

Maid2Serve:  You watch how many times she can backflip and side-flip in a row while firing two guns at once with perfect accuracy, then look me in the eye and tell me she’s a normal human.

PlainWhitney: Eh, “Normal’s” just a setting on a dryer.  And a Pokémon type.

EleStrianOtaku [GF]:  That is not the point.

 

 

You wiped the sweat off your brow when you finally reached the top, before untying the rope.

“This place is a real workout,” you said, helping Lara wind it back up.

“Getting winded already?”  Lara asked.  “We’re only just starting.”

“Of course not,” you said, straightening up.  “Just… Wanted to keep it in mind, in case I feel like changing up my exercise routine, you know.”

“Naturally,” Lara said.  “Good thing, too.  You’ll need to move fast for what’s up ahead.”

Through the doorway in front of you was a long hall, lined with swinging pendulums.  Huge, semicircular “blades” of some padded material swayed back and forth, from one wall to the other, each at different speeds.

“This one doesn’t look too bad,” you said, walking up to the first pendulum.  You took a minute to examine it, noting how fast it moved, how far in one direction it would need to be to squeeze past it, and how much space there was behind it before the next pendulum.

You took a deep breath, and, when the timing was right, slipped around the “blade” as it passed. 

“Good show,” Lara said, slipping around to your side after the next thing.  “Only about… nineteen more to go?”

“It’ll be fine,” you said, moving past another, slightly faster pendulum.  “I can see there’s be a few more complex patterns, and a long line of blades without a safe area at the end.  But as long as we take things carefully, it should be-”

A rumbling sound interrupted you, and you looked back to see the floor of the previous “safe zone” slowly split open down the middle, steadily retracting into the wall.

Then you felt the floor beneath you starting to the same.

“…I just had to say it.”

You ran past the next pendulum, Lara right behind you.

“Don’t act like you’re not having fun!”

The next pendulums were right next to each other, swinging in opposite directions.  You watched them complete their arcs once, twice, then felt the floor rumbling beneath you again, before taking a leap straight through the middle.  When you turned around, you saw Lara just narrowly making it through herself, and couldn’t help but gasp.

“Aw, you worried about me, love?  Well, don’t be.” 

She moved ahead of you, effortlessly weaving between the next three sets of pendulums.

“I’m a big girl, I can take care of myself,” she teased.  “Now, are you planning on finishing this exercise, or was that all just bluster earlier?”

Not wanting to look bad, you took in both the pendulums in front of you, and the next couple of sets after that.  The floor beneath you shook and split, retracting into the walls.  The safe zones were disappearing faster; you could already see the one in front of you shuddering and pulling apart.  Then you went for it, slipping through one set of “blades,” then another, followed by a long set of six that were all slightly out of sync, creating a pocket of space between them and the wall the that you could move through forcing you not to move too fast, despite the pressure of the vanishing ground. Adrenaline pumping, you caught up to Lara at the final set.

“See, no problem,” you said.  “You just need good timing!”

The last set of “blades” was like the second, if a little longer; two sets of two pendulums, swinging in mirrored motion of each other, making the safest move running through the middle right as they began their upward swing.  They moved a bit faster than the first set but-

“Hey, is that Anon?” 

Despite yourself, you turned around at the sound of a woman calling your name.  Looking back to pit under the portions of the floor that had already receded, you could see what looked safety nets… or giant webs.  And standing on those webs were a pair of driders, looking in your direction.  One smiled when she saw you look her way.

“Ah!  He’s looking at me!”  She waved to you.  “Hi Anon!”

“Ruby,” hissed the other, elbowing he first “be professional!”

Suddenly, the floor shuddered beneath you once again.

“Oh!  If he falls, I call dibs on carrying him out!”

“MOVE!”  Lara shouted.  She tackled you, pushing you backwards between the swinging “blades.”  You fell onto your back on the other side, with Lara on top of you.

“…We wound up in this position a lot quicker than I thought we would,” you remarked.

Lara pushed herself upright, remaining straddled on top of you.  “Seems like you enjoy it, if the tent you’re pitching is any indication.”

“What can I say?”  you replied.  “You have a way of getting my attention.”

“I should hope so.”  Lara rubbed over your chest.  “We’ll have to attend to that when this is all over.  But for now…” She got up. “I have to say, your sense of ‘good timing’ is… bad.”

Despite everything you could help but laugh as you sat up.  “Really?  That’s the line you’re going with?”

“I’m improvising, Anon, they can’t all be winners.”  She brushed her ponytail back.  “Have to say, while I might prefer some real danger, at least the monsters here are far easier on the eyes than what I typically deal with.  Can’t blame you for getting a little distracted.”

Standing up, you looked around the room; it was a lot larger than most of the previous ones, and didn’t seem to have any obvious traps.  At the other end of the room, there was a doorway about halfway up the smooth stone wall, much higher than you or Lara could hope to jump.  Closer to you was a set of stone stairs that didn’t seem to lead to anything, and in the middle of the room stood several rectangular stone pillars, with metal handles bolted to their sides.

“Annnd it’s a block pushing puzzle,” Lara sighed.  “Brilliant.”  She marched toward one of the pillars.  “I suppose we’ll be moving these things to make a bridge between the stairs and the exit, then.  This may take a while.”

She pressed against the block, first with her hands, then switching the leaning against it with her shoulder, both actions leaving her booty shorts pressing out toward you as she slowly moved the pillar.

Very, very slowly.

After moving it about a meter, she paused.

“Well, at least my arms feel stronger.” 

She turned back around to face you.

“Anon, I know you could easily spend all afternoon staring at my butt while I push blocks, (given I’d heard I’m the star of a video game series back in your world, I imagine you’ve probably spent several afternoons that way).  But need I remind you that if you want that prize for your girlfriends, we need to finish this quickly?  I promise that when we reach the end, I can grant you a far better view.  A real hands-on experience, if you like.”

“Right!” You nodded, moving beside her. “Of course!  Sorry, got distracted.” 

You pushed against the block, huffing and straining as it scraped along the floor.  It seemed to be moving a little faster, at least.

 

 

 

PlainWhitney:  Keep your eye on the prize Anon, you got this!

PornhubOfficial:  Looked like he had his eyes on the prize to me

Gorgeous-Green: speaking of keeping an eye on the prize

Gorgeous-Green: could whoever’s controlling the camera give a better angle on Anon’s ass?

ArachQueen34: I already told you, this isn’t the Lewdstream, that’s not what these cameras are for!

AFuckingCorduroy: Then why are you streaming it?

ArachQueen34: For fans of escape rooms.  Anon being here tonight is just icing on the cake.

Gorgeous-Green: and all I’m saying is you could give us a better view of that cake

 

 

“…And then I headed home, and spent some time with the girls, before turning in for the night,” you explained, before hopping to the next column, having finally finished aligning them into a path.

“Quite a busy day,” Lara said, a step ahead of you.  “Though, hearing about your life, I can’t say my father would approve of our relationship.”

“What?  Why?”

“Dear old Dad wanted me to get married to an upper-class twit, some kind of aristocrat.  Never mind those titles hardly mean anything these days.  If he knew I’d had eyes for a ‘commoner,’ he’d have a conniption.” Lara made another few jumps, positioning herself carefully.

“Well, judging by your choice of career, you don’t strike me as much of a ‘Daddy’s Girl.’”

“Of course!  If anything, that adds to the fun of spending my evenings with a charmer like yourself.”  She paused.  “Of course, if you end up marrying one of those princesses here, you’d have a much more impressive title for yourself.  I’m sure he’d change his tune in a heartbeat, but that wouldn’t be nearly as entertaining of a reaction.”

Lara side-stepped twice, centering herself atop the last pillar, then ran and leapt through the doorway.  You followed a little further behind, wheeling your arms to keep your balance after landing a little closer to the edge of the last pillar than you meant to.  You managed to recover and steady yourself, allowing you to make the final, easy jump through the doorway, into a small, dimly lit room.  You let out a sigh, relieved.

“Not too much further now, Anon,” Lara said, pointing out the other door. 

Sure enough, you could see it in the distance; a golden glimmer, sitting atop a pedestal in another room.  You couldn’t make out the exact shape, but from the way the lights all focused on it, that had to be your goal.

And the only thing between it and you was a rope bridge suspended over a large chasm.  Though even calling it a “bridge” might have been too generous; it was a mere three ropes, one at the bottom of the doorway, and one higher up at either side, serving as handrails.  They looked thick and sturdy enough to support both of you, but it would still be a shaky walk.

Looking below the bridge, you could see a pool of water.  At least it wouldn’t hurt too badly if you fell.

“How’d they even fit this whole thing in here?”  You thought aloud.  The ziggurat was big, but was it big enough to hold everything you’d seen so far?

“Probably the same way some of the guests have much larger rooms than you’d suspect,” Lara suggested, stepping carefully onto the rope.  “Let’s not worry about that too much.”

You stepped on after her, gripping the “handrails” tight, every step Lara and you took shifting the rope under your feet.

“This can’t be the last obstacle,” you said, keeping close behind Lara.  “It’s too simple.  I bet there’s one more trap ahead.”

“I have my suspicions,” Lara nodded, “but I wouldn't tempt fa-”

Loud screeching interrupted her as two pale ladies with bat wings flew toward the bridge from the ceiling.  You ducked as one soared right over your head, then lurched to the left as one passed on your right.

Lara instinctively reached for one of her pistols, her stance steady even as the rope swayed beneath her.  She paused, grit her teeth, and left the gun in its holster.

“Right,” she muttered, “can't be shooting paid actors.”

She picked up her pace, keeping her cool demeanor no matter how close the bats came to her.  You followed close behind, your grip on the ropes tight as you desperately tried to keep your balance, the bats flying this way and that around you.

