[PKMN] SPACE CASE!

[skinstealer]

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SPACE CASE!
Episode 1: Graduation Day

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The following project is a fanfiction playthrough of Pokemon Blue, set in an anthro worldbuild we've been working on for quite a few years.

It is an adult project, and may contain, but is not limited to: 
-sexual/fetish content
-graphic content such as gore, violence, and abuse
-imagery and descriptions of the above

More will likely be relevant as the project goes on, and due to it being audience impacted, no guarantees can be given for what it won't include.

Take care, and enjoy.

 

---

Deep breaths.




Focus.




Stay in the moment.







Today is the day you graduate the prestigious Tapestry Community College, becoming a licensed battler and being eligible for official party work.

....at least, that's all the red tape involved. Frankly, you didn't think you needed a degree for this. You probably don't. You're good- good enough where you flew through the courses above your peers. Lots of people battle without licenses or degrees, because all that matters is if you can knock the other guy down. People paying don't care about that much.

Your instructors warned you this isn't going to be how it works in the real world. If you want official recognition and higher positions in battling career paths, you needed to go for the League, and to do that, you needed paperwork. Be it a degree, a signoff by some kind of mentor, whatever...this was your best option. The college was free to locals and close to home.

Next door, even.

You could do without the convenience during spring break, but at least you weren't paying for dorm space or sleeping outside. Everyone told you outright- you're lucky to have these opportunities. Lucky to be born a type variant, to have such...interesting formative experiences-





None of that matters to you.





All that counts is getting to the top. Anything beyond that is an obstacle.











Your name is Stretch and you are an electabuzz. 
You use it/its pronouns and were born and raised here in Pallet Town.












You are about to pound a grimer into the mats. 









You don't know her- you've never even heard of her. The graduation fight between the top students in all the classes was performative at best, and she had been in an entirely different training track than you. While you had mowed through your side of the bracket, she had done the same- and yet-






Looking at the blue, splotchy heap of goo in front of you, you're not sure what to think.

She looks normal.

Exhausted, but normal.

From the expression she's giving you, she definitely knows who you are. You've seen it before.

????: ...you have to be kidding me.

 

There it is.








She turns back to the instructor, a vileplume you've come to hate.

????: Really?!
FRILLS: Look, I know you don't want to-
????: The- 
FRILLS: Slipper, focus!

 

They give you a death glare as you try to avoid their eyes.

FRILLS: It's not impossible. 
SLIPPER: It's- it's practically-

 

The grimer gestures wildly at you, letting out a frustrated huff.

SLIPPER: Fine.
SLIPPER: Let's. 
SLIPPER: Get this over with...

 

The two of you approach the center of the arena.


On closer inspection, you realize you were wrong- she may look normal, but there's tells. She's some kind of type variant herself, and likely hiding her own secrets. 

She got lucky in some ways. Not as obvious as what you got saddled with. That kind of stealth can get you far.

She holds out a goopy hand, looking up at you with disdain.

SLIPPER: ...do you really have to float like that?
STRETCH: .....


 

Your feet hover an inch off the ground, a fun little perk from...events, years ago. You hadn't been born a flying type, a bog standard electabuzz raised by bog standard parents, up until the day where you were changed. 

You settle for raising your brows at her, hair-like antennae bobbing as you tilt your head.

STRETCH: It's involuntary.
SLIPPER: Right.

 

The two of you shake hands. Type variant for sure, or it'd be stinging by now. She's just as perturbed by the feeling of your own skin, the brief moment spent with eyes locked. 

Neither of you can figure the other out. She's stealthy, you're...obvious, but not in a way that makes any sense. You've deviated severely from "electabuzz", but how? Why? You're pink, for god's sake, you float, and have these weird markings-

You stop musing on your opponent's confusion as a whistle blows.

FRILLS: Cmon, get on with it!
SLIPPER: ....
SLIPPER: May the best mon win. 
STRETCH: Mm.

 

You return to your sides of the field. 




There's quite a crowd today. You're sure you've irritated some of them plenty. People don't exactly root for you for your personality- or perceived lack thereof. Even so, they don't seem to be rooting for Slipper all that much either, the audience devoid of cheering or clapping as your instructor prepares the countdown.

FRILLS: Three!

 

This fight's decorative. Performative. Barely means anything.

FRILLS: Two!


 

But you can't help but feel like it's the first step. 
First step on your journey.

FRILLS: ONE!

 

To the top. 








You circle each other.

You still can't get a read on her visually. 

Grimer. Grimer. Not a poison type, could still have poison moves. No signs of physical alteration that'd indicate what she's working with, either. Frustrating. 

You don't like uncharted territory.

From the worsening grimace on her face, neither does she. 







Despite your training, you had only managed to obtain registration for two moves. Plenty of useful skills like grappling, dodging, tanking things, but those weren't moves. Even the other effects of your encounter with the beyond were too difficult to control and classify within the local database. 

It happened with type variants plenty, sure, but being a bit of a classification mystery beyond the norm frustrated you to no end. You hated begging for anything, let alone bowing to authority period, but to even get these two techniques declared legal for regulation battles took so much more effort than anyone else has to deal with. 

....however, it did come with one very, very important advantage.








You're faster to reach the center of the arena, granting you the first turn. She doesn't see the first TWINEEDLE coming- and how could she? You rush her down, seeing her eyes widen as your hands crackle with blue arcs. An electric attack, surely-!









The energy solidifies, snapping into spike-like shapes on your palms. The first slap lands on the side of her head, the entire sludge mass splattering against it and losing form for a moment.








She manages to reel back just enough to avoid another hard hit, but not hard enough. You land the strike on her shoulder, the impact sending a ripple through her body. 

You lunge back, getting some distance. Observing your opponent.






There's energy rings around her head now, Slipper panting and scratching at them with useless slimy fingers.

SLIPPER: Th-
SLIPPER: The fuck did you-


 

She vomits, the crowd wincing and gagging. You could have charged at her again, but you know the rules. Blow for a blow. Let her struggle, all according to regulations.

You don't answer, your glare fierce. Never give up your strategy. Never.

SLIPPER: Gross little-

 

Her fists clench- she's a sore loser. You'd feel bad for her if not for the look in her eyes, shoulders heaving as she slams the ground-









A massive, impossibly fast chasm opening in the floor beneath you, threatening to take you under, and slam you between both sides, breaking bones and god know what else-









Or, it would, if you hadn't raised a foot into the air effortlessly.

SLIPPER: What the FUCK-
STRETCH: Ah.

 

A fairly standard FISSURE. Usually a threat to just about anyone...

SLIPPER: The hell do you MEAN you're not psychic-
STRETCH: ....
SLIPPER: You're floating, y- you have that energy shit-

 

Her head's clearly swimming, holding it with a wince.

SLIPPER: You're-
SLIPPER: You're PINK!
STRETCH: Mm.

 

The look she gives you is indescribable.








She's not doing too good.









She does even worse when you get another TWINEEDLE in her chest.








And the other on her back, splattering her forward.

She desperately tries to get another hit off with you in close quarters, the move missing so badly that you don't even get a chance to guess.

STRETCH: Missing at point blank.
SLIPPER: F-FUCK, OFF!
STRETCH: Hm.

 

A pulse of energy against her head doesn't seem to phase her- ah, useful. Water or dragon. That'd explain the blue-








Another miss. She takes a needle pulse to the neck and goes down.




You stand over her panting body, the audience actually managing to applaud.

You suppose you underestimated the intrigue of a complete shutdown. Even though you can see that they're disappointed, that they were expecting more- there certainly was a crack in the ground, sealing up as the arena reverted to its original state. A fissure at graduation was certainly new.

You watch as Frills comes in and examines her injuries- Slipper managing to sit up enough to take a pecha vitamin and deep breathe as the energy arcs peter out. 





Her look could kill you.




Sore loser.




No chance at reaching the top.

SLIPPER: This isn't over.
STRETCH: ....

 

She's on the ground, her own sludgey puke off to the side.

STRETCH: It looks like it to me.

 

Your voice is deadpan, a statement of facts. She huffs, voice burbling.

SLIPPER: You'll-
SLIPPER: I'll fight you again!

 

The crowd silences as she points directly at your face.

SLIPPER: I declare rivalry!

 

Well.
That's annoying. 

You were kind of hoping to gain notoriety before ending up in this sort of situation. Having an established rival before even getting a league badge looked...

....amateurish.

STRETCH: I accept.

 

Still, it was a bad look otherwise. Doing it in such a public way, irritating, irritating irritating. It's the first time she's properly managed to get under your skin, doing such a stupid thing. If you didn't accept, you'd be given a reputation you didn't want.




.....





By the looks on peoples' faces, it may be too late for that.




Ugh.





The ceremony itself is negligible. You don't think about too much while having to walk across the stage, and no one claps for you. Your parents were at work, and you already had your things packed to head out immediately. Most of the people here, locals anyway, would return home and have a wonderful dinner with their families to commemorate the event. Maybe even go out for pizza. Very common here.


You had a sandwich in your bag that'd be lukewarm. Good enough. 


You haul your bag over your shoulder, a small but familiar mon trailing after you as you pass through the door.

CRAGGY: Hey! 
CRAGGY: Hey, HEY!

 

You glance down. 





The diglett that stands there is wrapped in his usual bandana poncho, the vague silhouette of hands on his hips.

CRAGGY: Just gonna leave without saying goodbye?!
CRAGGY: That fight was a washout, man!

 

Your antennae pull backwards.

STRETCH: If you didn't pull pranks all the time, it could have been you.
CRAGGY: And get my ass beat by you?
CRAGGY: No thanks!
CRAGGY: Besides, you've probably got a target on your head now.
CRAGGY: Everybody knows you're going for a champ title.
STRETCH: .....

 

There's an awkward silence between the two of you. He's not good at handling you socially, as much as he tries.

CRAGGY: ...still a piece of work, I guess.
CRAGGY: Look, watch out out there.
CRAGGY: If you're not careful, you'll get in over your head.
STRETCH: I'll be fine. 
CRAGGY: ...alright.

 

He mutters something under his breath, starting to walk away.

STRETCH: ....
STRETCH: Hey, Crag.

 

The diglett turns, startled you'd say anything at all.

STRETCH: Good luck next year.
STRETCH: You'll get the license next time.

 

His eyes widen-


-and then soften, genuinely appreciative.

CRAGGY: Who knows, maybe if I don't flunk out, I'll come for you next!
STRETCH: We'll see.





 

....at least you made someone happy today.





The hike up to the community center isn't a problem for you, hovering all the while. It'd been so long since your feet had touched the ground that you don't even think about it much. You've had to explain to people a couple times that you actually couldn't touch the ground without a significant amount of effort, and decided it'd be much easier on your psyche to train yourself into not caring. 

Or, at least try.

It's a standard center, though lacking the built-in drugstore more up-to-date cities feature. Even the healing stations were rather sparse, more a place to do your own first aid than get any help. Self-serve. Yippee. 

You're untouched, though. You're here for a different reason.

As much as you'd like to go it alone on your climb, you're not stupid. You  have a grand total of two moves, and while they help you get the jump on people, they're not very...good. Slipper having a fissure up her sleeve was far more intimidating, and a reminder that nonstandard mons would be likely packing serious firepower. Pallet was considered a nowhere town with little training resources, despite its proximity to the League- but these rural spots didn't get jack shit for funding. No heroes, no champions.

People would probably see you as one. A hometown defender.





As if you had anything to protect here.





You head to the matchmaking room. 

Only one room- pathetic, really. Sometimes people came from the nearby areas to sneer, poke fun at those who have this and nothing else. In a sense, you wish you had made any friends in your courses...or at least had Craggy graduate. He was annoying, sure, but at least he could tolerate you, and vice versa. Would it last under the pressure of league greatness? No, but it'd help on the way.

But no. You had to do your favorite activity in the whole world, now.




Talking. 


To strangers.




Eugh.


It's so easy for the others. They just pair up, gauging each other's skills, maybe showing their moveset registration. You feel more and more self conscious as people flash three, four cards each-






Your two miserable move cards feel like terrible weights in your jacket pocket.





You want to leave.







You want to leave badly.


....to the top. 

You need to-

????: Hey.

 

Someone clicks claws in front of your face, shaking you out of it.

????: Earth to the alien.
STRETCH: ....

 

Your eyes widen.

STRETCH: ....uh-



 

The blue rhyhorn in front of you smirks, all teeth.

She's dressed simply, a tank top, cutout jeans, and...hoop...earrings, hanging through holes drilled into her crest. A messenger bag hangs on her shoulder crests- the telltale sign of someone looking to travel.

.....you try not to let your eyes wander, avoiding directly looking at her further.

????: I saw your fight.
STRETCH: A lot of people did.
????: And I know what you are.

 

Your antennae go back, finally looking back to her.

????: You've met some occult stuff, right?
STRETCH: Uh-
STRETCH: Y. Yeah, actually.
????: Cool. 
????: I'm Eerie.
EERIE: From here on out, we're party members.


 

You blink, too shocked to know what to say.

EERIE: I'm not a battler.
EERIE: But I need a bodyguard to help me get through to a proper contest hall, and you'll do.
EERIE: Besides-
EERIE: I believe we can help each other plenty.


 

EERIE: I've had plenty of experience with the unknown.


 

---

 

The adventures of Stretch and Eerie have begun! The majority of this story will be based on the actual playthrough of Pokemon Blue- however, you, the audience, can influence each section! 



Plushes will also be made of each fully evolved character as we go, or at least to a point that feels correct for the story- just as a fun bonus thing that will let us improve our patterning skills and give funny bonus irl adventures for the cast.

Currently, just Stretch exists- but Frills will be made soon enough! Party members will be prioritized, but everyone loves a good side character.

In next episode: Eerie and Stretch set off for their new League adventure- will Stretch trust its new companion, or be skeptical of her motives...


Suggest how Stretch should feel about this new companion! All answers will be put on a random wheel and spun...this is a randomizer, after all.

Find out next time, on Space Case!

[knux400]

"Just like that, 'we're party members'? I don't even get a chance to say no or negotiate conditions or anything? Kind of rude, if you ask me."

[Aabcehmu]

Well, I guess if we're going to be dealing with the esoteric in general we should probably get used to stuff butting-in unannounced. It rankles, but we'll manage.

[seppawku]

hmm.. voting for trust but like, in a practical way. knowing that they both want to get out of here so she probably won't double cross it, but also a lil annoyed bc hello?? now its got a rival AND a party member not by choice

[MonochromeClown]

I just wanna know if those hoop earings hurt to get done... Curiosity never killed the Electabuzz right?

[Guest]

mild irritation but also intrigue at the potential uses of smog

[Guest]

Why does her mention of "helping each other plenty" make your face flush? C'mon, Stretch, you're better than this. Let's not be filthy minded

[Guest]

Now that you're a party, you should get down to the first order of business. Coming up with a team pose, in case you come across any adversaries you need to impress and intimidate.

[Guest]

Immediately establish your position in the inevitable comedy duo.

[Headful_of_Eyeballs]

Come up with a totally normal secret handshake

[skinstealer]

LAST TIME ON SPACE CASE:
Our hero is introduced- an electabuzz named Stretch, a skilled battling major with top grades! After graduating with an absolutely knockout final battle, it sets out for immediate adventure! What awaits Stretch now- and who is this mysterious new pokemon?


EPISODE 2: A SMOGGY SITUATION

STRETCH: I-
STRETCH: You can't, just-

 

She just stares at you.


You screw your eyes shut.

This was always happening. People pushing you around.
You were the top of your class. A respectable fighter, even with two moves.
But you suck at this. All of this talking shit, standing up for yourself-
It's your worst flaw.

.....


Second worst.

STRETCH: .....
STRETCH: Fine.
STRETCH: Until Pewter.
EERIE: Fair deal.
EERIE: If we don't vibe, we break it off, right?
STRETCH: Right.
EERIE: Cool.
EERIE: Like I said, I've got my share of experience with-

 

She spins her claw-finger at you.

EERIE: Whatever this is.

 

Your antennae flicks in irritation.

EERIE: Relax, I don't mean it badly.
EERIE: People like you, they're packing power.
EERIE: Useful power.
EERIE: I heard about your fight.
EERIE: You can go far.
STRETCH: ....yeah.
STRETCH: That's the goal.
EERIE: League, then?

 

You nod, going back to avoiding looking at her.

...only for your eyes to wander to her other side, the one not hidden by a bag.


She has a bone strapped to her hip, attached to the cutout belts.

EERIE: Having fun?

 

You snap out of it, flushing.

STRETCH: It's-
STRETCH: It's not like that.
EERIE: Sure.
STRETCH: It's the- the bone.
STRETCH: Clubs aren't common around here.

 

She narrows her eyes at you.

EERIE: What of it?
STRETCH: Nothing.
STRETCH: Wouldn't expect it on a rhyhorn, though.
EERIE: Thinking I can't hack it?

 

You shrug.

STRETCH: No.
STRETCH: Just wondering if you killed somebody for it.

 

Eerie scoffs.

EERIE: I did not kill anyone.

 

The implication hangs, your brows raised.

She does not elaborate, the two of you silently glaring at each other.

????: H-
????: Hey!!

 

A voice snaps you out of it, squinting as you look across the room.

A gloom is running towards you, nearly stumbling over someone's foot and getting a nasty look for it.

????: Stretch!!!
 

You exhale.

STRETCH: Inside voice, Frond.
FROND: O-oh, shit, sorry-

 

 

He finally catches up, taking a moment to wipe the drool on his face. He's dressed the same way you always see him, in plain clothes and messy lipstick. Seems like his graphic tee of the day is a burger, one of those shit ones from the only place in town.

He is one year older than you, graduated with decent enough marks, and has never found a party member since.

FROND: Sorry! Just-
FROND: You graduated!
STRETCH: Yeah.
FROND: Congrats!

 

He claps his featureless hands together exaggeratedly, Eerie giving him a perplexed stare.

EERIE: Guessing you know him.
STRETCH: He's...my peer.
STRETCH: We had some classes together.
FROND: Yeah!
FROND: Used to hang out, too, when our moms were busy!




 

....Frills was friends with your mother, had been long since before you were born.
It wasn't uncommon. She had a lot of friends.


Frond had wanted to battle just like you, the two of you sparring in the dirt outside the university. You'd talk about your dreams, of challenging the league- even together, if you could swing for it.





Then you evolved, and everything changed.




He saw it happen.




You can't forgive yourself for that. For putting him through watching.



He was always kind to you, all the same. Never brought it up, just asked if you were doing okay and brought you snacks in between sessions.



All you could do was give him guilty looks in return.



He wouldn't get it. No one did.

EERIE: ...got it.
FROND: I, I figured-
FROND: Since you graduated-!


 

Your eyes widen.
He-
He surely-

FROND: We could go together!
FROND: Just like we planned!



 

....he still wanted to chase that dream?

FROND: I tried to make new friends, but-
FROND: Guess they just weren't good fits!

 

There's a pit in your stomach.
Had he waited for you?
It- you had only been a year behind, but-

STRETCH: .....
STRETCH: I-
EERIE: You don't look like you can pull much weight, bud.
STRETCH: Hey.
EERIE: Hey yourself!
EERIE: We have a city to get to!
EERIE: We don't need to get dragged down by a childhood friend or whatever!

 

You grit your teeth, relieved that at the very least Frond didn't seem hurt.
You may not know what to do about him, but he didn't deserve that.

STRETCH: He's coming with us.
FROND: Really?!

 

He's beaming. You have no idea if you'll regret this decision.

STRETCH: I know what he can do.
STRETCH: More than I can say of you.
EERIE: ....
STRETCH: You invite yourself on my trip, you have-

 

You try not to stumble, your mouth dry as you stick up for the two of you.

STRETCH: Have to deal with my decisions.
EERIE: Ugh.
EERIE: Alright, alright!
EERIE: If we don't eat shit on our way to Pewter, I'll put up with it.
EERIE: But if you don't pull your weight, I'm bailing.
STRETCH: no one even asked you anyway...
EERIE: What was that?
STRETCH: Nothing.
 

The three of you exchange registrations, passing around your move cards and skill assessments. The typing had to be written in, immutable outside of professional evaluation- but your statistics were tracked automatically. Benefit of getting chipped, though you never really understood what the numbers meant in the first place. You were told it would make more sense when you got stronger, the numbers becoming more clear to read and compare.







Frond is an ice/ground type gloom, resembling a root vegetable. As you remember, he prefers cold weather and likes to sleep outside. Drove Frills crazy, always going on about how he has a perfectly good bed- but he insisted it was practice for traveling, and it'd come in handy for the real deal.

Hopefully he was right.

Eerie is water type, and on a second glance, you recognize her crests and hide as curved seashell material. It isn't the first time you've seen something like that on a variant rock type, and you can't help but kick yourself for not making the connection. That kind of oversight could have cost you.

And...her moves....

STRETCH: ...Smog?
EERIE: Yeah? What of it?

 

You look her up and down, unable to find any source.

EERIE: Dude.
STRETCH: That's usually one with indicators.
EERIE: So you can make eye contact when you're sizing someone up?
STRETCH: Nn.

 

You immediately look back away.

FROND: H-hey, don't bully it like that.
EERIE: If it's going to leer like, that, I get to comment.
EERIE: ....it's a good eye, at least.
EERIE: Like I said-

 

A small wisp of purple smoke appears at her claw tip before shaking it away.

EERIE: I have my own experience with the unknown.

 

Her glare tells you not to push it.
You oblige.

STRETCH: As long as it gets the job done.




 

Frond's moveset is simple. REST and SWIFT. Eerie looks distinctly irritated at this, letting out a snort as she reads the former.

EERIE: You seriously trained in rest strats?
FROND: I'm a sleepy guy!
FROND: May as well do something good with it.
FROND: Keeps me going, and feeling fresh.
EERIE: ....
STRETCH: He's good.

 

Frond beams at you.a

STRETCH: Swift is good, too.
STRETCH: Glad to see you got that locked in.

 

The gloom does an exaggerated bow.

FROND: You have no idea how long that took.
STRETCH: I can guess.

 

You catch yourself smiling for a moment, shaking it off out of nerves.
You...don't want to get his hopes up that you're normal, or something.
But he did a good job, and seems thrilled at the praise. Earned it, too.


Your moveset gets properly roasted, exactly what you were dreading.

EERIE: Not great power on these.
EERIE: You seriously were the top of your class.
STRETCH: Power isn't just in raw numbers.
FROND: Yeah!
FROND: Stretch has always been a big sucker for technique!
STRETCH: Studying your opponents and taking advantage where you can is a better move than raw hits.
STRETCH: I focus on finding and exploiting weak points.
EERIE: Where would you hit me, then?

 

You slide your gaze over, trying to be more subtle this time.

STRETCH: You'd be more difficult.
STRETCH: Your shell crests block a lot of tender areas.
STRETCH: Less room for error.
STRETCH: I'd have to be careful.
EERIE: Could you do it, then?
EERIE: Take me out?
STRETCH: Yes.

 

The answer comes cleanly, the rhyhorn looking a bit stunned at how fast you answer.

STRETCH: Easily.
EERIE: .....
EERIE: ....sheesh, real charmer you are.
STRETCH: Says the person who invited herself.

 

You avoid her eye daggers.

FROND: Look-
FROND: We just gotta get to Pewter, right?
FROND: It's just a forest away!
FROND: If we just, put up with each other, it's only a few days' time!




 

.....






Viridian Forest.

Your parents used to take you all the time before the incident. You remember clambering all over rocks, jumping off of stumps with Frond, splashing in muddy puddles.

It was wonderful. You could get through in two to three days, even shorter if you knew where you were going and had enough mobility. There were trails for travelers and people there for recreation back then-


But they'd grown worn down, since you were younger. Some cited the weather, other cited a lack of caretaking from its guardians. You hadn't seen a forest ranger in years, even just milling around town.







It was so easy to get lost after that.







You did not step back inside after evolving.
The exit to Pallet Town stood as an impassable gate, barred by your inability to walk outside.
Not today.
You're conquering that maze.
To the top.






Tents packed. Bags loaded up. You can already feel your back hurting as you take in the late afternoon sun filtering through the leaves. You wonder if coming out this late is even a good idea, but the three of you wanted to get a move on as soon as possible.

It's...for the best. You didn't exactly want to go home tonight, and the idea of sleeping in the community center appeals less than a relatively private tent- even if it was in the middle of the woods that made your stomach clench. You needed your space at night, and while city community centers had private rooms you could rent out, no such luck at the local one. No sleeping on a public couch for you, thanks.


It doesn't take long, however, for things to go off the rails.

FROND: Shit, I'll be back in a sec-!

 

He had excitedly pointed out something in the distance that neither you or Eerie could make out in the low lighting, even with your excellent vision. You knew better than trying to deter him, your rhyhorn companion having no such common sense.

EERIE: HEY-
EERIE: YOU'RE GONNA GET LOST!

 

She crashes after him, making a loud enough ruckus to alert every mon in the area to your presence.

Fuck's sake.

Alone in a small clearing, you sling your backpack to the side and lean on a tree.




It's as beautiful as you remember. Even with the signs of civilization worn away, it smells so fresh and clean, the air crisp. You could get lost in it forever, actual positive memories flooding you for once-






There's a sound in the brush.





You freeze.





You try to snap out of your reminiscing, focusing your senses.

It wasn't Eerie or Frond. Frond smelled like a damn potato, and after walking for some time, you could tell that Eerie had a faint scent of sea breeze. Smell was important for identification, after all, and buzzes like yourself were particularly sensitive to it all.

No, this was-




....cinnamon-?


You don't get the chance to question it.




Something bursts out of the brush-



-slamming into you with its hip, sending you tumbling and rolling-




-only to pin you down with-

oh, no


You are pinned under someone's ass.


Touching the ground.
You are touching the ground.
You are being pushed into the dirt.
You haven't felt the ground in months. And now you're being full body pressed into it.



By someone's ass.





You would rather die than move right now.



For all you know, it could be someone about to- this could be bad! This could be a very, very bad and dangerous position to be in!

You could be in serious trouble. You should give off a bubble pulse. You should do, like, just about anything in this situation.


Inability to stand up for yourself? Yes. Horrible. Your second worst trait.
But-


Your absolute worst-!






You are being pressed into the dirt and all you can think to do is dig your claws into the grass, desperate for any other outcome than the attacker seeing how tight your jeans are.




The pressure relieves, panic surging through you as your body begins to hover as usual-


-only for a foot to slam into your skull, stomping it into the mud and sending the back half of your body into a full hover.

Well, it's definitely visible now. You're fucked. You're completely and utterly fucked.

not in the way you want either Shut up shut up bad thoughts shut up shut UP

????: I won't h-have you-
????: Ruffians, bully me any longer!
STRETCH: Nn-

 

You try to fire off a bubble pulse, doing just about jack shit in the process. Still-

They pause.

Uncomfortably.

STRETCH: P-
STRETCH: Nnnnot-
STRETCH: Trying-

 

You are two steps away from inhaling mud.

STRETCH: to hurt you-
????: ....
????: O-oh!
????: My apologies- ah-

 

They remove their foot.

You're free-
-only for your body to rotate back into its default, upright hovering state-

STRETCH: shitshitshitshitshit

 

Desperately trying to get into any pose other than the one your stupid, stupid cursed body always snaps back into any time you're not asleep is failing miserably. You squeeze your eyes shut, certain your entire body is crackling like crazy.

They don't yell.
They don't scream, or call you names.
They don't call you a creep, or throw anything at your head.




it's not like before
why?



When you open your eyes, a tall, brown golbat woman is standing there, watching you with a confused expression.

Bewildered, but not afraid- or even upset.




...however, she is definitely looking at your dick, straining against the dirt covered denim.

STRETCH: AH
STRETCH: S-SORRY-
????: N, no, it's-
????: Seriously, it's-

 

You wrap your tail around your waist, wincing at the uncomfortable friction.

????: Oh, I-
????: Do you need help...?
STRETCH: N
STRETCH: NO

 

You twitch at the very implication, desperately trying to convince yourself it's just the golbat being nice.

????: Really, it's no trouble-!
????: Bodies react the way they do, and well, sometimes-
STRETCH: I KNOW HOW IT WORKS

 

It comes out of you way too loud, clapping a hand over your mouth and giving her a guilty, apologetic look.

She looks back with- it's not pity, somehow. More...curiosity.
It does not help your situation.

For a moment, you consider it. It wasn't abnormal for- for this to happen. For hookups like this. Adventurers- it got, lonely. You had heard about the casualness of it, something your parents outright disapproved of when you said you considered the path of a battler to begin with.

Why not just stay home? Don't you know that people end up worse out there in the wild? Troublemakers fighting and getting into violence, crime, deviant sex-

Why couldn't you just be a battler in Pallet Town?





.....stuck with them.



Forever.







You wonder whether she'd-

EERIE: Yo, Stretch?
STRETCH: SHIT
????: Oh-
EERIE: You dying over there?
EERIE: Frond found what he was yelling about, looks like weird mushy crap-

 

You frantically look between the golbat and the brush being pushed aside, closer and closer. A pained, nervous whine escapes you-



The stranger darts forward, pulling you into her wings and zipping behind a tree.
Shielding you from view.
Your dick rubbing into her skirt.
You feel like you're going to pass out-



....only to feel her stiffen in turn, clearly just as caught offguard.

You give off a little pulse without meaning to, the golbat shivering at the vibration against her own arousal. You haven't been touched in so long, haven't even been hugged, and never like this-


She moves her hips just a little, a horribly cute smile crossing her face.

It'd be so, so easy to-

EERIE: HEY
EERIE: HEY

 

You screw your eyes shut, your cover blown. Surely you'd never hear the end of it, this rhyhorn who's already given you shit for being bad at being a person finding out you're a giant pervert who fantasizes about screwing people in the woods. Any moment now-

EERIE: PUT IT DOWN!
EERIE: WEIRD- VAMPIRE FREAK!



 

...eh?



You look up, realizing that your captor's big ass mouth was wide open, looming over you.



Oh.

EERIE: NOW

 

Oh, this is stupid.

Clearly not wanting to reveal her own compromising position, she tries to set you down carefully-



Only for a massive blast of purple smoke to cover the area.




She drops you ungracefully, your hovering stopping you from hitting the ground. The smell is utterly fucking rancid, and it takes you a moment to realize-

If this is Eerie's SMOG attack, there's something deeply weird about it.



You feel genuinely woozy, dizzy, sick. You've been poisoned plenty of times, but this has you outright seeing auras around your fingertips, afterimages as you try to see if the golbat is okay.


She's doubled over, clearly having lost her momentum just as much as you have...if not far more, hacking and wheezing up phlegm.

????: W- What is-
 

The bone club hits the side of her head, making her cry out in pain- but not enough for her to fall.



Rage builds in your chest.


You aren't used to emotions these days.



Not for other people.
Not for anything but your pride.





The stranger adjusts her stance, her eyes furrowed.

????: I'm- I'm not your enemy!
????: I- I can get you the money-!
EERIE: Money? Who-
EERIE: You're trying to suck my party member dry!

 

Painful wording. Painful painful wording. Thank god for the smog making the very idea of oral sex sound nauseating.

????: I can promise you people, this is all a misunderstanding-
EERIE: Says the vampire!

 

She goes for another strike, a wide swing meant to take her midsection out-





Only to get hip checked, the same move that took you out and got you into this situation in the first place. Eerie gets pinned, and even through the haze, you can't help but feel your chest tighten over seeing it from a different point of view.





There's another blast of smog, snapping you out of your ogling.

You have got to get your shit together.





The bat doubles over now, easily pushed aside. She's wheezing and struggling with the poison, looking ready to pass out as the rhyhorn returns to her feet.


Eerie grabs for her club.




You have no idea how she got the smog.
It could be any reason at all.
She could be like you- just as she said.


...but a bone club to the head would be plenty to cause major damage either way.




You manage to pull yourself up against a rock.






You feel energy course through you as you launch yourself off of it, using it and your hover as a springboard. Getting in between the bat and your party member is easy, the bone club harmlessly bouncing off of the energy coursing all over your body.

EERIE: THE FUCK ARE YOU-

 

Spikes form on your palms.

STRETCH: SHE

 

A blow to the shoulder crest, the additional force behind it sending her a step back.

STRETCH: IS NOT


 

Another, putting more distance between her and the stranger.

STRETCH: AN ENEMY!
 

She tries to fire off more smog, it barely affecting you now. Getting revved up like this- it didn't happen often, and you frankly don't want to know why it's happening now.

You pull your hand back again, watching her eyes widen.





She goes down in another hit, falling backwards.



You're breathing heavily, coughing every few seconds- your body's attempt at getting the rest of the smog out.







You're about to turn around and ask if the bat is okay, only to get enveloped in another wing hug.

????: Thank you, I-
????: I can't-
????: You aren't part of that- that gang, are you-?

 

You blink.

STRETCH: ....gang....?

 

Her eyes are still tearing up, reddened from the smoke.

????: I was- I was running from them, I-

 

She coughs directly into your face.

????: Oh, no, I'm so sorry-!

 

Before you can tell her it's alright, she drops you, closing and covering her mouth.

STRETCH: I'm-
STRETCH: Just. A battler.
STRETCH: Eerie is my party member.
STRETCH: Ssssort of.
????: ...oh.
????: And you don't...know?

 

She looks nervously at the bone laying next to her.

STRETCH: Uh.
STRETCH: Just assumed she was weird.
????: That's certainly a way to put it-!

 

Another hack and wheeze, fumbling under her poncho with her tiny claws.

????: Shoot-
STRETCH: H. Here.

 

You offer her your sleeve.


She stares at it.

STRETCH: To. Cough in.
STRETCH: You need a, a handkerchief. Right?
????: Oh...
????: That's so kind of you.

 

She leans over, completely looming above as she delicately coughs up the last of the smog into your raised arm.




You try to think about the rock in front of you, laser focusing on it. Do not make eye contact. Do not think about any of the past hour. Don't do it.


She sniffles, pulling away.

????: I-
????: Forgive my manners.
????: I should introduce myself.
 

????: My name is Minerva.
STRETCH: H. Hello.

 

You still can't meet her eyes.

MINERVA: I'm sorry for being so forward earlier....
STRETCH: No, it's-
STRETCH: Alright.

 

You rub the back of your head, antennae crackling just a bit.

STRETCH: You're good.
 

You're able to get a proper look at her now that the smog's cleared.


She's a distinct warm color, your initial assumption of brown not quite correct. More accurately, she's somewhere between brown and orange- reminding you of the squash you sometimes saw in magazines. Pumpkin, or something. Your theory is further proven by the long tail sneaking out of her skirt, tipped with a leaf of some sort.

The dress she's wearing is beautiful, and...expensive. You haven't seen materials like that outside of visits to Pewter with your family when you were younger, before you ended up a cursed shut-in. She must be a city girl, through and through.

You feel embarrassed over it. You come from a dirt poor country town with barely anything to its name, and people with money make you distinctly nervous. They usually look at you with even more disdain than the usual, making Minerva's gentle expression all the more confusing.

...you aren't sure how she was even able to touch you without getting sick. That...did not happen. The main reason you haven't been able to make contact with basically anyone outside of combat is that, frankly, you're not up for people complaining of nausea, vertigo, dizziness, the works. It makes you feel like shit, every time.

So you stopped. It was easier this way. You could just wrap yourself up in blankets at night and pretend with your hand. Easier, but miserable in its own right- touch starvation in exchange for the safety of others.

But....



She didn't have any of that. Hell, she got hard over it, invited you to go further.




....you do not want to think about that right now. Possibly ever again. Best not to entertain that before you embarrass yourself further.

STRETCH: ....here.

 

You find your bag tossed to the side, rummaging through it. Thankfully no damage, all of your things intact.