Lara had just reached the end of the bridge when one bat girl came from below, taking you by surprise.  You lost your grip, and slipped, just barely managing to grab the lower rope in one hand.

“Anon!”  Lara called, hunching down and reaching out to you.  “Give me your hand!  I swear, there are much more fun ways to get your dick wet than dropping in that pond.”

You somehow managed to swing your other hand up to hers, and she yanked you back up to safety.  You couldn't remember the last time you were so grateful to be on solid ground.

“Thanks for the help,” you said.

“Any excuse to hold your hand without looking like an old softy.”  Lara grinned, helping you back to your feet and giving you a hug.  When you parted, she gestured toward the idol. “Ready to finish this?”

You nodded, the two of you heading to the pedestal at the center of the room.  There was a grinding sound as stone door slowly lowered to fill the archway you’d entered from.  You quickly glanced around the room for any other signs of traps, but there didn’t see anything that stood out.  Despite one door closing, another way out remained open, a long hall with a faint light at the end.

Slowly, carefully, you stepped closer, the idol, a golden statuette of a shapely nude woman dancing, was finally within reach.  Bracing yourself for either victory, or one final trap, you grabbed it.

The ground shook, and the floor started to crumble, chunks of tile falling into the water below.

“Go!”  Lara called, grabbing your free hand and pulling you toward the exit. 

You ran down the hall, noting that it seemed to be subtly sloped downward.  You found out why when, after getting a few meters into the hall, a trap door opened from the ceiling, releasing a giant rolling rock behind you.

“Lovely, another one of these,” Lara muttered, not slowing down.

“How is a giant rock supposed to be safe?”  You stammered.  “This isn’t supposed to be an actual death trap!”

The two of you picked up the pace and bolted for the light at the end of the tunnel. Your lungs felt about ready to burst as the boulder came steadily closer, before you finally came out the other side, the boulder getting lodged in the narrow gap.

“Congratulations!” 

You blinked, taking a moment to regain your bearings and catch your breath.  Looking up, you saw the drider from the entrance.

“Looks like you managed to get the idol just under the time limit,” she said. “Well done.  The prize will be credited to you within an hour!”

“Good job, Anon.”  Lara patted you on the back.  “I knew you had it in you.”

“Thanks,” you nodded, still panting.  “I couldn’t have done it without you.”

“Feel free to rest here a while,” the drider said, gesturing around the room.  “Rena agreed to help cook a special meal for the winners, but we weren’t expecting anyone to pass so soon.”

Looking around, the spacious room had pleasant natural lighting from two large windows, as well as a pile of delightfully soft pillows and cushions, a pair of small fountains, an ornate wooden table, and a pair of shining thrones on the opposite end of the wall.

“Of course,” the drider continued, “if you’re not hungry, or have somewhere else you’d like to go, we can have the meal sent to your room later.”

“I’m fine waiting here,” Lara said, “I could use a good meal.”

“Of course,” the drider nodded.  “I’ll let you two enjoy yourselves.   Though… Would you like a photo op on the throne before I go?”

 

A few minutes later, the photo was taken, the “boulder” (that turned out to be made of paper mâché) had been rolled away, and the doors to the victor’s chamber had been closed, giving you some privacy.  Lara and you were comfortably sprawled over some pillows in the corner, taking a glance at the photo of the two of you seated on the thrones, in relaxed, confident poses.

“You look beautiful here,” you said, leaning against Lara.  “Like a queen.”

Lara chuckled.  “You don’t look half bad yourself, considering the workout you went through.”

“It was nothing,” you shook your head, still feeling the burn.  “But thanks.”

“You don’t have to play tough to impress me, love,” Lara said.

She pressed her lips to yours, her hands tracing up and down your body

“Not that I mind seeing you work up a sweat.  You being willing to put in the effort for something like this, just to please your girls, is part of the reason I love you.  The charming, sexy face of yours helps too, of course.”

“Thanks,” you replied, stroking her cheek.  “You’re a real bombshell yourself, with confidence and attitude to match.  Back home, you’re a gaming sex symbol.  I know thousands of guys would do anything for a chance like this.”

“And you just had to run along one little obstacle course.  That makes you quite the lucky fellow, doesn’t it?”

“I guess so.  Sorry I couldn’t always keep up.”

“Oh hush.  Sure, having someone come along with me on my little raids would be splendid, but maybe I like the idea of having a handsome face waiting for me when I come home, someone who cares about me, and not about titles or treasure, hm?”

“Speaking of treasure,” you said, sitting up and looking at the idol, “are you sure you don’t want part of those credits?  I seriously wouldn’t have made it without your help.”

“Like I said at the start love, I only hunt for sport.” 

She paused.

“Well, I suppose that’s not quite true.”  She climbed atop you, guiding your hand to her belt as her other hand reached for your pants.  “There’s one catch I made tonight that I don’t plan to release any time soon.  What do you say?  Not feeling too tired for a little fun, are you, love?”

“…I think I found my second wind.”

A whirring sound interrupted the moment.  Lara sighed and rolled her eyes as she saw another camera drone poking through the window.  She casually reached for one of her pistols, and pointed it at the intruder.

“Haven’t you seen enough?”

BANG!

 

 

PornhubOfficial: Aw, it was just getting good.

ArachQueen34: MY CAMERA!

SHSLGamer [GF]:  Well, if you’d seen the end of Tomb Raider 2, you’d know there was only one way that could go.

ArachQueen34:  I try to check up on my guests for one second, pick a bad time, and she shoots my camera!

InceptionDesk:  …Sorry about that.

InceptionDesk: Shame she didn’t take part of the prize.  That camera’s coming out of her hotel credits tomorrow.

 

 

Some time later, a call came from the other side of the door.

“ROOM SERVICE!”

You and Lara turned around, half-dressed, as the exit door opened, and Rena stepped through, her cart carrying a fine cut of steak.

“Haven’t you heard of knocking?”  Lara asked, smirking.  “We’re in the middle of anthropological research.”

“Oh, believe me, I know better than to interrupt you during that,” Rena said.  “But after all that work, you guys have got to be tired, right?”  She pulled out a bottle.  “And maybe some champaign?”

“Gladly,” Lara said, taking one of the glasses.  “A quality meal like this is far better after a long trek for treasure and knowledge.  Wouldn’t you agree, Anon?”

“Honestly, I’m ready to eat anything, at this point,” you took a bite of the steak.  “But it being this good is a plus.”

“Anything, you say?”  Lara said.  “I might have an idea for your next meal.”

 

*

 

When you’d finished the meal, you and Lara headed out, exploring more of the park, listening to tales of her adventures, reading together back in her room, and of course, a few more rounds of love-making.

As the night came to an end, Lara walked back with you to the hotel doors, giving you a final kiss goodbye.

When you woke up, you felt something cold and metallic beside you; the idol from the park.  You weren’t sure if it was real gold or not, but it would make for a nice display, at least.

Chapter 10: Blaze the Cat (Sonic the Hedgehog series)

Notes:

(See the end of the chapter for notes.)

Chapter Text

ver a year, you’ve dreamed of Hotel Fantaisa, where you can spend the night with any woman you wish.  Tonight, you’ve chosen Blaze the Cat, the fiery, extradimensional princess from Sonic the Hedgehog.  We’re Right There, so Ride On!

 

As you entered the hotel lobby, you saw Rena at the front desk, looking over Talia’s shoulder while the dryad was focusing intently on the game system in her hands, an original DS.

“See, you’re not doing bad,” Rena said.  “Especially for a first-timer.  Now, just remember what I’d told you, see how far you can get, and don’t worry about if you mess up or not.” 

Rena looked up at you. 

“Oh, good evening, Anon!”

Talia’s head bolted up. 

“Anon’s here already?”

A little “Ba-dum” sound came from the DS, followed by a game over jingle.  Talia looked back to the screen with a frown. 

“Good evening Rena, Talia,” you said.  “Sorry if I was interrupting anything.”

“It’s okay,” Talia said, setting the handheld down.  “Rena was just letting me try out one of her video games, since I’d heard you and a bunch of your girlfriends liked them.  I don’t have anything like them back home.”

“How are you liking them so far?”

“It’s… different, but they’re neat, too.  They take some getting used to.  It’ll be a while before I’m ready for another Splatfest, or any contest like that.  But I like getting a chance to see what kinds of things you enjoy.  But maybe once I’m better, I can try playing with Rena…” her voice softened.  “'Or you…”

“That'd be fun,” you said, smiling.  “So, what are you playing?”

“Sonic Rush,” Rena said.  “I can't say I'd ever heard of blue hedgehogs before,” Talia said, “much less ones that move so fast.”  She shook her head.  “It's enough to make my head spin, learning to play it.”

“Oh yeah,” you said, “That's the game that Introduced Blaze.  She was a favorite of mine.”

“Oh, the purple cat?”  Talia asked.  “She actually came through here just a little while ago, asking about the hotel mall.  Would you like to request her?”

Rena’s tails flicked back and forth.  “Anyone else feel like a timeline just split?  I feel like a rule was broken and the timeline just split.”

“Is this about there not being furries in Hotel Fantasia?”  You asked.  “Because there was that time Rouge was on the winning team in the Splatfest…”

“…Yeah, maybe I’m just imagining things.”  Rena shrugged.  “The real test will be what happens if you have a ‘first date’ with a girl twice.  But I don’t think we’ll have to worry about that with Blaze.”

Talia glanced back and forth between the two of you in confusion.  “Is that a 'no?'”