The antidote's older, something you pilfered from the supply closet before leaving. You'll be damned if you spend money on anything you can just take instead.

She takes it carefully, fumbling with the cap with her wing-claws.

STRETCH: Ah.

 

You take it back, popping the cap off.

MINERVA: How lucky you are, to have a full hand...
STRETCH: ....

 

You aren't sure what to say, the bat gingerly reaching for the medicine and spritzing it in her mouth. She lets out another tiny cough, and then passes it back.

MINERVA: Thank you.
STRETCH: .............

 

You give her a thumbs up, feeling thoroughly stupid about it.

She just smiles.

This is the worst social situation you have ever been in.





...or at least it was, up until the brush rumbles again.




That's not your party members.
Judging from Minerva's defensive posture, it's not strangers, either.

????: Where, oh where-

 

Her ears go back, you gesturing for her to hide.

STRETCH: Go.
MINERVA: But-!

 

You jerk your head in a distinct "get the fuck out of here" gesture, the golbat visibly swallowing out of nerves. She flits away, ducking behind another tree.






A horrible low laugh echoes through the woods, a magmar stepping into the clearing.

????: Well, that's no good.
????: Where'd that pretty lady go?
????: You wouldn't happen to know, would'ja?

 

He's wearing all leather and spikes-


-a bone on his hip, connected by a chain.


Oh.
Alright.
Well.

????: Not much of a talker?
????: That's alright.

 

The chain jangles as he unhooks the club.

????: We can tussle.
 

 

You raise your palms, readying yourself.
His intimidation won't work on you.

STRETCH: Fine by me.
 

 

The pulse clearly hits him hard, but-
Nothing. No reaction besides a push back.

He grins.

????: That all you got, buzz?
????: Not able to stand so tall now, are ya?
????: Fight me like a real battler!

You feel a twinge of genuine fear.

Maybe it could work on you a little bit.





You use your tail to propel yourself forward, snapping it like a whip to close the distance and slam him with a palm spike. He takes it on the cheek, the other slap landing on the opposite side.

He spits, moving your head at the last second to avoid getting singed.

????: Son of a bitch-
 

You dodge with a mid-air tuck and roll, feeling the heat coming off of him as he catches your pant leg.
Fuck's sake, you just thrifted those.
A toasted cuff is better than your leg, though-




And you're still standing.





You dart around behind him to get two more needles off, narrowly dodging a tail lash. Open flames were always something you got particularly nervous about, more worried about any gear's flammability than your own. Burn heals worked great, but not on clothes.





Thankfully, he misses the next shot, trying to spin and find you.

????: Motherfucker-!
 

Again.
Again. Palms wherever you could find openings, energy spikes making him screech.

????: Y-you think you're some kind of hero, asshole?!

 

You don't flinch.
Not this time.





You slam both hands into his chest, energy crackling on your body as he slams into a tree from the sheer force.





He knocks out, falling against the tree as his flames dim.
He'll be fine. You kind of wish he wouldn't be.
You have no respect for people like him.

MINERVA: A- ah, um-

 

You nearly jump out of your skin, Minerva appearing from her hiding place.

STRETCH: Thought- thought I told you to run.
MINERVA: Well, yes, but-

 

She points to the unconscious rhyhorn in the dirt.

MINERVA: I was worried about your...friend.
STRETCH: ....
STRETCH: For her sake, or-

 

It's Minerva's turn to avoid eye contact.


Forget Frond, you are starting to really regret agreeing to bringing Eerie.






You can't inquire further, both of you jolting as a certain gloom's voice comes through not too far from you.

STRETCH: Shit.
MINERVA: Is that another fri-
STRETCH: Yes.
STRETCH: Stay put.

 

It comes out harsher than you intend it to, but the golbat nods.

MINERVA: And-
STRETCH: Eerie won't hurt you.
STRETCH: probably
MINERVA: Okay...go!

 

You nod back at her, racing into the woods.






Frond is face to face with a cloyster in leather, a sickening grin spread across his armored face. Just like the magmar, he's wielding a club.

What the hell did you get yourself into?

He spits some kind of seed onto Frond, the gloom panicking as small veins seeped into his feet.

FROND: G-gross-!
 

Even still, a fierce look sparks in his eye as he pulls his hand back, letting loose a stream of flower-like stars. They slice against the cloyster, managing to draw blood from his cheek.

????: Feisty!
 

FROND: C-creepy asshole-
 

The gloom doesn't get the words out fast enough, the club sending him straight to the ground.

Frond breathes heavy as the cloyster approaches, trying to ground himself, relax, clear his head-







-and conk the fuck out.






The veins, creeping around his ankles, start throbbing just as you skid into the clearing-


-readying the pulse-

EERIE: GET DOWN-!
STRETCH: H
 

Eerie clashes clubs with the leather-clad gangster, her face full of rage.

????: Look at what we got here!
????: Figured you had to run somewhere-
EERIE: SHUT UP
 

She breaks free of the clash, getting an unpleasantly off-target swing against his horns.


Taking the opportunity, you run to Frond's side.

FROND: H-hey-
STRETCH: Stay still.

 

You place your fingers against the roots, letting off small, harmless pulses to untangle them and get the gloom free.

FROND: You got good at that-
STRETCH: Not now.

 

You barely get the words out before the now-familiar poison gas floods the area.





You clap a hand over your face, doing the same for Frond. He immediately gets the message, both of you holding in air as long as possible.

The cloyster isn't so lucky, gagging and trying to catch his breath.

It starts dissipating, only for Eerie to look directly at you.

EERIE: TAG IN!

 

Shit.






You race at the cloyster, the mollusk readying something round from his pocket.






Even with the poison making him visibly woozy, he manages to fire two shots into your shoulder- pearls. They sting even with the reduced impact, the irritation that you'll have to treat a bruise later more aggravating than the wound itself.





He's too busy staggering to avoid you getting some face spikes in.





His club bounces off of you uselessly.

Idiot.





He gets you with more pearls.

Idiot asshole.





You slam his neck against the inside of his shell, making him gasp.


Idiot asshole terrorizing people.





You have no sympathy for the poison-wracked spit dripping from his mouth.





Motherfucker.

The kind of person you hated more than anything.






Nothing pissed you off more than bullies.






He goes down with a small crater.

EERIE: Got another one at five o'clock!

 

You whip around to see a wartortle advancing on Frond, and fast.







They shoot off darts of water at the gloom before you can fully react-






-doing basically nothing to the snoozing potato.

????: The fuck?
 

They unsheathe their own weapon, this time throwing the bone and watching it throttle towards Frond.






It thunks against his head, the gloom making a loud snort as he wakes up.

FROND: Nngh...
FROND: Ow.
 

He doesn't even get the time to get to his feet before getting slammed with a supersonic pulse, clearly disoriented.

FROND: Ow-
FROND: Really?

 

Even still, he manages to send a swift shot directly into the wartortle's chest, staggering them.







Another supersonic pulse, likely a misfire- it doesn't do anything, Frond's head already swimming plenty.

FROND: Not cool of you.

 

The wartortle's scrambling- an easy panicker.

You don't even have to do anything here.







And you let Frond take the win.

FROND: Whoo.

 

He plunks himself back on the ground.

No more gangsters show. It's getting dark.

STRETCH: ...let's get out of here.







 

The mood at camp is...awkward, to say the least.

One presumably ex-gang member sulking, your childhood friend munching chips, your awkward ass staring into nothing-

-and a golbat tending to the fire, humming a soft tune.

EERIE: ....I don't know why we're keeping her around.
FROND: It'd be wrong to leave her alone tonight!
EERIE: She is-
EERIE: literally
EERIE: A nocturnal vampire bat.
EERIE: This is when she doesn't eat shit.
MINERVA: Y-yes, well-!

 

She folds her wings, looking sheepish.

MINERVA: Very true.
MINERVA: But I haven't fed properly in some time-
FROND: Are you going to eat us?

 

He doesn't look nearly as scared as he probably should.

MINERVA: Oh! No, no-
MINERVA: Trust me, you're fine.
MINERVA: I prefer willing donors.

 

You tell yourself you didn't hear that.

EERIE: Cool, so-
EERIE: If one of us agreed to letting you slurp us up.
EERIE: You'd do it.
MINERVA: Probably, yes.

 

Eerie makes a face, going back to stabbing a twig into the dirt.

STRETCH: Look.

 

Everyone turns to you, shocked that you're speaking at all.

STRETCH: We did good today.
STRETCH: ...sleep will help us cool off.
FROND: Seconded.
FROND: Whether Minnie here's a night owl or not, the rest of us aren't.
MINERVA: Oh, that's! Quite the nickname.

 

She laughs into a wing.

MINERVA: Yes, that's a good idea.
MINERVA: I sincerely promise-

 

She crosses her heart with her tiny claws.

MINERVA: Not to commit vampiric acts.
MINERVA: ...without permission.
EERIE: Ugh.

 

The rhyhorn gets up, rolling her eyes.

EERIE: Good night, then.
EERIE: Enjoy being weird.
FROND: G'night!

 

You don't send her off.
Asshole.






You sling your backpack down, your newly pitched tent feeling like a welcome reprieve from the nightmare of a day you just had. Graduation, party matching, and-

Your skin crackles for a moment.

It felt unreal.

She didn't even get sick.




You, however, feel mildly ill, staring down at yourself.
Do you really think that would have gone well?
Like, for fuck's sake, you don't-
You don't even know how it would have gone-
For all you know, you could have seriously hurt her if you had taken it further, or-


No amount of self flagellation makes your fresh hard-on go down.


You're despicable.


You just met this woman. She-


There's the usual space between you and the ground as you sit with a groan, trying your usual. Counting to ten over and over, thinking about whatever unattractive things came immediately to mind,


It never worked.


You'd have to resign yourself to your fucking hand, the main reason why you need your space at night. All of the internet searches in the world told you that this is entirely normal for electabuzz who can't satiate their touch needs, but it pisses you off. This wasn't exactly something you could choose to change, but god, you'd give anything-


Before you could really start tearing into yourself, there's a soft knock on the tent flap.

MINERVA: Hello?
MINERVA: Stretch, was it?
STRETCH: shit

 

You slam your legs together and wince, regretting the force at which you just crushed your own junk.

STRETCH: Y-yes.
STRETCH: Yeah.
STRETCH: What. Iiiis it?

 

Your voice sounds stupid and strained.

MINERVA: Can I come in?

 

No. Nonononono no.
Noooo.
Absolutely not, not like this.
She'd see you all-

STRETCH: Y-yeah.

 

WHY


The flap unzips with more than a little fumbling, the golbat having to crawl inside.

MINERVA: Hi.
STRETCH: Hey.

 

Your throat is dry.




The length of her torso looks even more appealing in the light of your battery powered lantern, smooth enough to run your hands across without issue. Every time her mouth opens just the slightest bit, you wonder what it'd be like to-

She notices you staring, that warm smile returning to her face.

MINERVA: Did you...
MINERVA: Really enjoy that?
MINERVA: Earlier?

 

Blue glow flushes your cheeks.
Your breath hitches a little bit.
You try to think of anything but her foot pushing your head into the dirt.
The two of you seconds away from grinding against each other.


She's staring at you.
You close your eyes, trying to cross your legs inconspicuously and failing completely.

MINERVA: It's-
MINERVA: It's okay.
MINERVA: Really.
MINERVA: I did too.

 

You slowly peek with one eye, the other jolting open to match as it takes in the golbat.

She's closer to you now, examining you-

...but not the bulge between your legs like before, and instead your flustered, guilty face.

MINERVA: I know you don't mean any harm to me.
MINERVA: And, I meant it when I offered to help you out.
MINERVA: Frankly, I-
MINERVA: I've never had that as a reaction to my moveset!

 

Her soft laugh makes you feel like you need a cold shower. Immediately.

MINERVA: It's...validating, in a way I don't really get.
MINERVA: Is that odd?

 

You nod furiously-
-before realizing what you're agreeing with and shaking your head even more vigorously instead.

Another laugh escapes her, gritting your teeth to keep even a vague semblance of composure.

MINERVA: ....you're silly.
MINERVA: And...cute, in a way.
MINERVA: ....

 

She pauses, her own turn to look shy.

MINERVA: Truth be told, I-
MINERVA: I'm...nervous about your companions-
MINERVA: Or, at least-
MINERVA: .....

 

Her silence doesn't need a follow up.
You saw the way her eyes widened when Eerie took out the club.

STRETCH: I-

 

Your words feel heavy, fully aware that any ability to hide how much you want to continue earlier is long since gone. Any uncovered parts of your body are glowing and pulsing, you're sweating, hips trembling. No chance in hell you can cover it up.

STRETCH: I-I'll-
STRETCH: Keep-
STRETCH: You safe.

 

Her eyes are so gentle.

MINERVA: All I ask is for an escort out of the woods...
MINERVA: And...
MINERVA: If you can share your tent tonight.

 

Your skin crackles, only to give off an energy pulse as she traces her claws on your cheek.

She doesn't shy away, simply observing the strange vibration against her hand.

MINERVA: What that means is up to you....

 

You have given up on the idea of pretending you aren't turned on, the light coming off your body speaking louder than anything you could have said out loud.

MINERVA: I trust you.
MINERVA: You're my hero, after all.


 

......


You swallow.


 

---

With two new companions in hand, Stretch's adventure has gotten a lot more complicated. Can it survive a night in Viridian Forest in such a precarious situation? What does sharing its tent mean, especially with the risk of a certain rhyhorn finding out? Will Stretch be able to keep its cool?!

Suggest away, and tune in next time: to SPACE CASE!

[knux400]

Come up with at least three different reasons why you two shouldn't do a super training session tonight, and then attempt to say all of them at the same time, thus producing incomprehensible word salad.

If Minerva feels like being forward, she's perfectly capable of communicating that to you on her own, and it's not like you wouldn't be okay with it regardless.

[seppawku]

no reason to try too hard to keep your cool-- you both seem equally excited and interested. ig your main concern *would* be if you can manage more than sleep and talking to get to know each other more w/o tipping off eerie, but. ultimately you and minerva are both adults, and you have your own tent, so..

[King-Clod]

You're gonna fuck this up if you say anything. You're surprised as it is that she...wants this.

So lets give her everything she could want.

Don't say anything, just tilt your head to the side and leave your neck exposed, and give a thumbs up as a go-ahead.

[Info Mantis]

Confidently-ish drop a killer pickup line to seal the deal. Leaning towards “Did you know that if you eat enough of something your blood will taste like it? Btw my blood tastes like cum if you want to try it”. Minerva will be awestruck by your wit.

[DanZapman]

You can tell yourself fumbling hurts less if you do it on purpose before you do it by accident. Try and sabotage yourself with "Damn girl, you get diverticulitis flareups with that ass?".

[aeshihowl]

Iiiiii meannn, idk about hero, but uh. If you feel more comfortable in my tent than somewhere out there I'm not gonna stop you. Uh. Um-- Uh!!! I-if you're hungry, m-maybe I can help? It doesn't seem like you're affected by my, uh... condition.

[Headful_of_Eyeballs]

I agree with Seppawku-

[cheet]

suck that thang

[skinstealer]

LAST TIME...on SPACE CASE!
A sudden encounter with a certain golbat led Stretch on a whole different path than expected- both face to face with a mysterious gang with a bone to pick, and anxiety over the worst possible thing for our hero...

How does he take on a beautiful vampire visiting him in the dark? Find out in:

EPISODE 3: A MIDNIGHT SNACK

---

She's watching you, gauging your reaction with all the gentleness in the world.



You could tell her to fuck off. You could run away.




Your hand trembles as you put it on hers. Any confidence falters in your mouth as you stutter, her patience making your chest hurt.

STRETCH: P.
STRETCH: P-ple-
STRETCH: ...please...
MINERVA: You need it that badly?

 

You feel pathetic as you nod, breathing heavy as she leans over you.

MINERVA: ....is using your words hard?
STRETCH: Nn.

 

Another nod, avoiding her eyes.

STRETCH: Not- not good at it.
STRETCH: Talking.
MINERVA: I can understand you just fine.
MINERVA: And-


 

She lifts her skirt, your breath hitching at the lacy underwear underneath.

She's just as worked up as you.

MINERVA: It's- been some time for me as well.
MINERVA: And, well-

 

She lets the skirt settle on top of her bulge, tapping her claws together.

MINERVA: That, ah- effect of yours-
MINERVA: The...
STRETCH: ...pulse?
MINERVA: Yes!
MINERVA: Yes, that.
MINERVA: I want to feel more of it.
MINERVA: Is that okay?

 

You can't even blink at her, stunned.

STRETCH: It- you don't hate it?
STRETCH: People usually-
STRETCH: What?
MINERVA: Well! You know!
MINERVA: It's, sort of a vibration-
STRETCH: h
MINERVA: And I can't help but wonder if all of you does that-
STRETCH: H
MINERVA: And it's just so exciting, such a new feeling-
STRETCH: C-
STRETCH: Can, I-
STRETCH: take my pants off please

 

She looks down, seeing your strained expression over the increasingly painful denim prison.

MINERVA: Oh!
MINERVA: Yes, of course!
MINERVA: Please.

 

Your hands are outright shaking now as you fumble with the zipper, Minerva's eyes widening.

MINERVA: My goodness.
MINERVA: You're-
STRETCH: I'm- I'm aware.

 

With how much your heart's pounding, you had plenty of current circulating through your body-



....the blue glow managing to shine through your simple, completely plain underwear.

STRETCH: Very aware.
MINERVA: May I?

 

Oh.


Oh, god.



It sinks in.


Words fail you, a nod all you can muster.

She reaches forward with her claws, tracing the tip of it. You have to clap a hand over your mouth immediately, embarrassed as a wet trace sticks to her hand.

MINERVA: Poor thing...

 

There's a smile to it, no real pity so much as careful teasing.

MINERVA: Did I really get you so worked up?

 

You watch as she does it more, playing with the little energy arcs.

STRETCH: M. Mhm.
MINERVA: ....would you like me to lead-?
STRETCH: Yes.

 

You do not hesitate.

STRETCH: Yes. Yeah.
STRETCH: You can lead.
MINERVA: Relax...

 

She helps work the rest of your jeans off, massaging your legs and running her claws along each stripe. There's a sense of curiosity to it, her touch lingering whenever the sensations intensified.

MINERVA: So pretty....
MINERVA: Why don't we continue where we left off earlier?

 

You twitch at that, getting back to breathing into your hand. The bat positions herself close to you, your heart beating out of your chest as she slowly straddles your hips.


You touch the floor of the tent, her weight grounding you. Minerva's eyes widen as it gets a proper noise out of you, a large grin crossing her face.

MINERVA: Ohhh!
MINERVA: That's why it got you so worked up, isn't it?
MINERVA: I suppose it'd be rare for you...
STRETCH: Uh-
STRETCH: Uh huh-

 

She puts her full weight down as she starts grinding against you, the hand press not enough to keep you from whining audibly.

MINERVA: Relax...

 

Your head is swimming.
Someone's finally touching you.
She's outright on top of you, and it feels really, really nice-


Minerva makes a hiss of her own, and you can't take it.

You can see her struggling to get a good angle, her claws not much help to getting the most friction out of it.

She gasps as you nervously work both of your underwear down, directly holding yourselves against each other.

MINERVA: E-excellent-

 

The direct contact with your body works her up immediately, the occasional hiss turning into something more rhythmic.

MINERVA: Y-you're-
MINERVA: Really good with your hand-



 

You try very hard to internalize that as praise and not psychic damage over the state of your sex life.

MINERVA: H-hey-

 

You readjust your focus to her face, breath taken away as you see how flustered she is.

MINERVA: Do you-
MINERVA: Want to try putting it inside?

 

Ohhhh no.

Bad idea.


Bad idea.



Really really bad idea.

STRETCH: You. Do not want that.
MINERVA: Is something wrong?
STRETCH: Uh.
STRETCH: It's-

 

You grimace, trying to figure out the way to put it.

STRETCH: It's, weird-
MINERVA: Oh, if you don't want to-
STRETCH: Nnno, it's, I do-

 

You close your eyes as hard as you can and gesture to your dick.



In the heat of it, she hadn't noticed something utterly glaring.

MINERVA: Oh.
MINERVA: Wow.
STRETCH: Yyyyeah.
MINERVA: Huh.


 

She pokes at the floating fluid droplet, much to your horror.

MINERVA: I've never seen that.
STRETCH: Ghh.
STRETCH: I- I know it's-
MINERVA: No, I- I see your concern!
MINERVA: Who knows what that could do inside someone!

 

You cover your face entirely.

MINERVA: It's alright, hang on-

 

You hear her rustling something, pulling something out from the satchel underneath her poncho.

MINERVA: Here!

 

You peek between your fingers, spluttering as you see the foil-wrapped squares fanned in front of you.

MINERVA: Would psychic type work, do you think?
MINERVA: I figure the medium should fit-
STRETCH: yes okay we can try a condom that's fine

 

Working it on is a whole new kind of stress, glancing up and down as you try to figure it out. She helps guide your hand, avoiding poking it with her own sharp claws.

You're really doing this.
She's lining herself up, and you are pretty sure the glow coming off of you could be seen from space.

STRETCH: W-wait-

 

She freezes.

STRETCH: I-
STRETCH: There's-
MINERVA: Is everything alright?
STRETCH: B. Be careful.
STRETCH: Things, tend to-

 

She ends up shifting onto you by accident, making a surprised hiss as she's bounced back up.

STRETCH: ...that-
MINERVA: Stretch, are you telling me-
MINERVA: That that deflective ability you have-
STRETCH: Nnn..
STRETCH: P-probably-?
MINERVA: Excellent!

 

You're definitely audible as she pushes down, your body automatically trying to rebound and push back.

She does it again, far more forceful this time and taking the ride without much issue.

As the shock of her working you over settles, you find yourself falling into a familiar thought pattern as you watch her.




Golbat. She's a golbat. Type variant, clearly- the plant-like features a clear tell for grass type. But...


You have never felt this kind of heat in your life, even through the condom. You hated to admit that your obsessive analysis of different pokemon applied to...this, but there was no doubt about it.


Only fire types felt like this on the inside. You wonder if her mouth is the same. It's so easy to forget you're even in a tent in the woods, more akin to sitting next to a pleasant woodstove.




If, you know, it was specifically focused on your dick.



Her voice cuts through your ruminations, more nonsense sounds than any kind of coherent words.



You remember one more thing, however.


You tap her side, bringing her attention down to you laying there.

Unsure how else to express it, you tilt your head, exposing your neck.

MINERVA: O-oh, are-
MINERVA: Are you sure-?
STRETCH: Willing. Feeders, right?

 

She lunges, her long body forming an arc over you.




Her teeth pierce your entire shoulder, bite marks through your hoodie. You couldn't care less, her wing-hands on your chest pushing you down for stability. The pressure alone-





You don't know how much time passes before you realize you can barely take it anymore, your head faint and-

STRETCH: M-min-
STRETCH: Hhhey-

 

She pulls back immmediately, electric blue blood dripping from her teeth.

STRETCH: G. Gonna-

 

Your hips are shaking, forcing yourself to slow down before you get her okay.

MINERVA: Shh...
MINERVA: You held out a long time...

 

She gives you one more hard ride, all you need to grab at her thighs and really push.

You nearly white out, feeling faint as the tent spins around you.




You manage to slap your hand around enough to get the condom off, too tired to care about it hovering after being tied. Minerva strokes your chest, smiling at the mess she made of it herself.

MINERVA: You did wonderf-

 

You fumble around next to you, trying to get into your backpack. She watches in confusion as you pull out a spritz bottle-





-wrenching off the top and downing the potion raw.


She stares in shock as you regain energy, the wound on your neck sealing back up.


You give her a thumbs up, still glowing plenty.




You always did prefer long sparring sessions.

 

The images come through like an old recording.







It's cold.
They don't have the heat on properly and won't give you the space heater anymore.

MOTHER: -can't keep doing this.
MOTHER: I can't take it.
FATHER: And what do you want me to do?!
FATHER: I didn't sign up for-





 

You start counting individual nubs on your bedroom's popcorn ceiling.






One. Two. Three. Four.





Something breaks.

You have to start over.






One. Two. Three. Four. Five. Six. Seven-


Start over.









You get to twelve this time.

New record.

Start over.

MOTHER: She can't stay out of school forever.
FATHER: What, and have our family known for raising a freak?
FATHER: Just look at her!



 

You roll over, covering your head with a pillow as you sniffle.

MOTHER: Our reputations are more at stake if she flunks and becomes, some, some-
MOTHER: Some sort of junkie drop-out-
FATHER: Look at her report cards, she's halfway there already-
MOTHER: And whose fault is that?!



 

You screw your eyes shut, and imagine how the stars in the sky had looked that night.




One. Two. Three. Four. Five-







You wake up with a jolt, your breath catching and choking on phlegm. Minerva startles, moving to unwrap her wings around you-




-only for you to clutch onto her torso, burying your face in.

STRETCH: Nn-
STRETCH: Don't-

 

She hesitates before resting claws against your hair, pulling you back in and grounding you.

The tears come easy, way easier than you'd like. You just slept with her the night before, you're making an ass of yourself-

MINERVA: There, there...
MINERVA: It's okay.

 

She squeezes you tight, the pressure feeling like all you could ever want.



It scares you.




You cry more, grasping at her for dear life.

Why are you like this? Why can't you-


Why?




You can't even-

STRETCH: M...sorry...
MINERVA: ....
MINERVA: Do you want me to give you space?

 

You shake your head.

MINERVA: I could keep holding you.

 

You nod.







The world grows fuzzy.








You're guessing by the hazy feeling in your head that you got another hour in, the telltale sign of a nasty post-nightmare sleep.

You startle when you look up and Minerva's still staring at you.

STRETCH: A-
MINERVA: Good morning!

 

R. Right.


Nocturnal.

Yeah.







She had definitely been watching you sleep.



...and cry.




The self hatred seeps back in, a deep sigh escaping you.

STRETCH: We.
STRETCH: Should- get ready.
MINERVA: For the best...
MINERVA: Though-
MINERVA: Ah-

 

You rub your head as you gently push her wings away, settling into a hovering sit-


-only to see the sheer size of her abdomen, making you choke.

MINERVA: ....
MINERVA: We may have overdone it.

 

Oh, god.
How much-

You put your hand to your neck, feeling the bruise there.



Ohhhh no.

Oh, god, no. They-



They were definitely going to know.



You startle a second time as you look around the tent, starting to panic breathe more than a bit.

MINERVA: Going to need to stock back up....
MINERVA: Do you have a trash bag-
STRETCH: YES HANG ON


 

Shame hits you as you clean up the mess, cursing how far you went. You're wounded, she's- swollen up like that, her silhouette completely different, undisguisable-


What would you even tell the others?


Eerie had already-



You just screwed a stranger-



Frond literally knew you since childhood, who knows what the fuck he's going to say-





Her soft body presses against you, the additional bloating making you feel warm and fuzzy despite the angst.

As much as you feel guilt that you- that you did that to her, there's something...



You don't want to analyze that right now.

MINERVA: We'll figure it out.
STRETCH: ...
STRETCH: Right.









 

Eerie's got her arms crossed, leg jiggling violently.

EERIE: You cannot be serious right now.
STRETCH: I-
EERIE: No. Nope.
EERIE: You-
EERIE: She-

 

She jabs her finger directly at Minerva, her dress and posture strained.

EERIE: You cannot SERIOUSLY expect me to believe-
MINERVA: It was simply helping me unwind!
MINERVA: Just a sip.
EERIE: IT DOESNT EVEN HAVE THAT MUCH BLOOD IN ITS FUCKING BODY
FROND: I mean-

 

You wince, Frond munching a bag of chips to the side.

FROND: I dunno.
FROND: If Stretch wants to give her some blood, I don't see the issue.
EERIE: For fuck's sa-
EERIE: We're trying to- we're not even out of the woods yet!
EERIE: DON'T GIVE YOUR BLOOD TO PRETTY STRANGERS!!!

 

Your antennae flop, Minerva giving you a worried, guilty look.

MINERVA: I-
MINERVA: I apologize.
MINERVA: I should have been more careful.

 

She bows, making the shame much worse in your chest.

MINERVA: Forgive me for my intrusion!
EERIE: ....
EERIE: Don't say it like that.
EERIE: Fucking weirdo.

 

She tilts her head back and snorts in annoyance.

EERIE: Okay. Whatever.
EERIE: Are you going to be good for this.
EERIE: Otherwise, I'm stealing Frond and-
FROND: I'd rather stay with Stretch, actually.

 

He gets to his feet, readying his pack.

FROND: I. Get it, sort of.
FROND: ...but it's a grown ass adult.

 

You blink.

FROND: It could have made a bad choice.
FROND: But-
FROND: It's still standing, right?
FROND: Looks pretty stable to me.
FROND: Not really your call if it fucks up or not.

 

Eerie glares him down, the root vegetable completely unbothered.

FROND: My two cents.
EERIE: .....whatever.
EERIE: Get your shit together.
EERIE: If the bat can't keep up, we're leaving her behind.

 

You and Minerva meet eyes, mutually unsure whether to be relieved or more worried.

STRETCH: ...right.





 

The woods are just as pretty as yesterday, but in a different way during early daylight. It eases some of the stress from your mind, and even with your hovering, the breeze occasionally brushes grass against your feet.

Heavenly. Just heavenly. You're more and more aware even just in the last 24 hours how...dire, your need for grounding is-



Minerva audibly winces behind you, your head whipping around.


She's visibly struggling to keep up, breathing a bit hard from the added weight.




Shit.

MINERVA: I'm-
MINERVA: I'm fine!
MINERVA: Really, I'm-

 

She hiccups, covering her mouth.
She looks a little confused. Just for a moment- before shaking it off.


You have no idea how to handle this situation.



The idea of sex had already been just, completely off the table- and here you were not only having slept with her last night, but causing injuries to both of you.


You did this.


You weren't careful enough- because of what?


Needing to get your dick wet?



Being so- so desperate and starved for it?


Seeing her strain to cross a fallen log makes you want to die in a hole.

Minerva notices your expression and does her best to smile back, an attempt at reassurance.

MINERVA: L-look, Stretch...
MINERVA: This has happened before.
STRETCH: ...Ah.

 

You have to take a second to process that this isn't some horror unique to you.
Wh. What was she doing on her own. Was this normal for her?
Was this. A thing?
Would she want you to do this again?
Does she like this-?




Do you like this?



Oh, god.

MINERVA: I know how to handle myself.
MINERVA: All I ask is-
MINERVA: Well, like I said...

 

She manages to straighten her posture, adjusting her hat.

MINERVA: -to be escorted back to Pewter.
MINERVA: I'll simply stay out of trouble.
MINERVA: Is that alright?

 

You look ahead, seeing Eerie and Frond already a sizable distance away- but enough for you to see them well enough.

STRETCH: ...okay.
STRETCH: I promised to keep you safe.
STRETCH: ...be careful.
MINERVA: I will.

Slowing down and watching her closely, you start to realize your own issues. Not only your neck feels like shit now, but your entire upper back. Potions helped in the moment, but you were seriously going to need to get looked at when you got to the next center.




...with any luck, Eerie and Frond would be okay leading the pack...








You are now Eerie, and you are a rhyhorn that uses she/her pronouns.
In your effort to actually achieve something for once, you have made the grave mistake of trusting what appears to be an alien with attachment problems.



This is not your greatest regret in life by a long shot, but it is slowly getting up there.


Frond is...surprisingly decent company, at least. You don't usually get along with guys period, especially not these sort of...bro types. Even with your dissagreement earlier, he doesn't seem to hold it against you, which is equally weird.

FROND: And it's just- you know what it's like?
EERIE: ...huh?

 

Fuck. Spacing out.

FROND: Y'know, having, like-
FROND: A really good poffin.
FROND: Fresh out of the oven.
EERIE: ....
EERIE: You sure do think about food a lot.
FROND: Yeah, of course I do!
FROND: Food is awesome!
FROND: Brings people together, all sorts of kinds-
FROND: And making it's the best.
EERIE: Why not become a chef, then?
EERIE: Instead of...this.
FROND: Whatcha mean?
EERIE: You don't seem like the League type.
FROND: Oh.

 

He has to think it over, tilting his head to the side.

FROND: That's easy!
FROND: Everyone knows travelers get the best ingredients-
FROND: And adventurers have the best appetites!
EERIE: Huh.
EERIE: Weird.
FROND: But true!
EERIE: I gue-

 

There's a sudden green blur-



-as something slams you directly in the nasal horn.

EERIE: MOTHERFUCKER
FROND: H-hey, what do you think you're doing?!

 

The farfetch'd sneers-


Its wings shaped like hands, pulled into fists.

FROND: Shoot-
EERIE: What?!
EERIE: What is it-
FROND: Modded! It's modded-
FROND: Watch out for any punches!
EERIE: Fuck if I'll be punched by a bird-

 

You grab your club and toss it, catching it before trying to do a batter's swing directly into the attacker's skull.






It doesn't do jack shit.

EERIE: WH
EERIE: THE FUCK ARE YOU
????: Someone keeping trash like you from getting back to the city-!
EERIE: God's sake-
 

You take another swing, the farfetch'd dodging effortlessly.

You're panting, realizing how bad this can get.


You aren't even associated with those guys anymore. What the fuck did people expect you to do, go unarmed?
Oh yeah, great decision with-



Frond manages to block the next punch, leaping in to keep it from making contact.

The bird reels back, baffled that a vegetable tanked it better than you did.

FROND: Yeah!
FROND: Alright, now we're talking-
FROND: Lemme show you what I've got!
 

Frond fires off a massive spray of stars, your assailant nearly doubled over before going for a hit. He takes it no problem, getting clearly hyped up now.



You can't help but stand there in shock as he keeps exchanging moves, faster on his feet than you ever would have guessed. The bird can't keep up, can't chip away at his stamina in time-!



By the time Frond looks winded at all, the farfetch'd is completely downed, a flower-star sticking out of its head feathers.

FROND: Wh-
FROND: Whoooo!

 

He has to sit down, taking a big, deep breath.

FROND: Been a bit!
EERIE: ....
EERIE: You're- insane.
FROND: Yes!

 

He pumps his nubby hand into the air.

FROND: And I will continue-
FROND: Continue to pull weight!
FROND: ....
FROND: AFTER a nap.

 

There's crashing through the brush, the tension easing out of your posture and replaced with annoyance as it reveals itself not to be any more attackers, but your useless party members.

STRETCH: ....
EERIE: Great job!
EERIE: You missed a fight.
EERIE: Good thing I had a potato to help.
FROND: I'm-

 

He yawns, already getting comfortable against a rock.

FROND: So. Useful.
STRETCH: ................
STRETCH: S. Sorry.
EERIE: Yeah.
EERIE: Good.






 

You are now Stretch again, and you are very, very tired.

It's a mere ten minutes before Frond is up and at 'em, stretching and taking deep breaths.



FROND: Nothin' to it.
FROND: Only one gimmick, and my types won out.



You nod, thinking it over.

STRETCH: ...this early in the League, we're not likely to meet people with large movesets.
STRETCH: Or...
STRETCH: Cohesive ones.
FROND: Mom told us that near Pewter, it's mostly people relying on things they've been born with and honed over time.
FROND: Just like us!


 

He winces at your dead-eyed expression, rubbing the back of his head.

FROND: Mostly.
MINERVA: That means that the gym should be fairly simple, right?


 

Eerie narrows her eyes.

EERIE: You say that like you're tagging along.
MINERVA: ....
MINERVA: ......I suppose, yes.
STRETCH: We're-
STRETCH: I'm escorting her.
STRETCH: We can figure out where to go from there.
FROND: Besides-


 

Your root vegetable companion points to a worn down signpost.