Before you could reply, the glass doors to the hotel mall opened, and out of them stepped a cat-woman with lavender fur, her hair done up in a ponytail, and a small red jewel on her forehead.  The tails of her purple coat drifted gently behind her, while her actual tail stayed upright as she walked.  She was taller than you’d expected, (though still short enough that her head didn’t even come halfway up your chest,) and her body’s proportions were less cartoonish than the games’ art, with its large heads and stick-thin limbs; instead, she had a runner’s physique, her tights highlighting toned legs and hips. Chatting at her side was a young raccoon girl, dressed in shorts and a green tank top.  Turning from the conversation, the cat's yellow eyes locked on to you, blinking a couple times, as if making sure she wasn’t seeing things.

“Anon?” she said, discretely moving the 69-Up bag she’d been carrying behind her back.  “It's a pleasure to meet you.  I hadn’t expected to run into you like this.”

“A pleasure to meet you too, Blaze, Marine,” you said, nodding to each of them.  “We were just about to call you.  Blaze, would you like to be my girlfriend tonight?”

Blaze's eyes widened for a moment, but her calm demeanor quickly returned. and the raccoon girl beside her grinned from ear to ear.

She stepped toward you, taking your hand in hers, and nodded.  “I would be honored to, Anon.”

“Way ta go, Blaze!”  Marine slapped her friend on the back.  “I told ya it'd work out one of these days.  Ya didn't even need-”

“Sush,” Blaze whispered quietly.

“Congratulations, Your Majesty,” Talia said.

“There's no need for those formalities, here,” Blaze said, “But thank you, nonetheless.”

“Oh, er, sorry.”

“Besides, ‘Your Majesty’ is used to address a king or queen.  The proper form to address a Prince or Princess is ‘Your Royal Highness.’”

“R-right!”  Talia nodded.  “By the way, Anon, there's a carnival being set up in the park for the next few nights!”  She held out a map.  “If you and any of your girlfriends would like to come, you can get in free.”

“Cool,” you remarked, taking the map.  “How's that sound to you, Blaze?”

“That sounds lovely.”  Blaze slipped the bag she had been carrying, and a keycard, to Marine.  “Would you mind dropping this this off in my room?”

“No worries, mate!  You give our handsome bloke 'ere a night 'e won't forget!”

“I’ll make sure of that,” Blaze nodded.

“Yeah, you two have fun out there,” Talia nodded.

“And try not to split the timeline any worse!”  Rena called.

 

*

 

You and Blaze followed the map through the park, her warm hand firmly holding yours.  It was nighttime at the park again, letting the distant spotlights of the carnival shine through the sky in the distance.

Blaze quietly listened as you talked about your day, but she seemed hesitant to stand too close, or to look at you for too long. “...Once that was over, I played some games with Tamako, and then we went to bed.  A pretty nice day, all things considered…”

You heard carnival music playing in the distance as you walked.  Rounding a bend, you saw a dozen large red tents, a ferris wheel with cabins in a rainbow of bright colors, and the distant tips of other tall attractions.

Not too much further, now,” you said.  “So, how was your day?”

“Most of it was occupied by the dry legal affairs of the Sol Empire’s royal court, and I doubt you'd care much to hear a debate over zoning law...  Though I suppose if we ever did marry, it would be best to familiarize yourself with it.”

“Yeeeah, let's not talk zoning law on the first date.”

Blaze smiled.  “Of course.  Still, now that I think about it, if you were to ever become my king, you would doubtless be subjected to a thorough background check.  You haven't committed any war crimes, have you?”

“Oh, yeah, totally,” you chuckled.  “I regularly love all my girlfriends to death!”

“The horror.”  She shook her head.  “Still, there was one thing that you might call interesting during my day:  We had been in the middle of some long and tense negotiations with a foreign diplomat.  It had taken a lot of work; the diplomat had a short temper, but it seemed like we were finally getting through.  And naturally, just as we were about to find a peaceful resolution, who should show up but Eggman Nega, with his newest attack robot targeting the ambassador.”

“But you managed to turn it into slag, didn’t you?”

"Naturally.  It's my duty to protect my kingdom, and I wasn't about to let hours of tense negotiations be ruined my one madman piloting a giant robot frog.  The doctor should have learned ages ago to never get on my bad side.”

“I know I'd never dream of it,” you laughed, then leaned down and kissed her on the head. 

She blinked in surprise, her tail straightening up

"Oh, I...   appreciate the gesture, Anon, but I’m not much for public displays of affection to a minimum?"

You hadn't expected that.

"It was just a kiss," you said.  "I don't think anyone minds.  Especially here."

She sighed.  "You're right.  I apologize.  I suppose I'm used to needing to keep up a sense of royal decorum.  I will...  Try to adjust.”

The music grew louder as you approached, a few young women cheerfully greeting you, and offering the two of you had handful of free tickets for the evening, which you happily accepted.  A large crowd had already formed, made up of women from a wild mix of times and places, the chatter and music filling the air.  You looked back and forth between dozens of rides, and games of skill and chance.

“The shooting gallery looks like a fun one,” you said, giving her a nudge.  “See any prizes you’d like?” 

“I’m not interested in stuffed animals,” Blaze replied, “but if you want to play, go right ahead.”  She held up a finger, a small flame appearing above it.  “I may give it a shot myself, for the fun of it.”

The shooting gallery had been set up in a sizable booth, with dozens of targets being moved around on belts, in front of a paintball gun mounted to the counter.

After a friendly exchange with the redhead in glasses manning the booth, you grabbed the gun and took aim.  The first few shots were off course, but once you’d gotten used to it, you managed to mark half the targets before you’d spent the allotted shots.

“Not quite enough for a prize,” the redhead said, cleaning the dye off the marked targets, “but that was some nice shooting.  Wanna give it another shot?”

You stepped aside.  “Nah, I’ll let Blaze have a turn.” 

“Thank you,” Blaze said, stepping up to the counter.  “Now then…”  she held up hand, a small ball of flame appearing in her palm.

“HOLD UP!”  The girl at the counter shouted, “I’m sure your powers are cool, miss, but you’ve got to use the paintball gun provided.  I’ve had to replace three targets today because of psychics trying to show off their ‘mind bullets,’ and I don’t want to put out a fire too.”

“Of course, my apologies,” she grabbed the gun.  “I’ve had some practice with firearms before, too.”

“You have?”

“Yes.  In the Olympics, for a biathlon event.

“Oh,” you replied.  “Naturally.”

She took ten careful, steady shots, and ten targets stood marked in colorful dye.

“Nice work,” said the redhead.  “What prize would you like?”

“I’m fine,” Blaze said.  “But maybe you’d like something, Anon?”

“Hmm…  I’ll take… the lavender-colored cat.”

Blaze tilted her head, examining the prizes.  “I don’t see a laven-”

You interrupted her with a kiss on the cheek.

“Oh!  Of course.” She glanced away, as if trying not to make her enjoyment of the attention obvious.  “I'll take one of the chao dolls, then.”

The woman behind the counter handed blaze a little blue doll with a teardrop shaped head, which Blaze stored in her coat.  She took your hand again, but didn't return the kiss.

“This place isn’t nearly as flashy as a lot of carnivals I’ve been too,” Blaze remarked, as you continued through the carnival.  “Far fewer neon grind rails, rope swings, momentum powered whirling arms, or bottomless pits.”

“Oh…  This isn’t boring you, is it?  Would you like to go somewhere else?”

“No, I didn’t mean it like that.  It’s a much more relaxing experience, and I certainly wouldn't want either of us to have to deal with bottomless pits.”

You continued through the carnival, taking in the sights between games, giving Blaze hugs and kisses in-between.  But while she never rejected them, and seemed to enjoy them, she always hesitated to return your affection.

She'd said she wasn't used to public displays of affection before, hadn't she?  Maybe the issue was simply that she wasn't comfortable with the “public” part.  You looked up to the Ferris wheel, the inside of its glass-windowed cabins hard to see from the ground.

“Want to go for a ride on the Ferris Wheel?”  You asked.  “The line doesn’t look that long.”

Blaze tilted her head up, watching the cabins slowly rise.  “D-do you really-” she stopped and shook her head.  “Never mind.  If you want to, then let’s go.”

She remained quiet as you went through the line, her grip on your hand getting tighter as you sat in the cabin.  You looked down at the crowds below, seeing more and more of the carnival laid out in front of you.

“Great view, huh?”  you said, as you were halfway to the top.  “I’ve been meaning to ask-”

Blaze’s grip grew tighter still, and you felt her suddenly pressing closer to you.  For a moment, you’d thought that maybe she’d finally eased up, but when you turned to look at her, it was impossible to hide the worried expression she wore, her eyes darting every which way they could to avoid looking down.

“Wh-what is it?”  She asked.

You sucked air through your teeth as you suddenly realized the mistake you'd made.

“Oops…”  You put an arm around her, gently patting her side.  “With all the cool acrobatic stuff I’ve seen you do, I forgot you had a fear of heights…”  You winced.  “I’m sorry.”

“No, no, it’s fine, it’s an easy mistake to make,” she replied, putting an arm around you, clinging firmly as your cabin neared the top of the wheel.  “I d-don’t want to let a little thing like this get in the w-way of your enjoyment.”

“Do you want to pick where we go next, to make up for it?”

“Th-that sounds fine, yes…”  Her tail wrapped around your waist.  “Once we get back on solid ground.”

 

*

 

Stepping out of the cabin, Blaze took a deep breath and quickly regained her composure.  Taking her hand again, you left the Ferris Wheel.

“I apologize for my behavior up there,” Blaze said.

“You apologize?”  You shook your head.  “I’m the one who should be apologizing.  I didn’t want to scare you like that.”

“It’s fine, Anon, I know you didn’t mean it.”  She looked out over the crowd.  “I still shouldn’t have lost control like that.  I won’t let that happen again.”

Honestly, the “worst” she’d done was cling to you, which you might have enjoyed if she hadn’t clearly been panicked at the time.  But before you could tell her anything, a familiar, sultry voice spoke up.

“Hey there, handsome, long time no see.”

You turned to see a bat girl with tan skin, white fur, and a generous bust hidden behind a pink, heart-shaped chest plate.  Rouge the Bat looked up at you with a smirk, her wings fluttering.

“So many pretty faces in the crowd tonight.  And the purple princess is here, too.”

Before you could tell her to be more polite to your newest girlfriend, Blaze spoke, her eyes narrowing at the thief.

“Hello, Rouge.  Here to pickpocket?  Or does the carnival have a safe you plan to loot?”

“With you it’s always business, isn’t it?  You’ve got to learn to let loose and have fun every once in a while.”  Rouge grinned and shook her head.  “No, I’m here for pleasure, not business, just like Anon is.  Though I don’t know how much he’ll be getting tonight.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”  Blaze huffed.

“I think you already know the answer, kitten,” Rouge laughed, “seeing what you bought at 69-Up.  Someone was feeling a like they didn’t stand out.”

Blaze’s eye widened. 

“Who do you think is gonna give Anon a better night?”  Rogue continued.  “The duty-bound, stuck-up little princess…”  She folded her arms, and “subtly” used them to heft her bust up.  “…Or a real woman, with experience and a naughty streak?”

Blaze grit her teeth, sparks dancing at her fingertips.  “You…  You shut up right now or-”

You weren’t gonna let that stand.  You put an arm on Blaze’s shoulder.  She stopped and took a deep breath, relaxing slightly.

“Come on, Rouge,” you said, “knock it off!  Blaze is my girlfriend every bit as much as you are.  Don’t treat her like that.”

“Always the sweetheart,” Rouge replied.  “It was just a little teasing, honey.  But I can play nice, if you want.”  She turned back to Blaze.  “Sorry, princess.  Have a little apology gift.”

She tossed a small pink gem to Blaze, who caught it, with a confused expression.

“Wait,” Blaze said, “How did YOU know I went to 69-Up?  Were you following me?  Trying to steal the Sol Emerald again?”

“Oh, look at the time!”  Rouge said, flapping her wings and taking off.  “See you later, honey!”

Blaze looked at the gem she’d been tossed.

“Well,” you said, “a gift like that seems like a good way to turn things around.”

“…Assuming she didn’t give me this to use me as an unwitting fence.”  She shook her head and turned back to you.  “I’m sorry you had to see that.  I almost lost control again.”

“You don’t have to apologize.  Rouge was the one insulting you.”  You paused.  “But you’ve seemed kind of distant all night.  Do you want to talk about it?”

Blaze was silent for a moment.  “Yes.  But some place quieter, where we won’t have to worry about anyone else listening in.”

 

*

 

You followed Blaze quietly up a hillside path not too far from the carnival.  The two of you sat in the soft grass at the top of the hill, alone, as you looked over the festivities.  You put an arm around her, pulling her closer to you.

“So what’s been bothering you?”

 

 

“Its…  I’ve been worried that if I make too much of a scene around you, if I lose control of myself and give into passion, I’ll simply make a fool of myself, and cause you embarrassment.”

“Aw, Blaze.”  You gave her a kiss on the ear.  “I would never-”

“Y-yes, I know you wouldn’t be make a fuss about it.  I know the purpose of this place is so everyone here can show their love, but still…”  She shook her head.  “I must be dragging your evening into boredom, just like Rogue said, aren’t I?  So many of your girlfriends were so eager to get right to… intimacy, within minutes of meeting you, and here I am, worried about how it would look to so much as hug you in public.”

You grabbed her hand.  “Blaze, just being with you is a great evening!  I love your bravery, your dignity, the elegant way move, and your cool, composed attitude…”

“…Which cracked twice this evening.”

“And I still love you even when you’re having an off day.  If you want to take things slower than my other girlfriends, or don’t feel comfortable hugging or kissing in public, I’m fine with that.  You deserve to be happy, too.”

Blaze sighed.  “I know you’re right.  I just…  When I was younger, I had trouble controlling my flames.  Most were kind about it to my face; I was the princess of the Sol Empire, none would dare do otherwise.” 

Her ears flicked. 

“But my hearing is sharper than many of them imagined.  I could hear everything they said about me behind my back.  Needless to say, between that, and living in a palace filled with politicians, I learned to gauge when people were lying very quickly.  For a while, I'd even come to think of my powers as a curse.  I spent years learning to control them, and myself.  I always had to appear strong and dignified, to be the pristine image of royalty, or I’d risk their ridicule again.  Old habits are hard to break”

You gently patted her on the back.  “I’m sorry.  If it’s any help, I think your fire powers are cool.  You’ve made it all look easy and natural.   Even before I got here, it was awesome watching you tearing through robots like a fiery tornado.”

“Careful, you almost sound like Omega.”  Blaze laughed.  “But thank you.  For so long it was rare to hear someone sincerely compliment me, much less my power.  Though it has gotten easier since I visited Sonic’s world, and out here, in Hotel Fantasia.”

“How do you mean?”

“They’re places where my royal status means nothing; I don't have others trying to flatter me left and right, complimenting me to my face and mocking me when I’m ‘out of earshot.’  I don’t have to bear the burden of knowing my every word could change the fate of my kingdom.  I can just… Be another person.”  She shook her head.  “And then on seeing you, I felt so desperate to impress, so afraid of messing up, that I slipped right back into the royal role, didn’t I?”

“Kinda,” you said.

“I’ll try to take it easier, from now on,” she said, straightening up.  “To treat you like a boyfriend I can be open with, rather than a diplomat I have to impress.”

Suddenly, her arms were around you, and her lips on yours, your body feeling incredibly warm in her embrace as you returned the favor.  Even when you parted, you continued to gently pat down her back and tail.

“That sounds good to me,” you said, looking her up and down.  “I feel so lucky to even meet you, much less call you my girlfriend.  You’re interdimensional royalty, and adorable to boot.  Even the way you move is beautiful.  Every step looks like a graceful dance."

Blaze laughed.  "Thank you.  I've actually trained in dance for years.  Learning to better control my body had helped me control my flames, as well.  It gave me a way to express both my passion, and my discipline."  She stood up.  "Would you like to see?"

"Absolutely!"  You nodded, straightening up. 

With feline grace, Blaze went into motion, raising one leg up as she twirled on the toe of her other, twirling around once, twice, three times.  Little balls of fire began to float around her, matching her motion.  Her arms raised and her eyes closed as both feet returned to the ground.  Her upper body, and the fiery orbs around it, seemed to go completely still, keeping perfectly level as she circled around you, with a speed that that shocked you for how little her legs seemed to move.

She lowered her stance, then leaped in a wide, graceful arc, the fire tracing her movement perfectly. Time seemed to slow as you watched her, every graceful movement feeling purposeful, deliberate, without a hint of wasted energy, the fire beside her complimenting her every step.  It felt impossible to look away.

She transitioned into a backflip, elegantly repeating the motion a second time, then a third, each taking her higher into the air, before she finally landed, surrounded by a flourish of flames.

"That was beautiful," you said.

"Thank you, Anon."  She smiled, bowed, then held out her hand.  "Would you care to join me?"

"Me?"  You stammered.  "I don't know if I can do all that!"

Blaze laughed softly.  "Don't worry. We'll take it slow."

You took her hand and stood up.

Between her smaller size, and your lack of experience, it had been awkward to start, but she just smiled, seemingly content to enjoy the feeling of her hand in yours, and your arm around her waist.  Floating flames bobbed and swirled around you as, for a few wonderful minutes, the world was just you and her.

When the fire went out, the two of you bowed.

“Wanna head back to the carnival for a bit?”  You asked.  “I think there’s still some time for a few more rides.”

“In a minute,” Blaze replied, reaching into her coat and pulling out a glowing gem.  “I just wanted to show you something.

“Is that one of the Sol Emeralds?”

She nodded.  “I don’t quite think it’d be safe for me to use them the way some of your other girlfriends have used their powered-up forms; my super form is called “Burning Blaze” for a reason.  But like the chaos emeralds, their power grows with the feelings of their user, and you’ve made me feel more loved than any person I’ve known.  I wouldn’t want this feeling to go to waste.”

She stood up and stepped back, the emerald floating into the air beside her as six more flew out from her coat.  Her clothes and ponytail billowed in the wind, the air getting hotter as the gems began to circle around her, their glow intensifying. 

They came to a sudden stop, and a pillar of bright pink flame enveloped Blaze, forcing you to cover your eyes and turn away, the sweltering heat making you sweat.

When the light dimmed, and the heat faded, you turned back to see Blaze, floating a few feet in the air, her fur glowing a bright pink and her coat a deep red color, as fire curled and danced off her body.

With a smile, she flew into the air a trail of flame lingering in the sky behind her, highlighting the looping and twirling path she took as she rose higher and higher.  Gradually, she faded out of sight, leaving only a trail of flame visible behind her.  Then she paused, letting the trail fade out.  She rose up again, the flames forming in a vertical curve, before quickly looping into a short downward dip.  She rose and dropped again, mirroring the first line, forming a bright pink heart shape in the starry sky. 

In the center of the heart, several fireballs launched out with a sharp whizzing sound, before exploding like fireworks into the shape of letters, spelling out “I LOVE YOU, ANON.”

As the fireworks faded, you saw Blaze drifting back down, back in her usual form, her fall slowed by small jets of flame shooting out from her high-heeled shoes.

You clapped for her as she got within earshot, and the moment she was back on the ground you ran up, leaned down and hugged her tight.

“That was awesome!”  You cheered.  “I love you, too.”