FROND: We're practically there!
FROND: We did it!!!


 

Eerie gives a halfhearted "woo", Minerva tapping her claws together in an quiet attempt at clapping. You shrug, your backpack feeling utterly miserable to carry at this point.

STRETCH: Let's go.








 

You haven't been to Pewter in ages, and-




Uh.




Well.

FROND: Whoa.
FROND: They did some serious redecorating around here!

 

You remembered the use of rocks and geodes throughout the architecture and decor, certainly-


-but you can't say you care for the use of fossils.



And.

More.

Fresh. Looking.

Skeletons.

STRETCH: The fuck-
MINERVA: W-well, you know how it is-
MINERVA: With the way, things-
MINERVA: have gone
MINERVA: around here


 

You and Frond give her- and the environment around you- blank stares.

EERIE: They're country bumpkins, bet they're not used to the new management.
MINERVA: nnngh
EERIE: The sooner we can get-
MINERVA: -away from that gang-
EERIE: -the better.
MINERVA: -the better.

 

The two women look at each other in shock, before turning away in embarrassment.

MINERVA: I- I mean-
MINERVA: They're bullies, after all-
EERIE: More trouble than they're worth.
EERIE: Dumbass punks.

 

Minerva eyes the bone on her hip, nodding quietly.

MINERVA: ...yes.
MINERVA: Well said.
MINERVA: I-
MINERVA: Should probably lay down.
MINERVA: I usually sleep during the day-
EERIE: and you sure didn't get any last night

 

Your tail crackles as you hold back the urge to snap at her, Minerva seemingly unphased.

MINERVA: And a little nap for a few hours should have me right as rain.
FROND: Will you be okay at the center?
MINERVA: Oh, yes.
MINERVA: I know the area quite well.

 

Eerie raises her brows at that, but makes no comment.

MINERVA: Stretch, may I ask for your escort-?
STRETCH: ...yeah.
STRETCH: Need to get patched up too.
FROND: We all do!
EERIE: Let's get on with it....






 

You are relieved to find that the community center is primarily devoid of bones, the usual little artifacts in frames on the wall. Normal things. Familiar-

The nurse applies a medicated patch to your neck and shoulder bruise, causing you to groan.

NURSE: Stay still.
STRETCH: Nn.
NURSE: You made it out a lot worse than your companion.

 

You hunch your shoulders, pained by the fact that they could tell.

NURSE: Put those back down, you need this to stick.

 

Following doctor's instructions is not one of your strong suits, but you oblige.

NURSE: ...still, you're quite strong for this area.
NURSE: Are you planning on challenging the gym?
STRETCH: ...yeah.
NURSE: Good.
NURSE: Cleave's been needing some new fighters.
NURSE: He...gets rather antsy about it.
STRETCH: ......

 

You don't reply.




Cleave's new. You hadn't heard of him before, not the same guy as when you last visited.

Worrying. Very worrying.
You'd have to try and scope out the area to get any details. Any shred of info-

NURSE: Alright, that should do it.
NURSE: Take it easy, okay?

 

You nod, hopping off of the counter and heading for the exit.

Minerva had already told you she was going to check in after getting seen, making a point to ask you if you wanted to share a room tonight. Saying yes had happened before you could stop yourself, the guilt settling in as soon as you were out of view.




....just one more night. Just- it could be normal, too. Totally normal.


Right.



Frond is waiting for you outside, already pacing around and looking everywhere.

FROND: What's the plan, man?
STRETCH: Hm.
STRETCH: Any info on the gym leader?
FROND: Not a clue!
FROND: Sounds like a-
STRETCH: New guy, yeah.
FROND: Well-
FROND: You know what that means!

 

Oh, no.

FROND: Iiiit's-
STRETCH: please no
FROND: I spy time!
STRETCH: Nnngh.

 

It had been a game you'd played together in the woods, looking for signs of wildlife, travelers, berries...

You both got good at it, something that came in handy during schooling. You never understood why Frond got such average grades when he had worked so hard at developing a sense for this, but-



-he was certainly enthusiastic now.





It isn't long before his eagle eye picks up something you really, really wish he didn't.

FROND: Hey-
FROND: You, uh-
FROND: Okay?

 

Your posture is distinctly shrimp-like.

STRETCH: Fine.
STRETCH: I'm fine.
FROND: You look terrible.
FROND: Here, let's-

 

He powerwalks over to a bench, hopping up and patting for you to sit with him.

You don't even try to protest, practically tossing your pack to the side and slumping onto it.

FROND: ....
FROND: So, like-
FROND: Is it the blood thing-
STRETCH: Sure.

 

The gloom nods.

FROND: You always were a determined guy.
STRETCH: I don't see how doing this equates to that.
FROND: Simple!
FROND: When you want to do something, you commit!
STRETCH: It's-
STRETCH: I-
STRETCH: Don't think that applies to-
STRETCH: what happened last night

 

You trail off, face flushed.




No one says anything for a few moments, it slowly sinking in.

FROND: Wait, you-

 

You squeeze your eyes shut.

FROND: Dude.
STRETCH: Don't-
STRETCH: keep your voice down
FROND: That's huge, man!
STRETCH: please
FROND: Up top!

 

You crave the sweet embrace of death as Frond raises his fingerless hand.

He seems absolutely delighted at your pathetic high five, not even acknowledging the inevitable rebound off of your palm.

FROND: You need that kind of win!
STRETCH: ....
FROND: ....right?

 

You don't meet his eyes.

FROND: Hey-
FROND: It-
FROND: You're...okay, right?
FROND: She didn't-
STRETCH: No!

 

It comes out too fast.

STRETCH: No, it-
STRETCH: ...She. Wasn't like that.

 

His look of concern makes you sigh with your whole body.

STRETCH: It wasn't like that.
FROND: ...you sure?
FROND: You, uh-
FROND: Don't seem that happy about it.

 

The image of you desperately latched onto Minerva flashes in your mind.

STRETCH: I'm-
STRETCH: Not sure if I'm supposed to like this.
FROND: Supposed....to?

 

His frown gets worse, yours matching in turn.

FROND: ....you can't keep-
STRETCH: Drop it.

 

Frond flinches, making you further feel like shit.




You always do this.



You wish he'd just stop caring.





You swallow.

STRETCH: She.
STRETCH: Is very nice.
STRETCH: It was nice.

 

His tension relieves, if only for a moment.

STRETCH: There.
STRETCH: Is that enough?
FROND: ...yeah, man.
FROND: It's good as long as you're good.

 

You both fall into silence.









One hour of scouting around passes, and then two.
Useless. All of the former tells, all of the posters advertising the badge challenge-


Covered up, torn down, all replaced with painted insignias of bones.

FROND: ...Stretch.
STRETCH: Nn.
FROND: I think something really bad happened here since we were kids.
STRETCH: .....

 

The flag above you has some kind of indeterminate splatter.

STRETCH: Yeah.
STRETCH: Don't like it.
FROND: Will-
FROND: Minerva...lives here, right?



 

You don't respond.

FROND: Eerie too?




 

Words don't really cover the feeling of dread seeping in.

FROND: ....
FROND: Let's go, man.
FROND: I-
FROND: We should check on them.
STRETCH: Right.



 

Your heart pounds with every hovering step back to the center.

It's too different. Too loud.

You feel the eyes of passersby.

You stick out like a sore thumb.

Frond sticks close, and for once, he looks just as worried as you feel.




This isn't the exciting, gemstone covered place you remember-

????: HEY
????: ASSHOLE
 

Your anxiety makes you nearly screen as you whip around-


Only to see a familiar face, arms crossed.

SLIPPER: You think you could beat me, huh?

 

Fuck's sake. Not now.

STRETCH: I'm busy.
SLIPPER: Nope.
SLIPPER: No!
SLIPPER: You know the rules!

 

Your antennae fall back.

Rivalry rules. God, it was stupid.
Encounters between badges meant either party could declare a battle, the other unable to refuse. It was more dramatic for televised fights, not...



Whatever the hell this situation is.

STRETCH: I am.
STRETCH: Busy.
SLIPPER: Too bad!

 

Frond looks up at you with a shrug.

FROND: She's right, unfortunately.
STRETCH: Ugh.

 

Fights in cities were allowed, so long as they were declared. Frond gets you some open space, finding a decently clean fighting field. It's just a tile plaza, looking less ideal than you'd like. There's not much of a crowd, but a referee was easy enough to find- albeit just an interested citygoer. This kind of stuff didn't have to be clean.


You exhale, sliding your backpack off and raising your palms.

STRETCH: Let's make this quick.

 

Slipper doesn't step up first, gesturing for someone else to step forward.

You had honestly thought the nidorina was a part of the people milling around, from how little attention they had paid you while Slipper talked shit.

????: Oh, sorry-

 

Your eyes widen as they step into the ring.

They are huge.
And absolutely ripped.

STRETCH: Ah.
????: I didn't realize we were doing this now!

 

Okay.


Sure.



That's. Fine.



The ref counts down. You try to focus. Focus. Get your head in the right place-

REF: GO!
 

The nido gets the first move, moving far faster than you with your fucked up shoulder. You snarl in pain as you strafe to the side, fully aware that further injury would put you in even more trouble tomorrow.

Her entire body clenches-



-the release firing off a stream of needles. PIN MISSLE, no doubt.

The crowd scatters, stepping back and cheering. Splash damage was accepted as a risk, and a lot of audience members loved it. You never understood it.

Three of them make contact, but uselessly bounce off your torso. More of a pinch than anything, really.

????: What?!
????: Not fair!
 

You rush her down, spying an uncovered shoulder and driving a palm spike in.

Another to the chest is enough to send her flying, tumbling to the ground.




Sore loser, just like Slipper.

All buff, no brains to it.
Pathetic.

Frond cheers along with the crowd, waving an arm around.

FROND: You want me to tag in, bud?!
 

You stare down the grimer, seething at you with all the malice in the world.

STRETCH: No.
STRETCH: I have this.

She looks ready to kill as she slides into the ring, shaking her arms out and sneering at you.

SLIPPER: You think you're-
SLIPPER: So fucking cool.
 

You do not feel cool with the current amount of upper back pain you have going on.

SLIPPER: Let's see you handle this!

 

Her hand begins to shift-



-taking the shape of a massive bird head, swinging it at you with maximum force.


It makes contact, energy flashing as it drives against your pulsing body.




Not good enough.

She's just as unable to handle your needled palms, yelping in frustration as you knock her back, harder and harder.

STRETCH: I told you.
 

Her tantrum-like pounding on the ground, summons another fissure-



Not going to work.

You float effortlessly over the chasm and backhand her, following it up with a spike to the cheek.

STRETCH: I'm busy.

 

She goes down.



The crowd goes wild. You feel a bit of pride, if only for a moment.
Even if that was a shit fight, it felt...good.
To be acknowledged outside of your small town feels nice.



Up until your back hurts again.

STRETCH: Okay.
STRETCH: Done here.
STRETCH: Going. Back now.
FROND: Yep! Yeah, let's-

 

He runs over to take a slip out of the grimer's pocket- a voucher for prize money. You were both required to carry them at all times, so long as you were deemed the party leader.

FROND: Shopping time!





 

The fluorescent lights buzz above you, hitting right in the overstimulation part of your brain. Being in marts was bad enough on a normal basis, let alone Minerva excitedly running up to you when you got back, applauding you on your victory, taking you shopping, and pulling you aside to-

MINERVA: So, it worked pretty okay last time, right?

 

You flick your eyes to the massive wall of packages in front of you.

MINERVA: Size was okay?
MINERVA: Not too tight?
STRETCH: Y. Yeah.
STRETCH: Worked well enough.

 

She plucks two boxes off the rack and holds them out to you.

One lists extra protection against type-related effects- the other advertising less
barriers. Something about- you see the words "true potential" and decide you've seen enough.

STRETCH: We'll.
STRETCH: Have to try both.
STRETCH: Right?

 

Your chest aches as she grins.


You aren't sure why you're even entertaining this.
After everything, you'd had assumed-

A bellsprout wearing a bulky coat not-so-inconspicuously stares at Minerva as they pass by, back at you, and back to her.




YOU NEED TO LEAVE THIS AISLE IMMEDIATELY




Your pulse skyrockets, mind rushing with the implication of it all. You're standing next to a beautiful woman, obviously- oh, god.
She's literally holding condoms up to you specifically. This was not rocket science. Anyone who saw, would-
Know that you did that to her-

MINERVA: You okay?

 

You startle.

MINERVA: Your antennae are glowing.
STRETCH: shit

 

You flatten them back against your skull, trying to press them down with your hands.

MINERVA: Are you- I'm sorry, I don't really know what that means for electabuzz-
STRETCH: It's.
STRETCH: Nothing.

 

Her brow furrows.

MINERVA: Are you sure?
STRETCH: ...I'll.
STRETCH: Tell you later.
STRETCH: Nn.

 

The tension leaves your body as she pats you on the head.
You hate how fucking good that feels.

MINERVA: I'll hold you to that.

 

You approach the checkout, the sight of Minerva politely holding her shopping basket stressing you out again. If you had known how...much...public eye that doing this would bring, you likely would have had more than second thoughts.

STRETCH: I'll-
STRETCH: Let you check out, if that's-
STRETCH: Okay.

 

Minerva takes a moment to process.

MINERVA: Oh!
MINERVA: Oh, yes!
MINERVA: That should be perfectly alright!
MINERVA: They know me well here, it won't be any trouble at all.
STRETCH: ...Ah.
MINERVA: You get some air, okay?
STRETCH: Right.






 

Your rhyhorn party member leans against the side of the building, gnawing on some kind of jerky. Your whole posture stiffens, gritting your teeth as you pass by.

EERIE: Hey.

 

You keep walking, hands in your hoodie pockets.

EERIE: Hey.

 

An exhausted huff bursts out of you as you whip around, antennae back.

STRETCH: What.
STRETCH: What do you want.
EERIE: Tch.
EERIE: Didn't think you could talk back.

 

Usually, you'd clam up.
Hell, you still really want to.
But you have had

A
Day

and you are sick of her shit.

STRETCH: I
STRETCH: Did not
STRETCH: Even invite you.
STRETCH: Okay?

 

You take furious floating steps towards her, jamming a finger into her face.
She doesn't flinch, meeting your glowing, wide eyes.

STRETCH: You inserted yourself into this.
STRETCH: So if you're-
STRETCH: If you want to get to some kind of contest hall, for whatever. Whatever reason that is.
STRETCH: And you want my help-
STRETCH: Please.
STRETCH: Get off.
STRETCH: My dick.
EERIE: Maybe you should give the bat that advice.

 

She crunches some jerky, your face turning completely electric blue.

EERIE: Would help her lose a few pounds.
STRETCH: I-
STRETCH: Ah.
STRETCH: Mmmmmmmmmm.

 

Your leg is jiggling in anger, tail tip lashing.

EERIE: Thought you were going for league.
EERIE: Sounded reeeeal serious up until you ran into her.
STRETCH: I am serious!
STRETCH: J-just-
EERIE: Just what?
STRETCH: I- you-

 

You turn away, gripping at your hair-antennae as you groan.

STRETCH: Why are you doing this.
STRETCH: You can just go!
STRETCH: You can leave.
STRETCH: I didn't-
STRETCH: .....

 

You lower your hand, staring at your long, rounded fingertips.

STRETCH: ask for this.
EERIE: ....
EERIE: I lied.

 

You look back over your shoulder, the rhyhorn pitching the empty bag in the trash.

EERIE: The contest hall thing.
EERIE: I just needed a way out of there- and out of here, too.
EERIE: That's what I wanted to tell you.
EERIE: If you want me gone, congratulations.
EERIE: I am now outside of shit ass Pallet Town, and did not die.
EERIE: Yippee.
EERIE: ....
STRETCH: ....

 

The night air feels strange as you stare each other down.

STRETCH: ....why lie?
EERIE: Would you have done it if you recognized me?

 

Your eyes flick to the bone strapped to her thigh.

STRETCH: ....no.
STRETCH: I wouldn't.
EERIE: People see a pretty girl going to a contest hall and assume they need protecting.
EERIE: From how you look at Minerva, my guess is right.
EERIE: You like the damsel type.
STRETCH: Hrk-
STRETCH: THAT
STRETCH: IS NOT-
EERIE: Relax, I'm not hitting on you.
EERIE: Just a convenient out for me.
STRETCH: ....
STRETCH: So.
STRETCH: You picked me because?
STRETCH: Why, exactly.
STRETCH: Easy. Easy mark for-

 

An outright growl escapes.

STRETCH: I'm not!
STRETCH: Like that!
EERIE: Because I wasn't lying-
EERIE: -about recognizing the occult shit.
EERIE: If I was going to hit up somebody, I.
EERIE: At least wanted someone who would get it.
EERIE: Good enough for you?
STRETCH: ...you don't get anything.

 

It comes out angry enough that you spit.

STRETCH: No one does.
STRETCH: Okay?
STRETCH: Okay.

 

It's her turn to not meet your eyes.

STRETCH: Great.
EERIE: I-
EERIE: League badges give you access to a lot of resources.
EERIE: I need one.
EERIE: Just one.

 

You hear the strain in her voice for the first time.




The flags earlier flash in your mind.

STRETCH: .....
STRETCH: No more mind games.
STRETCH: No more lying to me.
STRETCH: And-
STRETCH: Leave. Minerva out of this.
STRETCH: ...she's just trying to help.
EERIE: ...alright.
EERIE: Just don't be so loud next time.
STRETCH: HEY-

 

She's already walking off.

EERIE: Already booked a room for myself tonight.
EERIE: We'll meet up to talk gameplan tomorrow.


 

You think you might hate her.

MINERVA: ...Stretch?

 

You jump out of your skin as you whip around, surprised to see the bat carrying multiple large shopping bags.

STRETCH: I-
STRETCH: That's not, all-
MINERVA: Oh, no.
MINERVA: I figured we would need a restock on medical supplies before tomorrow!
MINERVA: And...
MINERVA: I wanted to show appreciation for- everything.
MINERVA: ....
MINERVA: Is everything okay?
MINERVA: I thought I heard yelling.

 

You jam your hands back into your hoodie pockets.

STRETCH: ....Fine.
STRETCH: It's...fine.
STRETCH: Nothing happened.
MINERVA: ....
MINERVA: If. You're sure.
STRETCH: Yeah.
MINERVA: Ooookay....
STRETCH: Mm.

 

The incoming headpat clears your mind instantly, Minerva giggling at the small pulse you give off.

MINERVA: See?
MINERVA: All better.
STRETCH: Mmgh.
STRETCH: ....thanks.

 

The two of you stand there under a streetlight, sharing a quiet moment as you both munch on some protein bars.






....



You wonder if a better person would have more words to say right now.
Someone who actually knew how to handle situations like this.
Or- knew how to properly react to someone taking interest in you.


Somehow, the golbat doesn't seem to mind, tossing half off the bar into her massive mouth and stifling another hiccup.

STRETCH: ....

 

You glance over, somewhat relieved to see her abdomen less bloated than earlier- easier to actually judge now that you're not panicking in a convenience store.

STRETCH: It doesn't hurt?
MINERVA: Hm?
MINERVA: Oh, no.
MINERVA: It's....cumbersome, but-

 

She closes her eyes in a full smile.

MINERVA: Truth be told, it makes me really happy.

 

Your heart flutters a bit- unclear if it was out of anxiety or something far more terrible.

MINERVA: We should be more careful, but-




 

She pauses, tilting her head past you and causing you to turn.





The bellsprout from earlier stands there, leaves in their coat pockets.



Looking at them closer, they were mostly covered up- a beanie, long coat, boots-

-and a lot of accessory pins, keychains hanging off of their travel bag.

????: I overheard you and the rhyhorn's fight.
MINERVA: But I thought you said-
STRETCH: Wasn't a fight.
STRETCH: ....
STRETCH: What do you want.
????: ....
????: My name is Filigree, and-
FILIGREE: I want to take on the league too.

 

You stare down the miniscule plant, their gaze unwavering.

FILIGREE: I've tried to beat the gym before.
FILIGREE: You can't get through without a proper team, and-
STRETCH: If you can't win, why should I-?
MINERVA: Stretch!

 

You flinch.

MINERVA: They're trying to help.
STRETCH: ....
STRETCH: ........
STRETCH: Okay.
STRETCH: Fine.
STRETCH: Sure.
STRETCH: I'll hear you out.
 

Another fucking party member inviting themself. Alright.



.....at least Minerva gave you headpats about it.


You stop that line of thought. Not now.

STRETCH: But.

 

You have to grit your teeth, steeling your nerves as you actually lay down a decision for once.

STRETCH: If we're going to do this.
STRETCH: Training.
STRETCH: We need to actually train.
STRETCH: ....as a team.
STRETCH: Meet us at the center tomorrow morning.
STRETCH: We'll see if you can work it.
FILIGREE: ....

 

They look just as uncomfortable as you.

FILIGREE: ...thanks.
FILIGREE: I'll. Do my best.
STRETCH: Yeah.
FILIGREE: Yep.

 

Minerva taps her claws together anxiously as she looks back and forth between the two of you dissociating through this conversation.

MINERVA: Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee
MINERVA: Should probably get going!
STRETCH: ...right.
STRETCH: ....
FILIGREE: ................

 

There's a bit more awkward silence before Minerva gently leads you away.





She doesn't say much, just looking down at you worriedly. You don't even know why she's giving you the time of day at this point. Can't be a good look to be standing next to someone so absolute, completely-

MINERVA: I'm sure it'll go fine.




 

You don't say much.





....You just want the day to be over with already.
 

---

With Minerva giving Stretch a wild head start on training, will our electabuzz hero be able to whip the rest of its mess of a team in shape? What does this Filigree person want anyway- especially so suddenly?

But most importantly....what the team does about this gang situation is up to you, dear suggestors- next time on SPACE CASE!

[knux400]

The simplest way to handle this would be to pair people up and do some sparring matches. With Filigree in the party, we now have five members, so Stretch can rest its back and focus on giving advice as needed.

Take plenty of breaks, make sure nothing gets too heated due to interpersonal drama, maybe throw in some target practice and punching trees, and you should be good to go!

Probably.

[gyiyg]

if the new guy can punch down a whole tree like in minecraft then he's in

[DanZapman]

As much as I enjoy mindless violence in the pursuit of fixing immediate problems, you have enough emotional baggage that it's probably best to actually like, have information and a plan and all that. It'd probably be best to ask Minerva and Eerie about the gang's situation, it won't be a fun conversation with Eerie but she'll probably have a useful perspective. See if beating the gym and getting the badge gets Eerie to chill any amount, maybe.

And of course the tree punching is indispensable.

[Info Mantis]

Getting some intel on these boners from your resident ex-boner is a good first step to figuring out how to get out of this situation with badge in hand and as little trouble following you as possible, because this is simply Not Your Problem Right Now. You've already been a hero for at least one person, your do-gooder quota has been met until the next town unless there's some kind of tangible reward for it.

Second step is, of course, make the new guy punch trees to see how good they are

[ThreadLurkingComorant]

If you're going to be bumping into weirdos like this constantly, I think you do gotta build up your toolkit to impress them. All these people here looking to join, you need to establish yourself as confident to boost their morale and make you trusted long term.

[Headful_of_Eyeballs]

I second knux's idea- We should probably have our party members do some sparring before we find out what's up with the bone gang

[skinstealer]

 

LAST TIME...on SPACE CASE!
Our heroes arrived in Pewter City, only to find it under new management...Eerie and Minerva both seem pretty familiar with the gang taking over, but to what end? And who's this new bellsprout insisting on coming along?

And how does Stretch handle its first coaching session? Find out in:

EPISODE 4: TEAM BONDING

---

You blearily open your eyes.

MINERVA: Good morning!

 

You jump, getting a reassuring wing-squeeze in return. Her enormous mouth is open in a warm smile, dangerously close to pulling you into it.


....
.....she wouldn't eat you, right?


No, she- would have done that by now.
Probably.

MINERVA: Did you sleep alright?

 

You poke at your eyes, irritated at the moisture there-


-but you definitely feel comfortable, arms still wrapped tightly around her.

STRETCH: ...yeah.
MINERVA: Good....

 

She rests her head on top of yours, humming against you.

MINERVA: You're soft.
STRETCH: ...eh?
STRETCH: No I'm not.
MINERVA: Yes, you are.
MINERVA: Vibrations make you all fuzzy....

 

Blush covers your face, shoving your head in her chest.

STRETCH: We should probably get ready....
MINERVA: Just a while longer...

 

You relent, not going to protest as she massages your back.

MINERVA: ...last night was fun.
STRETCH: Mmmmm...

 

It takes you a moment to remember.

STRETCH: Hhhhhah-
STRETCH: oh god
STRETCH: ohhhh godddd
MINERVA: Mm, you enjoying yourself-?
STRETCH: yes yeah oh god-
MINERVA: You certainly don't have much issue making noise now...
STRETCH: ohhgodplease
MINERVA: You like the added heft?

 

You had realized the real benefit of giving Minerva your blood.

STRETCH: fuckfuckfucking god-
MINERVA: Maybe we should try immediately after a big feed, mmm?
STRETCH: yes, please, oh god-







 

You press your face into your hands.

STRETCH: oh god
MINERVA: We didn't do any blood drinking!
MINERVA: Or biting!
MINERVA: And we technically only used-
STRETCH: ohhhh goddddddddd
MINERVA: Plenty for later!
STRETCH: nnnooooooo
MINERVA: And your voice is so cute-!

 

You snap up to look at her.

Her smile is genuine.

MINERVA: I'd love to hear more sometime.
STRETCH: ....
STRETCH: Ah.
STRETCH: Are.
STRETCH: Hm.

 

You swallow.

STRETCH: I.
STRETCH: Can try.
MINERVA: At your pace!
MINERVA: But....
MINERVA: It helps to know what draws it out of you!

 

She lets that sink in as she unwraps herself, your body floating out of her grasp.

MINERVA: I'm off to the shower!
STRETCH: ....

 

You're left sitting on the bed, exhaling as you realize you have more to clean up.

STRETCH: Right.





 

You're brushing your teeth as Minerva gets dressed, already irritated at your gums bleeding and the toothbrush gently vibrating in a way that feels wrong on contact. You were never very good at this, but...

Well.

You. Probably shouldn't have bad breath now. Or gross tongue feeling.


On principle.

MINERVA: How do I look?

 

You turn, only to choke on on the foam building in your mouth.




Your golbat party member had put on a battling bodysuit, her legs squeezed into tight spandex leggings and a criss-cross top. Her formerly flat chest had a slight bump to it, matching the bit of weight that'd settled around her thighs since digesting your weight in blood.

STRETCH: I-
STRETCH: Ah-
STRETCH: Wheeeere did you geeeeet thaaaat?

 

Your voice comes out strained, unable to get the words out in any normal, non-flustered fashion.

MINERVA: Well-
MINERA: I figure if we're training, I'd need something other than a dress!
MINERVA: Hardly fighting clothes.

 

She does a little twirl, your throat feeling uncomfortably toothpaste-y as your eyes follow her little tail.

STRETCH: Looks.
STRETCH: Good.
STRETCH: Hh.
MINERVA: Yay!







FROND: Hey bud, what took you so long?!

 

Frond bounces up to you, his characteristic smile wide on his face.

STRETCH: I-
MINERVA: It just took a bit long in the shower, that's all!

 

You avoid meeting either of their eyes, staring straight ahead.

Long showers were normal. It was normal and. Not suspicious or gym wear related.

You're trying to tell yourself that because the entire group is tightly clad with very little left to the imagination.




Both you and Minerva had set yourself up with regulation protective cups, looking relatively covered up and avoiding any sort of dick injury-related incidents.
You had opted into the standard tank top and tight gym shorts fit that you learned to train in, and that was fine.


It was fine.


It was normal and Minerva wasn't looking at your ass.


No one was. Just like how you weren't looking at Eerie wearing a unitard-like bodysuit, her legs completely exposed.

FROND: Good to be getting ready for an actual match!

 

Frond stretches, his sports bra giving you a rare view of his bust, short shorts not helping in the lower body department either.

FROND: No more messing around with jerks in the woods...

 

You discover fresh hells every day now.

EERIE: We can't do an "actual match" until we figure out training, remember?
EERIE: Gotta catch up to buzzy boy over here.

 

You pretend not to hear that.

STRETCH: ....I can oversee it.
STRETCH: Pairs will be best-
STRETCH: Two on two will let us gauge ability and understand what we're working with.
FROND: It'll be great!
FROND: Used to do this all the time back in college...

 

He pauses, looking around.

FROND: Where's the other guy, anyway?
EERIE: Must have given up.
MINERVA: Shame...they were very enthusiastic!
STRETCH: ....not sure if I'd call it that...

 

You squint, seeing a figure push open the center doors.

STRETCH: There.

 

The tiny bellsprout from earlier shuffles towards the group, still wearing their coat and beanie. Barely anything visible of their body, it's hard to make out anything about them aside from their telltale plant mouth.

...that is, until they start talking, and you see it lined with teeth.

FILIGREE: I made it.
EERIE: Didn't get the memo?
EERIE: We're practicing while wearing the real deal.
EERIE: Legit uniforms, legit training arena-



 

The bellsprout sighs, unzipping their coat and giving the team a look.





They're thicker than any bellsprout you've ever seen, nowhere close to the spindly build you would have expected. A full coverage bodysuit ends just before a line of thorns on their neck- almost resembling a collar.

FILIGREE: ...I know how this works.
FILIGREE: I just...

 

They glance around the center, wincing at some wandering eyes.

FILIGREE: Don't really...like showing things off.

 

Their caution seems to seep into everyone else, yourself very much included- not even at your own individual bodies, but everyone seems to be scoping each other out now.

EERIE: ...
EERIE: We
EERIE: Should probably not be standing here.
FROND: We're gonna be on TV anyway!
EERIE: Little different when it's a cool fight, dude!
FROND: This is a warmup!
EERIE: For what, getting ogled-
FILIGREE: please keep your voices down




 

The training ground was quieter than you had seen it as a kid, formerly a bustling place for people to spar and practice. It's not too different from the outdoor fields you'd used back in college, ideal for avoiding any possible ceiling or wall damage- but not so great for dealing with weather conditions. God knows how many sessions got interrupted by impromptu thunderstorms, sending all but the water and grass types scattering.

MINERVA: Soooo....
MINERVA: Stretch, you and Frond trained together, right?
FROND: Yeah! Went to the same university and everything.
FROND: Eerie, you were there too-
EERIE: Just for some light classes.

 

Her answer is brisk.

EERIE: Bare minimum to get the license.
EERIE: ....wanted to do shit aboveboard.

 

She coughs, immediately going for a deflection.

EERIE: How'd you get your card anyway- you don't look the type to get into fighting.
MINERVA: Oh!
MINERVA: Self defense courses!
FILIGREE: ...same here.
EERIE: Huh.
EERIE: Didn't think those outright give you the ID.
STRETCH: It's a necessity.

 

People turn to you.

STRETCH: You need an ID to battle in public areas, regardless of your motivations.
STRETCH: When legalization got involved, there were cases of people fighting back with powers qualifiable as moves when they didn't have the registration...
FROND: And they got smacked for it.
STRETCH: Mm.
FROND: Me and Stretch may have gotten our papers through college, but that's more so we can come in swinging right out the gate.
STRETCH: It's a head start.
STRETCH: Battling IDs are only issued to adults, and anything like sparring between kids, especially in public-
FROND: Is parental responsibility.
STRETCH: Mmmmmm.
MINERVA: ....what if the parents don't have good intentions, though?
MINERVA: Or- with the self defense clause-
STRETCH: Exactly how you think.

 

Your voice is colder than you intend, but you don't think you could have softened it.

STRETCH: .....
MINERVA: I-

 

She hesitates, folding her wings.

MINERVA: ...I understand.




 

You pay for your training time and head into an arena, the chain link cage surrounding it feeling deeply familiar. Minerva seems fascinated by the ground's texture, tapping at it with her toes.

FROND: Didn't have regulation-standard back with your courses?
MINERVA: Oh!
MINERVA: Oh, no.
MINERVA: It was safety mats only.
STRETCH: These are technically safe too.
STRETCH: Just-

 

You set your bag to side, against the far corner.

STRETCH: More reactive to move usage.
STRETCH: Mats meant for softer training, or battling for play, are nullifying.
FROND: And ones for competitive challenges change to fit the moves used on them.
FROND: You wanna get stuff looking cool!
FROND: Earthquakes, geysers, the works!

 

You point to the high ceiling, another mat laid on the inside of the cage.

STRETCH: Ceilings are usually just nullified and reinforced.
STRETCH: Keeps the building from falling apart.
MINERVA: And the walls?

 

She points to the mock-audience stands, even featuring cutouts.

STRETCH: Psychic barriers, usually.
FROND: Lets people get a taste of the action without any risk!
FROND: Like getting splashed at an aquarium show.
FILIGREE: Or a ball going into the audience-
FILIGREE: Sports. Like how they do in sports.
FROND: Exactly!
FROND: One guy's rock throw is another's pebble souvenir!
EERIE: ...isn't that just shrapnel?
FROND: Shrapnel...with a story.
EERIE: Beats me why people would risk getting beaned in the eye without a good reason.
FROND: It's the thrill!
EERIE: Yeah, and you can experience that plenty on TV.
FILIGREE: It's-

 

They try to raise their voice as they set their coat next to your pack.

FILIGREE: It's a very different experience.
FILIGREE: Gyms are structured to be just as much of an event for spectators as they are for the battlers.
FILIGREE: Designing them, it's a whole...

 

They shrink when they turn around to see all of your party's eyes on them.

FILIGREE: it's a whole thing.
MINERVA: Well!
MINERVA: I would love to hear about that!
EERIE: When we're not on a timer.
MINERVA: ...fair point!

 

Her smile seems to calm the bellsprout down all the same, and you all huddle to discuss.





First things first-


Looking over Filigree and Minerva's movesets and IDs.

You feel the slightest bit of pride seeing Minerva's typing- fire/grass, just as you predicted. Granted, the pride is immediately overridden with shame by how you figured that one out, but...

Maybe a little bit of confidence remained. Noticing anatomy is noticing typing, and that made for winning fights.

Filigree, however-

EERIE: Fire/fighting?
EERIE: Seriously?

 

Filigree sighs, tapping one of itheir roots against its "calve" as they adjust their leaf hair.

FILIGREE: I know I don't look it.
FILIGREE: My parents are the same way, and they got all.
FILIGREE: Cactus-y.
FILIGREE: It'll likely be same for me, and it keeps people guessing.
STRETCH: It's good.

 

They smile-

STRETCH: One move, though.
EERIE: Like you have more than two.
STRETCH: ....I just want to see it.

 

They hand it over, standing tall.

Body slam, just like Minerva....

You look them up and down again. Sure, they were thicker than a standard bellsprout, but- how much could it possibly do?

They stay standing up straight even with the nervous expression on their face..

FILIGREE: In my classes, I almost needed to be upgraded to a proper battle course.
FILIGREE: I hit very, very hard.
EERIE: Let's see it, then.

 

She stomps over to a pile of training equipment, pulling out a punching log and setting it up straight.

EERIE: Go ahead.
EERIE: Prove it.

 

The bellsprout breathes in, approaching and taking a moment to focus-


-before jumping and ramming it with their full weight, more of a shoulder tackle than Minerva's hip check.

The log immediately goes down, hitting the ground with a distinct beep- an indication of high damage move usage.

EERIE: Well, I'll be damned.
FROND: AWESOME

 

He runs over, excitedly looking over the bellsprout and trying to find whatever secret they were hiding.