Your lips were on hers, and she didn’t hesitate.  Her arms were quickly wrapped around you, the warmth of her body filling you as you heard a low rumbling noise coming from her.

“Are you purring?”

“No, I just…”  Blaze somehow blushed through her fur again.  “…Yes.  I’m so glad I got to meet you.”

“Same here,” you said.  “…But I thought you weren’t comfortable with public displays of affection.”

Blaze smiled and shrugged.  “There wasn’t a signature.  Those fireworks could’ve been set off by anyone.”  She grabbed your hand.  “Now let’s go, while the carnival is still open.  And after we’ve had our fun there, we can go back to my room.”

“Of course!”  You grinned.  “Lead the way!”

She took your hand, and guided you back down the park’s path.

“Do you think anyone else could use the Sol Emeralds like that?”  You asked.  “I mean, yeah, it could be a fire hazard, but a few of the girls back home are responsible enough to avoid using it indoors.  I bet they’d love to fly around like that.”

“It might be possible.”  Blaze shook her head.  “But unlike a certain thief, I’m not going to give away one of the most powerful artifacts in my word, even as a gift to a beloved boyfriend.  Not only is it my duty to guard them, but putting them in another world would be a bad idea.  Especially after Rogue gave you her world’s emeralds.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“The Chaos Emeralds and the Sol Emeralds are counterparts, and have equal and opposite energies.  If they both exist in the same world for too long, without someone capable of keeping each of their powers in check watching over them, it could annihilate that world.  So unless you think seeing one of your girlfriends go Burning is worth that…”

“Yeah, point taken, no emeralds as a parting gift this time.”

 

You soon found yourself back in the fairgrounds, the crowd still busy, with quite a few eyes turning toward you and Blaze as you passed.

You approached a ride that didn't have a long line, a carousel with swinging pods at the end of brightly lit mechanical arms.

"Hey Anon," the attendant greeted you.  "Would you like to ride on our Pedal Powered Carousel?"

"Pedal powered?"

"Yeah, there are pedals in the pods, and the faster everyone works them, the faster the ride moves."

"That sounds fun," you said, turning to Blaze.  "Would you like to give it a shot?  I bet with your speed, we could really take off."

Blaze smiled.  "If you think you can handle it."

You headed through the gate, and stepped into the open pod, putting on your seatbelt.  You turned to look at the seat next to you, and, to your surprise, saw that Blaze wasn't in it.  Instead, she stood outside the ride, smiling, with a hint of mischief in her eye.

"Uh, Blaze, are you gonna get in, or not?"

"Eventually."  she shut the cabin door, and then ran out of sight.

You heard crackling flames, then a high pitched whirring sound.  You looked back, and saw Baze bearing down at you at full speed, before jumping up and delivering a solid kick to the back of the cabin.

Instantly, you were slammed into the back of your seat, the wind hit your face, and the world became a blur of color and motion.  After a few moments, you saw a purple and lavender blur leap into the air in front of you, flip, then land smoothly in the seat beside you.  Blaze grinned as she slipped on her seatbelt.

"How's that?"  Blaze called over the roaring wind.

You gripped your seat, feeling the ride gradually decelerate to a speed that let you comprehend your surroundings.

"L-let my organs go back to their normal positions, and I'll tell you."  You took a deep breath.

Blaze's lips turned down.  "Oh.  Too much?"

"D-don't worry about it, this speed's fine now."  Another deep breath, as you put your feet to the pedals.  "And that rush wasn't that bad.  Maybe just give me a little warning, next time."

"I'll keep that in mind."

 

*

 

“Here we are,” Blaze said, opening the door to her room and letting you inside.  The room’s off-white-tiled floor was spotless, with a red carpet leading up to a large canopy bed, decorated with purple drapes. Marble pillars, well-polished, ornately carved wooden furniture, and stained-glass depicting Blaze and what were probably the queens that came before her, all contributed to the feeling that you’d just stepped into a royal palace.

“This room is almost as regal as you,” you remarked, stepping further inside.

“Thank you,” Blaze said, undoing her coat.  “I’m glad I finally get to share it with you.

As you approached the bed, you noticed a large bag sitting on top of it.

“I’m curious,” you said, “what WERE you buying at 69-Up?”

Blaze somehow blushed through her fur, her eyes darting away.  “Ah, that…  Well…  Remember how I said I was teased as a child for being unable to control my flames?  As I reached my teenage years, I began to finally master my power, and the teasing began to slow down.  But no matter what happens, some people just want to have someone to mock, so the whispered taunts started to change from my control of my powers being ‘underdeveloped’ to…” 

She glanced down toward her chest.

“…Other aspects of my life being ‘underdeveloped.’”

“Oh…  So that’s why Rouge’s comments were getting under your skin.”

“Exactly.  So, I went to get a few bottles of Booboom milk, in hopes of using them before our date if you ever requested me…  I didn’t expect you to ask so soon.”

You chuckled, rubbing her shoulder.  “Well, maybe it’s for the best.  This way, I meet you as you are, and still ask to date you, so you can know I love you for who you are, not what your bust size is.  If you think it’d help you feel a little more confident, you can use it, but I’m fine either way.”

She smiled, and leaned against you.  “I really should have known, yes.  But it’s nice to hear it right from you.”  She embraced you, pulling you into another kiss.  “Thank you.”

“I guess that part of you is why you handed the bag off to Marine, rather than make a quick excuse to zoom out of sight, drink it, and come back a second later.”

Blaze blinked a few times.  “Oh,” she sighed.  “I could have done that, couldn’t I?”

You smiled, and hugged her back, stroking down her tail.  “Like I said, for the best.”

 

*

 

“ROOM SERVICE!”

Rena opened the door and stepped in with cart full of food, smiling when saw Blaze sitting on your lap in a nightgown, purring as you brushed her hair.

“Aw, Anon’s got a cute lapcat.”

The purring stopped, and Blaze frowned. 

“Haven’t you heard of knocking?”  Blaze huffed, getting up.  “What if we were in the middle of- well…”

“Oh, that hasn’t stopped her before,” you chuckled.  “She can be a real pervert.”

“You know you love me for it,” Rena laughed.  “But I’ll add your room to the knock-first list.”  She took the lid off her tray.  “Anyway, dinner is served; two orders of our specialty fried rice, one holding most of the spices, as you requested.”

You glanced at Blaze.  “Wait, you can control fire, but you can’t handle a little spice?”

“That’s different!”  Blzae insisted, her tail twitching.  “I’m sensitive to it, and-”

You smiled as she went on defending herself.

 

*

 

You and Blaze spent the rest of the evening together, chatting, playing, and enjoying each other’s company.  But as always, the night had to come to an end.  Blaze followed you back to the hotel’s entrance, hand in hand, and give you final kiss goodbye, before you crossed the threshold and woke back up in your room.

You felt something soft under your arm.  Curious, you reached down, and found the Chao plush that Blaze had won at the carnival, and a little note.

“I’ll be in a rush to see you again.”

Notes:

Author’s note: Fun fact: Blaze being sensitive about her bust size was part of her original character write-up, before the devs decided that it probably wasn’t going to fly in a kids’ game. https://info.sonicretro.org/Blaze_the_Cat#Character_conception Good call, TBH, but in a context like this, I couldn’t resist referencing it.

So, yeah, furry/anthro characters. I don’t mind writing ‘em, and if you’d wanted to request any on the original Hotel Fantasia, but didn’t because of Cecil’s rules, feel free to request a chapter for them here. As before, I can’t promise I’ll write every request, but I’ll happily hear them out.

Chapter 11: Diantha (Pokemon X & Y)

Summary:

Every night for over a year, you've dreamed of Hotel Fantaisa, where you can spend the night with any woman you wish, in any way you wish. Tonight, you've chosen Diantha, movie star, and Champion of the Kalos Pokémon League. They say that Kalos is for lovers, after all..

This chapter was requested by Lolz, on chapter 5.

Notes:

(See the end of the chapter for notes.)

Chapter Text

You stepped into the hotel lobby once again, where Talia greeted you with a wave from behind the front desk

"Good evening, Anon!  It’s great to see you again."

"Nice to see you again, too," you said.  "How's it going?"

"It's been an interesting night," she replied.  "They've been making one of those 'movie' things in the park.  I helped set up a couple scenes, and even got to watch for an hour or so before my shift at the front desk."

"A movie huh?  That sounds fun.  Who was in it?" 

"It was a group of women from a few Pokémon worlds; a bunch said they worked for PokéStar Studios, and a few were new to acting, and were getting a chance to try for their dream job for the first time. I got to chat with one of the older actors, a human named Diantha, and she was really friendly."

"Diantha, huh?  Like, the champion of Kalos?"

Talia tilted her head to the side.  “You know, I think I remember someone calling her that.”

“You know, I’d been thinking about spending a night with her,” you mused.  "Do you think they'd mind if I watched, before I requested a night with her?"

"They're probably almost done by now, but we should be able to catch the end, and I know they'd be happy to see you!" She stepped out from behind the desk.  "I can show you the way."

"Go right ahead."

She led you by the hand through the park, down a path toward a lake at the edge of the forest.

“So, what was it like, getting to see people making a movie?”  You asked.

“It was kinda funny in a way, watching them start and stop and start again, going through the same speeches again and again when someone messed up, or when the director wanted to hear someone say something a slightly different way.” Talia said.  “It’ll probably look better when they go through the whole thing, rather than these practice runs.

“You know, we didn’t really have movies back in my world.  I’d heard about stage plays, but I never got to see one myself, so when I’d first seen Rena watching one, I thought she was actually gazing into another world with magic.”  She giggled.  “Who knows, with how many guests we have from so many places that match up with stories in your world, maybe she was, in a way.”

You saw a small crowd as you approached the lakeside, with a few tall camera stands and boom mics sticking out above their heads.  You could faintly make out the voices of the actors, though you couldn't quite make out what they were saying.  A small, temporary barricade, made of ropes and stakes, had been set around the group, which Talia let you through.

When you got close enough that your footsteps could be heard, one of the grips turned to face you, a finger on her lips in a shushing motion.

“Look,” she whispered sharply, “we're in the middle of filming right n-” She stopped, blushing, when she recognized who she was talking to. 

“Oh, hello Anon.”  She brushed her hair away from her eyes, keeping her voice low.  “Are you here to watch the shoot?  Or have a date with one of the cast or crew?”

You nodded, and quietly added “Both.”

“Well, we're running through our last scene of the day,” she replied, “so there won't be much to watch, but I'm sure the lucky girl will be happy to see you.  Just stay quiet, and try not to distract the actors.”

She led you and Talia through the crowd, where you felt one or two hands “accidentally” lingering on you as you passed, before you reached the other side.

The scene was already underway; Diantha took center stage, clad in a suit of light, gleaming armor, ending in a blue skirt and a cyan cape < her dark grey hair tied back and out of the way.  At her side stood a nervous-looking Poké-girl, with a large red mane of hair, a short beige horn jutting out from her forehead, long, pointed ears, and a blue horse tail that anxiously swished back and forth behind her. 

"...This is the third time in as many days that you have faltered, Annette,” Diantha said, her French Kalosian accent elegant and rich, every word pronounced with perfect clarity.  "Your progress had been improving for so long, and yet now even the basics trouble you.  Have you lost the will to fight?"

The other girl's teeth clicked together as her posture straightened up, her head held high, (perhaps in an effort to hide her nervously darting eyes).

"No!  No ma'am!  I understood what I signed up for ma'am!"

"Then why are you neglecting your training?"  Diantha turned around, pointing an accusatory finger at the girl.  "One or two rookie mistakes, some time apart, are understandable, for a second-year recruit, but only a neglect of training can explain errors like this."

"W-with all due respect Ma'am," the other girl protested, "I have not been neglecting my training.  You can ask the three captains."

"Then how do you explain yourself?  Why do you lack resolve, now?"

The girl blushed.  "It's the, ah, new assignment, Ma'am..."  Her eyes wandered off into the distance, where you could see... yourself?... dressed like royalty. 

"Guarding the prince?"  Diantha said, before her eyes seemed to light up.  "Ah, I see. You've let your ward steal your heart."

The girl's posture straightened once again.  "Ma'am, no ma'am!  I just meant that-"

"No no no, I see now that I have been quite neglectful in another kind of training."  Diantha adjusted a strap on her armor, revealing a bit more skin.  "Follow me back to my chambers."  She reached out, undoing a clasp on the other woman's armor, as well.  "And be sure to put away that armor.  You'll need your full range of motion for these next exercises..."

Well, given that this was Hotel Fantasia, perhaps you should have expected things to go in this direction.   Not that you minded...

"...Annnd, CUT!"  Shouted another voice.  "That's a wrap people, good work today, see you when the film is ready for screening."

...Disappointing, but at least you could move on to why you were really here.

After being waved on by a couple of the staff, you approached Diantha and the Poké-girl, who were still chatting as they made their way to their dressing rooms, joined but what you assumed to be Diantha’s Gardevior.

"Diantha," Talia called.  "Diantha!  Someone would like to see you."

She turned around.  "Oh, why hello again... Talia, was it?"  She glanced toward you. "And Zoe, of course."

Talia giggled as you raised an eyebrow.

Before you could come up with a response, "you" stepped up on your right, with a casual wave.  "Nice work out there, Diantha, Keldeo," the other "you" said.

Diantha blinked, just as surprised as you were, when the other you suddenly laughed in a feminine voice.  Your imposter seemed to blur, then come back into focus, the dark complexion, large, deep-red ponytail, and triangular, black-furred ears identifying her as a Zoroark girl, half bent over in laughter.

"Hah!  Oh, you should see the look on your faces!"  She straightened back up, still wearing a fanged grin.

"Of course, how could I-?!" Diatha covered her mouth as she laughed.  "You must think me a fool not to recognize you sooner, Anon!"

"Uh, no problem," you replied, over the Zoroark’s snickering, "I can see why you'd get confused."

"Let's start again.  I am Diantha, award winning actress and Champion of the Kalos Region Pokemon League.  Allow me to introduce my fellow actors; this is Keldeo, or Kelly, to her friends."

"P-pleasure to meet you, SIR!"  Keldeo said, seemingly saluting on reflex.  "I mean, er, it's nice to meet you, Anon."

"And this is Zoe," Diantha motioned to the Zoroark, who had regained her composure.

"Charmed," Zoe said.

"Do you... do this often?"  You asked.

"Disguise as you, specifically?"  She shook her head.  "No, I'm just an actress, giving the people what they want.  You don't need to worry about me borrowing that handsome face of yours to steal your girls."

“And lastly,” Diantha added, “my faithful friend in battle and at home, my Gardevior, Florence!”

The green-haired, red-eyed woman at her side smiled and nodded, giving a friendly “hello there,” before returning her attention to the clipboard in her hand.

"You were calling me, a moment ago?" Diantha said, a hint of a smile appearing on her face.  "Were you, perhaps, about to invite one of us to a romantic evening out?"

You nodded, as all three of the actor's eyes focused on you, some much better at hiding their interests that others.  "Yes.  Are you interested, Diantha?"

Smiling wide, Diantha stepped threw her arms around you, her lips on yours.

“That answers that,” Florence said.

"Well, aren't you a lucky lady?"  Zoe said.

Keldeo looked a little disappointed, but quickly hid it with a smile. "Take good care of him, okay?"

Your lips parted.  "Of course, dears,” Diantha replied, “thank you."

“Alright,” Florence said, writing on her clipboard.  “I think I can clear out your schedule for a night like this.”

"Have a wonderful evening, Anon," Talia said, letting go of your hand.  "Goodbye."

You waved goodbye to Talia, and the other actors and followed Diantha and Florence back toward a room-sized tent.

"Wait here just a moment," she told you, "while I slip into something a little more comfortable, hm?"

"Sure you wouldn't like a little help changing?"  You asked, with a grin.

Diantha laughed.  "Oh, my love, let’s not go rushing to the big reveal before we've even started the opening act!"

“I’ll help with your make-up!”  Florence said, in a sing-song voice.

And with that, the two stepped into the tent, zipping it up behind them.

As you stood outside, you could faintly hear the two talking, through the fabric.

“This is amazing, isn’t it?” Florence said.  “After all this time, it’s finally your chance!”

“Yes, my heart’s fluttering,” Diantha replied.  “Though I do feel a little bad, changing the schedule like this after I promised you girls an evening in the park.”

“Believe me, Diantha, we ALL understand.  Take it from me, we can wait until he’s picked another date.”

“Thank you, Florence.”

“…Besides, if what we’ve heard from Cynthia is true, it isn’t as if he objects to his girlfriends bringing their Pokémon out to play on their dates.”

A few moments later, you heard a Poké ball recalling Florence, and Diantha stepped back outside in her usual outfit, an all-white ensemble, pairing a long coat with shorts that revealed plenty of her leg, held in place by a golden belt, while a golden pendant holding a Key Stone swung around her neck.

“I thought you looked good up on the screen,” you said, reaching out to take her hand. “But you look downright gorgeous in person.”

“Thank you, my love.”  She smiled.  “I hear that a lot, but it means so much more coming from you!” 

“Oh, of course,” you replied, as the two of you started walking, “I almost forgot that you aren’t just the champion, you’re a movie star, too!  The games never really went into that.  What’s it like?”

The two of you headed down the path toward the gardens, flowers in shades of red, yellow, and blue appearing in greater numbers the further you went, their sweet scent filling the air.

“What’s it like?”  She repeated, looking up at the clear, blue skies.  “There’s so much to it, I can’t put it into just a couple sentences.  Sometimes, getting into a role, properly embodying another person, and restraining your typical habits, can be difficult.  Other times, it’s the most natural thing in the world, and even those on set feel as if they’re watching a completely different person! 

“I’ve worked with hard-nosed directors with tight schedules and short tempers, and directors so laid back it dipped into carelessness, and everything in between.  I’ve known actors who were sweet as could be, and others so rude and self-centered that being civil around them felt like an acting career within an acting career!  The life of an actress is filled with dazzling heights and painful lows, but I wouldn’t have it any other way.  Variety is the spice of life, as they say.”

“Yeah, I figured you must like it a lot,” you replied, “if you’re taking on new roles while you sleep.”

She let out a short, soft laugh.  “Yes, well, the characters I play here are far more risqué than my usual fare back in Kalos, but again, I like the variety.  I wouldn’t want to be stuck playing the same kinds of roles forever, after all.  And since coming here, I’ve been feeling… experimental.”

“Shame the filming today ended right before the good part,” you chuckled.

“Hmm hmm, someone’s feeling naughty.”  She playfully bumped your shoulder.  “But we actually filmed ‘the good part’ earlier, in a studio in the mall.”

“Out of order?”

“Yes, it’s far simpler to film all scenes taking place in one location at the same time, before moving on to the next.  You don’t need to worry too much about working on any piece of art in the “wrong order” if it’s going to be edited before people see the end result.”

“Fair enough.  Still, I wouldn’t mind getting to see that live.”

Diantha waved a hand dismissively.  “It would probably bore you.  We started and stopped so much, most of our angles were unnatural and uncomfortable… there were long periods where we barely even touched.  It turns out, looking sexy for the camera, and actually being sexy, are two very different things.”