FROND: You gotta teach me how to do that!
FILIGREE: uhh
FROND: I'll show you everything I know!
EERIE: Like what, sleeping?
FROND: TACTICAL sleeping.

 

The rest of Minerva's moveset is-

Well-


You're familiar.

FROND: Body slam, stomp, tail whip, thunder wave-
FROND: Nice job on the whole set!
MINERVA: Thank yooou!
MINERVA: I was lucky enough to find something that worked all together!
STRETCH: It's good.
STRETCH: Stats are high, too.
STRETCH: We can work with this.

 

She's glowing from your praise, tail twitching pleasantly. You try not to watch it.

....your ID, however, gets scrutiny.

FROND: Duuude!
FROND: Where'd you get those numbers?!
FROND: We've been at this for like, two days!

 

You stare directly ahead.

STRETCH: No idea.
EERIE: Uh huh.
STRETCH: Nn.

 

Eerie leans over to analyze more directly, deliberately playing it up.

EERIE: Space case over here's done some training on the sly.
EERIE: Trying to show us up?
STRETCH: N-no, of-
STRETCH: Of course not!
STRETCH: That would- it'd be a shit fight.
STRETCH: They like equal participation!
STRETCH: Just as important as winning!
EERIE: Doesn't explain that big ol' jump.

 

You grumble something under your breath.

EERIE: What's that?

 

She leans in further.

STRETCH: it was an accident.
EERIE: Ahhh.
EERIE: I see. I see.
EERIE: As long as that little-

 

Eerie's volume drops as she says it.

EERIE: """""accident""""""
EERIE: Doesn't get in the way-
EERIE: By all means.

 

She rolls her eyes as she steps off, Frond patting you on the lower back.

FROND: She's just jealous, dude.
STRETCH: ...Sure.

 

It's true, though. Your numbers being so much higher than everybody else is going to cause problems at the gym. You had already planned to hang back, period- irritating you to no end- and your best option for the day's pre-gym training would be to act as coach.

It wasn't your first rodeo, at least. Teaching less skilled students was something that fell on you frequently, and was a large part of why your grades were so high. Frills, for how much they drove you nuts, appreciated it...and then proceeded to make you do it more and more.

You could have done without that much pressure, but it would make this easier.

STRETCH: As discussed.
STRETCH: We're going to have you spar in pairs, based on the numbers on your IDs.
STRETCH: Eerie, you're with Frond-
FROND: Whoo!
FROND: Eerie time!
EERIE: ....

 

The rhyhorn looks perplexed at the gloom's enthusiasm, but doesn't protest.

EERIE: S'fair enough.
EERIE: I'll do my best not to kick his ass.
FROND: No, no!
FROND: You should go all out!
FROND: Kick me into the audience!
STRETCH: Please...don't do that.

 

You aren't sure yourself why the two of them are so...casual, but it does sting with how fucking out for you Eerie is.

One more thing for you to wonder about.

STRETCH: Filigree, you and Minerva are together.
FILIGREE: U-
FILIGREE: Uh

 

They look back and forth to you and the massive, politely postured bat.

FILIGREE: she's huge

 

Minerva gives a playful hip sway, her smile gentle.

MINERVA: I promise, I won't let anything go wrong if I can help it!
MINERVA: Besides- a bigger target means you can hold back less, right?
MINERVA: It'll be great for you!
FILIGREE: I...guess so.
FILIGREE: Just don't crush me.

 

You look off to the side, hoping it hides the blush tint on your cheeks.

MINERVA: I cross my heart!

 

The bellsprout pauses, and then laughs.

FILIGREE: You're...real dramatic.
MINERVA: I've been told I have an old soul, I can't help it...
MINERVA: Theatrics are too fun!

 

The arena could easily be used as multiple sparring zones, depending on how you sectioned it off. Setting up cones on the ground to indicate rough limitations to keep in mind was second nature, gauging the distance with your eyes alone.

STRETCH: Even if the arena we'll be working in is probably going to be bigger-
STRETCH: You want to work locally.
STRETCH: Even ranged, you should test how far you can go while still hitting close enough.
STRETCH: Hydro pump can go a long distance, but hitting up close will knock somebody on their ass before they can dodge.
STRETCH: Frond is the only one with a ranged attack right now-
EERIE: Hey!
STRETCH: ...outside of Eerie's smog, which doesn't do much as an actual damage dealer and matters less in terms of positioning.
EERIE: Tch.
STRETCH: It's easier to hit a target when you're not across the arena, too.
STRETCH: Use distance carefully.

 

You step back and take a look at your handiwork, cracking your back in the process. It's still sore from yesterday, but far less brutal. If you kept it chill and kept munching on oran bars while people trained, you'd probably be okay. Old college trick.

STRETCH: Frond and Eerie, on this side. I'll start watching you.
STRETCH: Minerva, Filigree-
STRETCH: Keep it slow until I get over there.
STRETCH: Get a feel for each other's size, analyze.
STRETCH: Eerie and Frond have already done battles together, so...
FILIGREE: R-right.
MINERVA: Of course!





EERIE: Dude, what the fuck?

 

Frond pumps his fists after taking the third bone club to the head.

FROND: Cmon!
FROND: It almost hurt that time!

 

She looks back at you in bewilderment, you gesturing for her to go again.

Frond stumbles, but doesn't hit the ground. The rhyhorn sneers, very clearly frustrated with the immovable potato resisting her apparently stoppable force.

STRETCH: Time.

 

You approach, analyzing the two fighters' stances.

STRETCH: Hhhhohkay.
STRETCH: First.
STRETCH: Frond here's mostly solid, with any vitals heavily protected..
STRETCH: Plant-based mons don't have much in the way of internal organs.
STRETCH: Or, at least- any like yours.
STRETCH: Entirely different bodies.
STRETCH: You're approaching him like a mammal.
EERIE: But-!
EERIE: How the fuck am I supposed to know all that?
EERIE: Studying at the library isn't exactly my idea of getting stronger!

 

You try to steel your nerves as she raises her voice.

STRETCH: You won't need to.
STRETCH: I told you before:
STRETCH: I can beat you.
STRETCH: I did beat you.
EERIE: Watch it-

 

You raise a hand.

STRETCH: And the reason
STRETCH: Is because I know what to look for.
STRETCH: No book needed.
STRETCH: Okay?
EERIE: .....
EERIE: Alright.
EERIE: Fine. Whatever.
EERIE: Teach me your nerd shit.

 

You start by adjusting her posture, distinctly not touching her- Eerie getting sick mid-training would be a nightmare for morale, let alone cleanup if the nausea won out.

STRETCH: I don't have much experience with weapons.
STRETCH: Too unreliable.
STRETCH: I don't want to drop it or have it snatched.
STRETCH: ....but I do know some things from sparring.

 

Her swing isn't bad, but it's clear that when she gets fired up- she's sloppy. The mark of someone trained in basics, but fumbles when the pressure bears down. You guide a more consistent arc, showing her different applications, directions, speeds-

She seems more confident with each bit of praise you give her, even having a bit of excitement in her eyes as she improves. You can't help but wonder if anyone gave her the time to work solo at all, or just...

She said minimum courses. Those were usually group ones, without the kind of individualized coaching you and Frond received. They wanted to get through as many students as possible in the barebones courses-

-and she seems to be thriving in a dedicated one on one.
She notices your irritation, and you shake your head rapidly.

STRETCH: N-
STRETCH: Don't.
STRETCH: Mind me.
STRETCH: Thoughts wandered.
EERIE: Nowhere weird, I hope.
STRETCH: ...no.
STRETCH: Just glad to see you getting into this.

 

She snorts, but more out of amusement than frustration.

EERIE: Now show me how to beat him up.

 

Frond had been sitting and watching in rapt attention, clapping enthusiastically whenever Eerie got a good swing.

FROND: My turn to play punching bag?
EERIE: Don't look so excited.
FROND: I'm just happy to help!

 

You sigh, trying to get it back on the rails.

STRETCH: ...Going to be focusing on parts that actually hurt.
STRETCH: Hitting his main torso is pretty useless with a blunt club.
STRETCH: You'd have to slam him hard enough to cause internal damage-
STRETCH: Not easy.
STRETCH: Even cuts can't pierce him without digging in fast and sharp.
FROND: It's a huge help, honestly.
FROND: Makes my rest strat actually work!
EERIE: Huh.
EERIE: So-
EERIE: Where do I hit him?

 

You approach the gloom, gesturing for him to stand up and let you direct.

STRETCH: When you're dealing with any opponent, you want to identify weakpoints in their defenses.
STRETCH: Joints are very consistent, with many armored mons lacking protection at parts that bend and crease.
STRETCH: ....yourself included.

 

She looks down at her elbows and knees with a frown.

STRETCH: Those are your most tender weak points, and where experienced fighters will try to target.
STRETCH: Behind your head crest, too.

 

You give the spot a gentle poke, barely enough to put pressure on. It's clear even the slight brush is unpleasant...but enough to get the vulnerability across.

EERIE: Urgh...
EERIE: Thought it'd be fine with head blocking...
STRETCH: From the front? Yes.
STRETCH: If you leave the back exposed-
STRETCH: No.
STRETCH: Watch your head position whenever you can.
STRETCH: For Frond, his limbs are less vulnerable to the same kind of blow.
STRETCH: It'll hurt, disorient, and potentially incapacitate his movement...
STRETCH: But there's no bones in there.
STRETCH: If they weren't so thin, you'd be in trouble going for them.
FROND: I'm trying to bulk up, too!
FROND: Get 'em more thick and stompy.

 

You desperately try not to think about Frond's hypothetical figure, thankfully invested enough in the lesson to succeed. For once.

STRETCH: Flowering mons have their weakest points in both the flower itself, and-

 

You point to the part where his buds and head connect.

STRETCH: Right here.
FROND: Pretty tricky angle!
STRETCH: Especially since your buds are tougher than the average.
STRETCH: Stance can counteract almost any weakpoint-
STRETCH: So studying movement- especially for you specifically-
STRETCH: Is just as important as dealing damage.
STRETCH: ...if not moreso.
EERIE: Huh.
EERIE: You really do talk a lot more over shit like this.
STRETCH: ...
STRETCH: I-
STRETCH: It's-
STRETCH: ....an interest of mine.
EERIE: No kidding.
EERIE: ....you're good at it.
EERIE: Thanks.
EERIE: Now lemme whack him.
FROND: WHOO!

 

It takes her some time to adjust to the new instructions, signs of struggle flaring back up as she has to move spontaneously and in reaction to Frond actually moving back. Frond's own swift attacks are perfect for a training session- hurting, but not causing much actual exterior damage.


You watch to make sure they don't overdo it, up until Frond declares he needs a nap.
Neither you or Eerie get to react before he conks out.

You rub your forehead, sighing.

STRETCH: Figures.
STRETCH: When he's asleep, there's another benefit.
STRETCH: Stuff like smog?
STRETCH: Useless when it comes to poison.
EERIE: ...is it really that good of a nap?
STRETCH: Apparently.

 

The two of you stare at his snoring form, blissfully smiling and drooling into the dirt,

STRETCH: ...still, good place to get damage in if you have something that can.
STRETCH: Timing rest strategies involves knowing when to pop it off.
STRETCH: The bulkier they are, the more annoying it's going to get...
STRETCH: And while it's a deep sleep, you can wake them up by accident.
EERIE: Kinda counterproductive when it's a good time to go to town on them.
STRETCH: It's a real strategy for a reason.
STRETCH: We won't have too many potions-

 

She raises her brow at you, which you pointedly ignore.

STRETCH: For the actual fights
STRETCH: So we'll want to be using that carefully as a natural restore option.
STRETCH: If someone can tag in for him, even better.
STRETCH: Use the time where he's snoozing to get a heal in on someone in back, and switch in.
EERIE: ...buying time.
STRETCH: Exactly.

 

She grins, her enthusiasm carrying over to getting some test damage in on the gloom while he snoozes. He eventually wakes up with a large yawn, impressed at the ssoreness left for him.

FROND: Good job!
FROND: You picked up quick.
EERIE: 'course I did.
STRETCH: Let's carry that over to the actual gym.
STRETCH: Your smog attack-
STRETCH: It's good for blasting a large area, but inefficient.

 

Her smile falls.

EERIE: Isn't that how it works?
STRETCH: Largely yes.

 

You gesture for her to point her finger straight forward at Frond.

STRETCH: But you have some kind of hand casting.
STRETCH: Rare.
STRETCH: Practice enough, and you can direct it way easier.
STRETCH: ....less....friendly fire.
EERIE: Huh.

 

She stares at her hand, opening and closing her claws.

EERIE: Worth a shot.
EERIE: Bout time it's good for anything.

 

Frond doesn't seem to take much damage from the attack, more mystified by the mental effects when it does take hold. You chuck him an antidote to keep him from getting too off track and stupid about strategy, and with time, Eerie gets it relatively consistent...for what it is.

STRETCH: It's a gaseous move, so you are going to miss-
STRETCH: And the chances of it really getting into someone's head aren't guaranteed.
STRETCH: If someone can hold their breath or otherwise prevent absorption, it's not worth it.
STRETCH: Risk won't be worth the reward, most times.
STRETCH: ...but it's in your kit.

 

You're surprised to see her lack of immediate irritation at your critique, a slight smile still on her face.

EERIE: Maybe I won't have to use it someday.
STRETCH: We train you up enough-
STRETCH: For sure.
STRETCH: Just hold out for better techniques.

 

The pair returns to the sparring, focusing on exchanging bone club and swifts.



They actually seem like they're having fun-
And you feel at ease.
In your element.
Calm, even.




But this is training. You doubt the gym would rattle you, but better not to take it for granted now.


Time for the other two.




By the time you get over to the other side, a few things are clear.

Minerva and Filigree are far less experienced than the two you'd just worked with.

They also hit each other like speeding trucks.

You can't help but watch in the slightest bit of awe over the bellsprout keeping up so well with Minerva, but even with them needing significantly more recovery time...

Minerva stumbles with every slam landed, looking just as winded herself if not moreso. You're surprised she's being pushed back so easily, and there's visible frustration on her face- an expression you'd long since come to recognize as a new fighter kicking themself.

STRETCH: Time.

 

Both of them startle, immediately stopping the spar and tripping over themselves in the process.

MINERVA: S-stretch!
MINERVA: How, um!
MINERVA: Long have you been watching...?
STRETCH: Not long.
STRETCH: Just wrapped up with Eerie and Frond.
FILIGREE: How're they doing?
STRETCH: Good.

 

You mean it, too.

STRETCH: They should be fine while I coach you two.

 

Minerva fidgets, embarassed and shy as you approach.

STRETCH: Hey.

 

She struggles to meet your eyes.

STRETCH: You're fine.
STRETCH: Both of you have good techniques for self defense-
STRETCH: And we can use that.
STRETCH: You just need help going on the offensive and using your power better.
STRETCH: ...okay?

 

You hesitate before patting her wing, the golbat's expression softening instantly. Filigree's eyes widen, which you distinctly try to pretend you don't see.

MINERVA: Okay....
MINERVA: I'll try.
STRETCH: And-
STRETCH: Filigree.

 

They straighten out, looking nervous as hell.

STRETCH: You hit hard, but you don't have the speed needed for safe close quarters matches.
STRETCH: ...not directly, anyway.

 

You are painfully aware of the height difference as you have to half-squat next to them, gesturing for their posture just as you had for Eerie.

STRETCH: Stay light on your roots.
STRETCH: Your body is thin- a hard target to hit if you keep moving...
STRETCH: But if people can cover more ground than you.
STRETCH: And they will.
STRETCH: You need to be smarter about where you move and when.
STRETCH: Learn how to predict where your opponent will move-
STRETCH: And when you can subvert their own expectations.
STRETCH: Rushing headlong into things may work in your favor so long as they'd never see it coming.
STRETCH: You have the power to back up any strike you get in.
STRETCH: Don't get hit first.
FILIGREE: Got it.

 

Good, no protest. You get the sense that despite their nerves, you won't have much trouble here- an eager learner is one of the best case scenarios, especially if they take critique.

STRETCH: Going to give you both the same advice I gave Eerie.
STRETCH: Most important thing you can learn is your opponent.
STRETCH: Type identification, move analysis-
STRETCH: Anything you can.
FILIGREE: Sounds like a lot to remember...
STRETCH: Comes easier with practice.
STRETCH: Watch.

 

You hover over to Minerva, pausing before she gives you the okay to touch her.

Taking her claws and pulling her wing carefully away from her body, fully extended, feels strangely intimate despite you trying to stay practical. You've never really been able to do demonstrations so hands-on before, considering how sick your touch makes people.

STRETCH: Minerva's wings allow her to get more air mobility-
STRETCH: But are a huge point of vulnerability.
STRETCH: It's bad sportsmanship to permanently damage wing membrane- so don't do it.
STRETCH: That kind of lasting injury can get the whole team's rank docked.
STRETCH: ...and. Like many other things. It looks bad on TV.
STRETCH: But.
STRETCH: It's going to be a point she's going to try and protect.

 

You fold her wing in, and wrap it around her body.

STRETCH: This is a defensive stance used by bat mons.
STRETCH: Wrapping one's wings around themselves risks a fall, but tightens up profile and keeps them from getting as damaged.
STRETCH: This also means-

 

You grab Minerva around the waist, pinning her wings down in a bear hug. She makes a startled squeak that turns your face flushed, coughing to the side.

STRETCH: T-that-
STRETCH: You can immobilize her.
STRETCH: Minerva, that means you have to be careful getting snared.
MINERVA: S-sounds good!

 

She gives you an embarassed look, her face just as flustered as yours. You immediately unlatch, clearing your throat.


it would be
very easy to suggest a locker room break.


But you are coaching and that is a serious matter and if there is

ONE THING IN THIS WORLD

that gets you to stop thinking with your dick
It's this kind of analysis.



Not that the two were mutually exclusive.


Whatever.


Unfortunately though- you aren't done with Minerva.