“Well, with how well you’ve mastered that last one, I’m sure the first wouldn’t be that hard with practice.”

“Hah!”  She laughed, pressing up on your side.  “Oh Anon, my love, you’re too much!  But thank you.  I look forward to getting some practice with more natural positions tonight, and seeing how hard things get…”

She drew you into another kiss, your tongues meeting as her arms wrapped around you.

 

*

 

Diantha sat beside you at the edge of a fountain in the statue garden, enjoying bites of a croissant with you, while you took in a group of statues depicting several women playing the violin, flute, and the French horn, among other classical instruments.  With few guests around, and only the gentle sounds of the fountain’s spray, it had been quiet, peaceful moment, your free hand resting on Diantha’s.  After a few minutes, Diantha broke the silence.

“Do you think the models for these statues come to the park often?”  She asked.  “Do other people in the park recognize them?”

“I hadn’t given it much thought,” you admitted.  Your eyes wandered to the hedges, and other statues around you, as you thought of an answer. “Though, the statue garden’s never been too busy when I visited, and with who-knows-how-many guests coming visiting, the chances of anyone who’d seen the statues running into their models and recognizing them seems low.  Unless one of them was from a super popular series in multiple universes before they even came here.” 

You looked back to Diantha.  “Do you get recognized in public a lot?  You know, being a movie star with an eye-catching, distinct look, and all.”

Diantha giggled.  “Ah, yes, it happened nearly every day after my first big hit, My Sweet Sweet Lady.  People would stop me in the streets to ask for autographs, tell me how much they admired me, challenge me to Pokemon battles, and even confess their love for me.”

“That’s gotta be awkward,” you remarked.

A pair of women, one a harpy, the other a woman in some kind of cape-and-tights superhero outfit you didn’t recognize, flew leisurely overhead.  The harpy slowed down, turning her head to look down at you and Diantha with a face full of longing, and maybe a hint of envy, before the superhero halted her flight to gently motion for the harpy to keep moving.  The harpy nodded, and picked up a little speed, and the superhero turned to follow, but couldn’t resist the urge to give you a friendly smile and wave beforehand, herself.

“Most meant well enough, and were quite friendly,” Diantha continued, holding your hand.  “Even some of the lovesick ones were so passionate, it hurt to tell them my heart belonged to another.”

You nodded.  “I get what you mean.”

“…I’m sure you’ll find a way to bring joy and to every woman here, in time,” Diantha whispered.  “I can see you truly care for all of us.  And I love you deeply for it.”

She gave you another kiss, her lips lingering on yours for some time, before you parted.

“…I love you too,” you replied.

You sat there a moment, staring into each other’s eyes, before Diantha continued.

“…Of course, eventually, I discovered that if I only wore very distinct outfits and hairstyles in my films, and during Pokémon League Championship appearances, while dressing more casually in public, wearing different hairstyles, it was far easier to go out and about.  Though, as you might have guessed…” she gestured over her outfit, “here in Hotel Fantasia, it’s even easier to travel without being recognized, since my films aren’t released across every universe.  So I can have fun in my more striking outfits.”

“I definitely approve,” you said, glancing over her long, slender legs.  “Though, with the films you’re doing here, don’t you worry people might start recognizing you again?  I mean, yeah, you don’t go around the hotel in that suit of armor, but for the other scenes…”

Diantha giggled.  “It’s not as if I plan to go streaking, either.”

“…Yeah, fair enough.”  You quickly changed the subject.  “So, do you ever bring your Pokémon girls out to the park?”

“Oh, yes.  We’ve enjoyed having regular girl’s nights out together, it gives us a nice chance to do some team bonding.  We were going to have one tonight, but there was a little change of plans.”  Diantha smiled, her thumb gently rubbing on the back of her hand.  “And they understand it’s a special case.”

“Well,” you said, “if we’re dating, I’m gonna meet them at some point, right?  Why not tonight? We have some fun together before we head back to your room.”

Diantha reached for her Poké balls.  “I think they’d love that!”

 

*

 

“El Pluma Roja, give her a low sweep!”

You watched from the sidelines as Diantha’s Hawlucha seemed to defy her orders, her short, slender form leaping into the air in a somersaulting flip, that could be described as anything but “low,” her cape and mask making her a blur of red and green.  She soared over her opponent, a tense Mega Lopunny.  The rabbit Pokégirl, confused, raised her arms and ears, ready to block an airborne attack, and was caught off guard when Roja landed, spreading her arms and flicking her cape out in a pose.

The Lopunny dropped her guard and lashed out with a swift kick, but the Hawlucha dropped to her back, slipping just underneath the oncoming kick, and delivering one of her own to her opponent’s grounded leg.  The rabbit girl tumbled to the court with a groan.

The detour you’d taken to the Sparring Grounds served as ample reminder of why Diantha was League Champion.  Challenged to a double battle by a green-haired Ace Trainer in one of the smaller courts surrounding the colosseum, Diantha’s team had quickly turned the two-on-two battle into a two-on-one, even the Ace Trainer’s reserve Pokémon falling, overwhelmed, with only her Lopunny remaining.

“Now, Princess!”  Diantha shouted, “Stomp!”

The court seemed to shake with each step the tall Tyrantrum woman took.  Her hands had never left the pockets of her long, red coat, and her face was perpetually locked in a scowl that bared her fangs, the white feathers on her collar mingled with her long white hair.  She raised a foot above her opponent, giving a you good at her thick, muscular thighs, and glared down at the rabbit woman.

“Stay out of my way, peasant!”

With a growl, her foot came down, knocking the wind out of the Lopunny with a whimper.

“Know your place,” Princess spat.

“…H-harder, mommy,” the Lopunny whimpered.

An awkward silence followed, as Princess’s scowl faded, her brow raised in confusion.

“…You know what?”  The ace trainer mumbled, raising her Poké Ball, “I’m just gonna take the loss.  Good match.”  A beam of red light pulled the Lopunny back inside.

“That was an awesome fight!”  You cheered from the sidelines as Diantha shook hands with her opponent.

“Thank you, thank you!”  Roja said, taking a big bow.  “This goes out to all of my loyal fans!”  She pointed in your direction.  “Especially you!”

“Excuse you, entertainer,” Princess scoffed, stomping up beside her.  “Anon was clearly cheering for me!”

“Somehow, I doubt that.”  Roja said, waggling a finger.  “Anon doesn’t seem the type for ancient, arrogant assholes.”

“The showboating luchador has the nerve to call me arrogant!  Hah!”  Princess glowered down at the far shorter girl.  “Your fights are all flash and no substance!  I’m the one to finish things, and finish them decisively!”

“You’re all brute force, and no finesse.”  Roja puffed out her chest.  “You’d never even get to touch an enemy if I weren’t there to pin them down!”

Sparks crackled between Princess’s teeth, as she readied a thunder fang.  “Do you want to test that theory?”

Were these girls really getting into a fight, right after working together for their big win?  Why wasn’t Diantha doing anything about it?

You rushed into the court, and stood between them.

“Hey girls, break it up.”

Princess glanced down at you, still scowling, while Roja, standing quite a bit shorter than you, crossed her arms and looked up.

“I was cheering for both of you!  Because you both did incredible work in that battle.  Your skills really complimented each other, and made up for the others weaknesses.”

“Did you just call me weak?”  Princess growled.

“You think I couldn’t handle a fight on my own?”  Roja snapped.

“What?  No, it’s not like that!”  You raised your hands defensively.  “I’m just trying to-”

“Well then, tell us who you were cheering for,” said Roja.

“And no saying it was for the whole team, either,” Princess added.

“…This is starting to feel weirdly familiar,” you mumbled.

Roja’s lips pressed together into a frown for a few seconds, before she lost control and let out a loud “Hah!”

“Oh, come on, Roja!”  Princess huffed as Roja kept chuckling, Diantha’s laughter joining in.  “You blew it!  You gave away the joke!  You’re supposed to be the performer, here!”

“Sorry, sorry!”

“The joke?”  You repeated, eyebrow raised.

“It was princess’s idea,” Roja explained, “She-”

“No, you’re not putting all of this on me, you played your part,” Princess interrupted.

“After she watched how you handled Kyogre and Groudon, she thought that if you ever dated Diantha, we could act like we were arguing, and try to get you to break it up.”

“What am I going to do with you girls?”  Diantha joined you, smiling while shaking her head.  “Yes, these two love getting attention any way they can, but they really get along quite well.  I’d know if they were actually fighting.”

“Yeah, we have more self-control than that,” Roja said, giving you a hug that was surprisingly firm, for how short she was.

“Yeah, and we wouldn’t want to make a real problem for you, either,” Princess added, before taking you and Roja (still in the middle of hugging you, herself,) in her arms, lifting you off the ground into a powerfully tight hug of her own.

 

*

 

You sat in a shaded area of the woods, a short distance off the path, and watched as Diantha and Florence guided her Goodra and Aurorus through several battle maneuvers, when you felt a tap on your shoulder.  You turned your head, and saw a “hand” made of red hair, belonging to Diantha’s Gourgeist.  She stood about as tall as you, her body incredibly thin, save for her wide, swaying hips, over which she wore a short, dark brown skirt, with the image of a jack-o-lantern’s yellow face printed on the front.  Her red hair ran down through the collar of her beige sweater, coming out either of its sleeves, her perfect control of it allowing her to use it as arms.

“Oh, hey.  Marie, was it?”  You whispered.  “What’s up?”

“This bit of training may take a moment, yes?”  Her other hand held out candy in a little orange wrapper, with a jack-o-lantern face, like the one on her skirt.  “Would you mind if I shared a little treat with you, while her attention is elsewhere?”

Seeing no harm in it, you unwrapped the candy, and popped it in your mouth.  It was incredibly sweet, though you couldn’t place a specific flavor beyond that. 

“This is pretty good,” you said.  “What kind of candy is it?”

“A trick.”

It quickly dissolved in your mouth, and you felt a sudden, intense chill.    Looking down, you could see a purple haze around your hands.

“Uh… Marie, what’s going on?”

She giggled.

“Why choose between trick or treat, when the trick can be the treat?”

And with that, Marie grabbed you be the hand, and yanked you into a sizable tree.

As you passed through, the world outside the tree seemed to go blurry, its colors inverted.

“What’s did you do?”  You stammered, watching people pass by on the path opposite from Diantha’s training session.

“That candy made you a ghost type!”  Marie smiled.  “Now you can join me in some scares!”

She stuck her head out of the tree, and let out a ghastly wail, making a passing jogger scream, and pick up the pace as she ran in the opposite direction.

“Ghost type?”  Your eyes widened.  “Does that mean I’m dead?”

“No, dear, and even if it were, it’s only temporary.”  Marie patted you on the back.  “Though, perhaps another time, when we have some privacy, we can use it to have even more fun giving you a little death!”

“Wait, wha-”

“Oh, here comes another!”  Marie whispered.  “Give her your best scream!”

You let out an involuntary shout as Marie shoved your upper body out of the tree.

“Ye gods,” a passing elvish woman screamed, leaping back.  “Some fiend has driven our dear Anon straight through a tree!”

 

*

 

As the day went on, the heat picked up in the park, and you found your attention drawn to the chill air around the shyest member of Diantha’s team; her Aurorus, Claire.  Her blue body, lined with sparkling crystals, towered over you, but the way her hands constantly fidgeted in front of her pudgy belly whenever you looked her way kept her from looking too intimidating.  Two large, yellow, sail-like fins fanned out behind her head and down her back, a rainbow of colors shimmering off their surface as she walked

She’d stayed quiet since Diantha had let her team out, her gaze drifting your way often, and you saw her occasionally whispering to the other girls.  Every now and then, you thought you heard her start to call your name, only to stop when you turned to face her.

You decided to make things a little easier on her, and approached.

“Hey there,” you said, “Claire, was it?”

“Oh!  H-hi Anon!”  She waved meekly.  “Y-you look hot!  Ah!  N-no!  I m-mean, you’re working up a n-nice sweat there!  Eek!”  She blushed and looked away.  “I mean…  It sure is hot out here, huh?”

“Yeah, it is.”  You nodded.  “You seem pretty cool, though.”

“That pun was terrible!”  You heard Princess mutter, while Claire blushed, covering her face.

“Would you mind if I spent some time chilling out with you?”

Roja let out a groan, while Claire nodded meekly, before blushing again.

“H-hey, Diantha usually lets me carry the drinks while we’re traveling in hot areas.  Would you like a water bottle?”

“Sure thing.”

She reached into her backpack, and pulled out a plastic bottle, cool to the touch.  You took a long, much-needed swig.

“Ah!  That was great.  Ice of you to share it with me.”

The whole team, aside from Claire, groaned at that one.

“But I’d like to cool off a little more.”  You wrapped your arms around her, the pleasant chill of her body relieving the heat as she let out a gasp.  She hesitated for a moment, then returned the embrace.

“Th-thank you.  You c-can chill with me as long as you n-need.”

 

*

 

You took Florence’s hand once again, then spun around.

“I know I’m not the first Gardevoir you’ve danced with,” she said, her dress swaying as you rested a hand on her hip, “And I know I probably won’t be the last, but I’m grateful for the time I have here with you.  I’ll cherish it always.”

“I feel the same way,” you replied, letting your forehead head touch hers.

“Then let’s make the most of the moment while we have it.”

 

*

 

Diantha’s Goodra, Elian, walked beside you and Diantha as you made your way back to the hotel, with a spring in her step that seemed to defy both her chubby physique and the trail of sticky goo she left behind her.  Her two antennae and thick tail bounced behind her as she cheerfully rambled about the day.

“…And then Princess snapped the whole thing between her teeth!  That was pretty cool, too!  But it’s hard to beat how funny it was trying to explain to that poor elf that none of us were casually going around throwing Anon into trees.”  She let out a giggle, then looked down at you.  “But seriously, Anon, thank you so, so much for letting us come with you on your first date.  I know it’s a lot to ask!  But I promise, once we’re back at the room, after Diantha’s had some private time with you, we’ll all be happy to make it worth your while!” 

“It’s no problem,” you said.  “It’s been fun hanging out with all of you, and I wouldn’t have had it any other way.  It’s not every day I get to spend time with seven beautiful ladies at once.”

“…Did you just call me beautiful?”  Elain asked.

“Yes?”

Elain’s face lit up even more.  “Oh thank you, thank you thank you!”

She grabbed you, and hugged you tight, pressing you against her belly as your face was squeezed into her hefty bust, as slime seeped through her clothes into yours.

“You’re the first human besides Diantha to say that to me!  Most just make annoying jokes about me size, but you actually think I look good!  I love you!  I love you!”

“Uh, Elain?”  Diantha interrupted.

“Yes, Diantha?”  She let go of you, but you remained in place.

“…Did you remember to bring the soap?”

“…Oops…” 

Elain grabbed at your arms and tried to peel you off her, with little success, her slime holding you fast.

“Er, sorry Anon,” she said.  “We’ll get you back to the room and help you shower off right away!”

Feeling her carry you along, with your head in her bosom, well… it wasn’t the worst position to get stuck in for a while.

“Perhaps I can join you while you clean up,” Diantha said.

And suddenly, the whole deal sounded even better.

 

*

 

One shower and a lovemaking session later, you and Diantha were lying in her large, soft bed, cuddled up together.  The room was spacious and opulent, reminiscent of the Champion’s Room in the Kalos Pokémon League, with pristine marble walls, a floor with an elegant circle of abstract paintings representing each Pokémon type, and a large window that somehow let in plenty of soft sunlight, despite the hotel being situated in a void.

Of course, none of the room’s beauty compared to the beauty in your arms.

“That was wonderful,” you whispered.

“This whole day’s been wonderful,” Diantha said, running a hand over your cheek.  “You’ve been wonderful.  Thank you so much for asking me out.”

“Thank you for accepting,” you said.  “If you’d asked me a couple years ago if I’d ever have a chance with a movie star, I’d have said no.  Especially not one from a whole other world.”

Diantha smiled.  “You’re thinking about it the wrong way.  When I’m acting, I try to focus on what I have in common with the character, not the differences.  Those will be important to a faithful portrayal, no doubt, but if I spend all my time thinking about ways I am not like them, then I’ll just hate playing them.  But when I see all the ways we’re alike, it’s easier to form a bond with the character.  It’s the same with Pokémon.  And with people.”

She laced her fingers between yours.

“You and I may be from different worlds in every sense of the word, but we’re both people, at the end of the day.  We both get up, work to put food on the table, and try to find our purpose in life each day.  And more than that, I’ve seen how kindly you treat everyone here; the other women, your Pokémon, my Pokémon, I’ve seen the love you share, and the love you crave.  We both understand the importance of bonds, and both seek to treat others with grace.  I can trust you.”

She suddenly sat up, the blankets slipping off her.  “Which reminds me, I have a gift for you.”  She reached into the nightstand beside her.  “You know, many people get nervous when trading Pokémon, and I’m sure it’s nothing compared to how the Pokémon must feel…  But in your case, I’m sure you two will get along perf-”

“ROOM SERVICE!”  Rena called, rolling in a cart of food as Diantha hastily pulled the blankets back over her chest.  “We’ve got Goldeen à la Maréchale ready for you both.”

“That sounds lovely,” Said Diantha, not getting out of bed.

“You’re really bothering with covering up?”  Rena asked.  “When you were filming a porno earlier today?  You know we’ll get to see it all later, right?”

“You’ll get to see me when the film comes out, and no sooner,” Diantha replied, playfully.  “I have NDAs to abide by.  Anon’s the only one who’ll get to see the early screening.”

“It’s quite a view, let me tell you,” you added.

 

*

 

You spent several more hours together with Diantha, enjoying each other’s intimate company, but all too soon, the night came to an end. Diantha followed you to the door, giving you one final kiss goodnight.

You woke up, back in your bed, and felt something smooth and round by your side.

“Mornin’ Anon!”  Torch said, popping her head around the corner.  “How was the night- oh!  Another Poké ball!  Who is it this time?”

“Let’s see…”

You pressed the button, and in a flash of red light, a new Poke-Girl appeared, and the room seems to get a few degrees cooler.  She was on the taller side, and a bit pudgy.  Her skin was a pale blue, and you could see glittering blue crystals in her shoulders, but most distinct of all were the small yellow fins on her head, which shimmered in numerous colors as she moved.  She looked around the room, wide-eyed and curious.

“An Amura?”  Torch gasped.  “She’s pretty cute!”

“Y-you’re Anon, right?  And this is your house?”

“Yes,” you said.  “Welcome to your new home!”

“EEEE!”  She grinned excitedly.  “I can’t believe I really get to live in a whole new world!  And with a cutie like you!”  She moved around, examining your furniture and trinkets.  “There’s a lot of stuff here that’s like home, but a lot of stuff that’s different, too!  I heard your world doesn’t have any Pokémon, so what kind of creatures DO live here?  What’s your culture like?  Do you live near a library?  What do you know about human courtship rituals?”

This’ll be a busy day.

Notes:

I'd initially thought about making Diantha's gift Pokemon a Ralts, since she trades one with the player in X & Y, but since I'd already done a chapter on dating a Gardevoir girl, I felt like switching things up and going with a more obscure favorite of mine. Any suggestions for a name for her?