STRETCH: The other large threat on a golbat is the mouth.

 

You gesture for her to open it, the bat extremely shy when you motion for her to keep going.

STRETCH: ....fully open is the most comfortable position for a golbat's mouth, which means that it doesn't take much for you to get bit.
STRETCH: Get too close and you can get chomped.
STRETCH: Regardless of type, golbats are capable of
STRETCH: uh
STRETCH: Blood.
STRETCH: Drinking.
STRETCH: Which they can do
STRETCH: Extensively. And very quickly.
STRETCH: You do not want them to do that.

 

Get a grip. Get a grip.

Get a grip.

Oh god, they're staring at you.

FILIGREE: R. Right.
STRETCH: ANYWAY
STRETCH: Your biggest weak points are fragility, as mentioned-
STRETCH: But for whatever reason, you're.
STRETCH: Very bulky.
FILIGREE: ...It's genetic.

 

They do not elaborate.

STRETCH: ...right.
STRETCH: You also don't have very good reach-
STRETCH: Or.
STRETCH: Arms.
STRETCH: But bellsprout leaves are sharp, and they'll get sharper.
STRETCH: ...
STRETCH: What's up with the thorns?
FILIGREE: Also genetic.
STRETCH: Any poison?
FILIGREE: ....

 

The plant looks distinctly self conscious.

FILIGREE: S. Sort of.
FILIGREE: It's-
FILIGREE: ...sorry.
FILIGREE: It won't be useful in battle.

 

Hm.
Doesn't look like pressing them will do any good.

STRETCH: One move in your kit is plenty if you use it right.
STRETCH: Minerva-

 

She snaps out of a daydream, rubbing the back of her head.

MINERVA: I-I'm listening!
STRETCH: Your hip checks are good at knocking people down-
STRETCH: And using body weight for thunder wave is doing you even better.
STRETCH: Stomp comparatively won't do much-
STRETCH: But it's a good get off-
STRETCH: Get-off-OF-me-option.

 

You notice your own breath hitching as you speak.




Analysis.
Analysis.
You're doing analysis.




She's meeting your eyes.




YOU ARE DOING ANALYSIS RIGHT NOW YOU ARE



SO BUSY.

STRETCH: You- have guaranteed knockdown and stun options.
STRETCH: Use. Them.
STRETCH: Yes.
STRETCH: H
STRETCH: Uh

 

Save it.
Save it.
You can do this.
Pivot.
You have to give them equal time.


You swallow.

STRETCH: We're going to do some. Dodging drills.
STRETCH: It'd benefit both of you to work with opponents of different sizes.
STRETCH: So.
FILIGREE: ...you....good-?
STRETCH: Yes.

 

You wince.

STRETCH: S-sorry.
STRETCH: Need to.
STRETCH: Clear my head.
STRETCH: Be right back.
STRETCH: Do, stretches or something-
MINERVA: Of course!

 

The look she gives you makes you regret your wording so, so much.

[skinstealer]

Chugging down your drink nearly makes you choke, mopping sweat from your brow and catching your breath as you lean against the arena's cage.

FROND: Hey-

 

You sputter as you stop staring into space, the gloom approaching you giving a tiny wave.

FROND: You alright, man?

 

What do you even say?
What would-
This is just-

STRETCH: ...
STRETCH: I'm.
STRETCH: Fine.
STRETCH: i guess
FROND: I dunno, can't say that kinda look on your face goes well with guessing.

 

He leans against the cage with you, his smile far less...exuberant than usual.

FROND: ......
STRETCH: ............
FROND: So is it-
STRETCH: it is minerva yes

 

You crunch the plastic bottle in your hand.
Why did you just fucking say that?
Why did-

FROND: S'alright, dude.
FROND: Look-
FROND: ....you know you can talk to me about-

 

The miserable look on your face makes him trail off.

FROND: .....
FROND: You sure you should, like-
FROND: Be jumping into this?
STRETCH: ...no.
STRETCH: I'm-
STRETCH: I'm not sure.
FROND: But...?
STRETCH: .....
STRETCH: She's... very nice.
STRETCH: And- I-

 

You look at your free hand, opening and closing your fingers.

FROND: ....I know, man.
FROND: I know.
FROND: Like, I think- the fact that you're putting yourself out there-
FROND: Is so cool.
FROND: Like, seriously awesome.
FROND: You've totally needed to-
STRETCH: frond
FROND: ....
FROND: Just...
FROND: Come to me if you need it, okay?

 

Why does he...still care?
You'd spent the past...god, ten years? Mostly ignoring him, more and more every year.

Why did



anyone



still care about you?

STRETCH: ...okay.
STRETCH: Right now, I'm-
STRETCH: Adjusting.
STRETCH: To. Things.
FROND: Yeah.
FROND: S'been what, like, three days?
FROND: Mom always told me that this whole, League thing-
FROND: It's a life that moves fast!
FROND: Adventure, fame-
FROND: Getting into trouble...

 

He snickers.

FROND: Kinda a lot for me too.
STRETCH: ...yeah?
FROND: I mean, yeah-
FROND: But I get to talk to you again, too.

 

He pats you on the back before getting back up.

FROND: Cmon, we've still got time on the clock.
FROND: People need a coach!
STRETCH: ....

 

You realize your breath's evened out, hands stopped shaking.

STRETCH: Right.





STRETCH: Okay.
STRETCH: So.

 

The four pokemon front of you are expectant- looking to hear results as everyone munches on oran sandwiches. Minerva and Filigree- thank god- had managed to get through just as much lesson work as Frond and Eerie... albeit far simpler in technique. It figured, for two complete newbies.

STRETCH: Good news.
STRETCH: You're all fit for the gym now.
FROND: WHOOOO
STRETCH: And-
STRETCH: I think we have a decent shot at it.
EERIE: Pff, just decent?
STRETCH: It'd be higher if we knew what we're in for.
STRETCH: But. There's cohesion here.
MINERVA: Really??
STRETCH: More than I thought, yes.
STRETCH: I'll break it down.
STRETCH: I've got the highest numbers here-
STRETCH: But the gap means that we don't know how that works regarding potential.
EERIE: ...how's that work?
STRETCH: You're all the same level now.
STRETCH: We can compare your numbers easier.
STRETCH: Someone having more or less than another person stat-wise when you're on the same playing field is much easier to read.
FILIGREE: ...so...
FILIGREE: Any one of us could be stronger than you?
STRETCH: Possible.
STRETCH: We won't know until it balances out.
STRETCH: Evolution matters a lot here, too.
STRETCH: Minerva, Frond, and myself are going to hit heavier on principle.
STRETCH: ...if that's something any of you want to-
FILIGREE: Yes.
STRETCH: ....we can work on focusing on finding paths towards that.

 

You sigh.

STRETCH: I'll be hanging back in the gym fight.
STRETCH: Audiences don't like curbstomps.
FROND: Dude, you beat Slipper without taking any-
STRETCH: That was not for television.
EERIE: showoff
STRETCH: And I feel like showing what we have as a team would give us a better reputation.
MINERVA: So...should we let ourselves get roughed up?
STRETCH: I-
STRETCH: Don't throw the match.
STRETCH: Give it your all.
STRETCH: But. Don't just wail on the opponents.
STRETCH: A good match has all of its fighters paying attention and keeping pace.
STRETCH: What we focused on today is keeping your eyes on what's happening and adjusting on the fly.
STRETCH: ...that will show us off at our best.

 

You wait for the whispers, the dismissal-




-only to realize everyone's eyes are still on you, even Eerie nodding slightly.





They're actually listening to you.
You'd had fellow students seem to appreciate your help, but-




They respect you.



You.



As their team captain.

EERIE: S'a good move.
EERIE: More coverage we get, the better-
EERIE: And we have to bash some heads in-
FILIGREE: Professionally.
MINERVA: Theatrically.
EERIE: Enthusiastically.
FROND: I think we've got it!

 

Your chest hurts, but not in a bad way.

STRETCH: Right.
STRETCH: Individual reports.
 

STRETCH: I've got bubble and twineedle.
STRETCH: Bubble isn't doing much.
STRETCH: I'm only going to use it in a pinch, or if I can pick up on a type weak to it.
STRETCH: Ideally, we won't need to resort to that.
STRETCH: It's not even all that flashy, so.
STRETCH: Mildly useless.
STRETCH: But-
STRETCH: Twineedle has done very well.
STRETCH: I'm very experienced with it and people like it.
STRETCH: It looks different from the norm-

 

in a way you hate

STRETCH: In a way that people find exciting.
STRETCH: It's registered properly, but has an element of...
FROND: Intrigue?
STRETCH: ...sure.
STRETCH: Intrigue.
 

STRETCH: Eerie, you're a slower fighter and lack experience with the kind of ranged skill needed to make smog work-
EERIE: HEY
STRETCH: But you are bulky enough to take some serious attacks.
STRETCH: At least comparatively.

 

She snorts, accepting this follow-up.

STRETCH: You have experience with the club, especially after today.
STRETCH: The hesitation in frantic situations is something to be careful about, but.
STRETCH: Big progress.
STRETCH: If you focus on the flow of the fight, you'll do good.
STRETCH: ...That said.
STRETCH: We are going to want to be careful about-
STRETCH: Local...associations.
EERIE: What, with the gang shit?
STRETCH: Nn. Yes.
EERIE: Pff.
EERIE: I told you, I'm completely over those guys.
EERIE: Anyone who assumes I'm not can suck it.
STRETCH: As...long as you're careful.

 

STRETCH: Frond, you know what to do.
STRETCH: Use rest strategically.
STRETCH: If you time it and get someone to safely tag in and throw you back out of the ring-
STRETCH: It's a huge asset that a lot of early teams don't have.
STRETCH: But.
STRETCH: Don't knock out too close to the action, if you do that.
STRETCH: League switch rules mean that the mon tagging in would have to resume your position-
STRETCH: So back up if you need to pass out.
STRETCH: Swift will always work as long as you're conscious and able to fight, so use it.
STRETCH: You'll be fine.
FROND: Aye aye, cap'n!

 

STRETCH: Minerva.

 

Focus.

STRETCH: You hit hard.
STRETCH: You have a variety of moves.
STRETCH: Your job is to cause as much damage as possible and bail.
STRETCH: Get people stunned, on the ground, and ready for someone else to take finish off if you need to.
STRETCH: You're going to do good.

 

When you look up to meet her eyes, she's smiling.

Not just in the flirty way, but-



Proud of herself.

STRETCH: Filigree.

 

The bellsprout straightens up again, at attention.

STRETCH: You're a glass cannon.
FILIGREE: ...meaning?
STRETCH: Do damage and don't get hit first.
STRETCH: You're slower, and at risk of being hurt worse than others here.
STRETCH: If you can hit people in weak points and stun them, you'll be more able to outspeed and really work them over.
STRETCH: Even better, if someone else like Minerva knocks them down for you and needs to tag out-
STRETCH: You'll have a good chance of easy victory.
STRETCH: Great potential.
STRETCH: Let's use it.
FILIGREE: ....
FILIGREE: Got it.
FILIGREE: I'll do my best.




STRETCH: Our overall strategy should be paralysis-centric.
STRETCH: We lock down opponents and keep them staggered.
STRETCH: Immobile if we can.
STRETCH: Twineedle and smog can poison, so that's also viable.
STRETCH: As much as possible, opponents should be sick or stunned.
STRETCH: If we can't make that happen, we focus on the members with firepower hitting hard.
STRETCH: ....
STRETCH: Worst case, I could step in and end things.
STRETCH: But.
STRETCH: I would rather everyone get a shot.
STRETCH: We're a team.
STRETCH: The world needs to know that.

 

You aren't expecting Frond to clap, and even less when everyone else joins in.

STRETCH: ALRIGHT ALRIGHT ALRIGHT.
STRETCH: GOOD JOB TEAM
STRETCH: ....
STRETCH: thanks
FROND: Well, only one thing left to do-
EERIE: Get all the damn sweat off?
FROND: Two things left!
FROND: We need a team name!
EERIE: Ughhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
FILIGREE: No, he's right-
FILIGREE: We'll need to register the party properly.
FILIGREE: Stretch's already the team captain in practice, but us entering the League and scoring our first badge means we'll all be formally registered as members-
FILIGREE: And can swap out as needed for gym fights and official challenges.
FROND: And we get jerseys!
FILIGREE: They don't have to be jerseys!
MINERVA: Oh, what about capes?
EERIE: I dunno, I'm kind of digging the jersey idea.
STRETCH: ...uniforms and, all of that, can come later.
STRETCH: But-
STRETCH: Yeah.
STRETCH: Team name.
STRETCH: Ah.
STRETCH: Hm.
FROND: How about the one from-
STRETCH: oh god no
FROND: Cmon, you were so proud of it!
STRETCH: frond cmon
FILIGREE: We need something.
MINERVA: I'm sure it's lovely!

 

Your voice comes out deadpan.

STRETCH: We can be.
STRETCH: The "Shooting Stars".
STRETCH: Or something.
EERIE: ...
EERIE: Well, it's better than I was expecting.
MINERVA: Very evocative!
FILIGREE: It's...pretty good, yeah.
FROND: WHOOOOOHOO

 

You are now the captain of The Shooting Stars.










A tent was one thing.
A rented room was another thing.


Minerva grinding against your dick in an out-of-the-way locker room stall was something different entirely.

STRETCH: M-min-
MINERVA: W-we can't go out there like this...
STRETCH: I know, I know, I-

 

You have to cover your mouth as she starts to line herself up. Against your better judgment, Minerva gently leaning on you and whispering that the two of you should probably clean up was all it took. You were practically all over each other as soon as you got into the room, the calmness of the strategy meeting tossed aside to handle both of your tension from earlier.

MINERVA: W-we'll be quick, okay?
STRETCH: Okay, I-

 

You take a deep breath before grabbing her hips, pushing in hard and watching as she has to clamp her own mouth shut.




It's different from either of the times you'd done this, a sort of panicked frenzy to it. Anyone could walk in at any time, you needed to get this done as soon as possible, relief before anyone realized-

MINERVA: pleasei'mreallyclose
STRETCH: It's-
STRETCH: we're already- already pushing it-

 

She tightens around you and you lose it, unable to keep from going at her hard enough for it to be audible, not stopping after the first wave hits you, or the second-

She comes on your chest, gasping for breath as you consider passing out then and there.

It takes you a second before you notice just how wet everything feels, carefully pulling out.

Oh, thank god.

Nothing broke, but- you were pushing it. Tying the condom off fills you with a whole new kind of embarrassment, Minerva wiping off what remains quickly.

STRETCH: hh.
STRETCH: Th.
STRETCH: Thanks.
STRETCH: D. Did need that.
MINERVA: S-same...
MINERVA: I just-
MINERVA: It-
MINERVA: ...scares me, sometimes-
MINERVA: ....you know?
STRETCH: Did I-
MINERVA: No! No, just-
MINERVA: It,it starts feeling so strange, painful even..
MINERVA: ....when I don't do this.
MINERVA: And that feels bad, because-
MINERVA: Not everybody gets it-




 

...oh.


You blink.

MINERVA: It's like I-
MINERVA: I can't stop thinking about this sort of thing-





 

You pull her in with a tight squeeze, latching onto her chest with as much force as you can.






Her breathing slows, and yours follows.





You're gross.
You're a real nasty piece of work.
You just fucked someone you barely know in a locker room hours before your first League fight.
Deviant sex- your parents weren't kidding.
At this point, you're probably too far gone.
You crossed the bridge you swore to never even consider- touching another person, let alone giving in to these feelings.








.....








But maybe Minerva's gross with you.





It's the first time you let the anxiety go, if only for a moment.












You aren't sure how to feel about the fact that you actually make good time on getting back with the rest of the party, both of you seemingly skilled at the fastest panic showers in the world.

....it feels like a secret, but-

Not exactly like the blood thing.

She smiles at you when the team starts walking and chatting, and you kind of wish you could smile back. Your face still feels stiff and difficult to express with, like a mask stuck on far too long to be removed.

You were definitely moving too fast. Even letting yourself feel any kind of glee in this makes you want to throw up, a little bit. Being happy and content with things was never your strong suit, and everything always comes with the caveat of being inevitably ripped out of your hands.


Besides- surely this was going to get in the way of your goal. You can't get to the top if you're railing a party member at any given opportunity.


....so why do you feel so refreshed?

EERIE: So-
EERIE: Why are we doing this now, exactly?
STRETCH: Best time to challenge a gym is when you're warmed up.
FROND: You're already in the zone!!
EERIE: They teach you that in fight school?
FROND: Nah, just something students pass around as a hot tip.
FROND: If you practiced moves before an exam, you'd do way better than doing it soon as you wake up.
STRETCH: And then you pass out for the rest of the day.
FROND: Yeah!
FROND: Best naps ever.
FILIGREE: Let's hope we don't have to get dragged out of there...
MINERVA: Are you worried, Filigree?

 

They nod, adjusting their bag strap as they walk.

FILIGREE: This gym's new, but-
FILIGREE: Regulation says the Pewter gym has a mandatory four gym fighter rule.
FILIGREE: We'll have to go through three challenge fights, and then the leader.
STRETCH: You got any idea what Cleave's deal is?
FROND: Any puzzles, themes, anything?
FILIGREE: ....no.
FILIGREE: Nothing.
FILIGREE: No one does.
MINERVA: But-
MINERVA: Surely there have to be challengers?
FILIGREE: All I know is that they're still using the old registration booth, but the actual gym location's been moved.
FILIGREE: If people are getting badges, they're turning around and leaving as soon as possible, with no details released to the press.
MINERVA: ....
EERIE: .....
EERIE: Well.
EERIE: I don't blame them.
EERIE: Place is a shithole.
EERIE: Doesn't exactly need advertisement.
MINERVA: I-
MINERVA: I am inclined to agree...
FILIGREE: Guess us locals are unanimous.
EERIE: Not exactly a hot take.
STRETCH: ....
STRETCH: We'll leave as soon as we can, then.
STRETCH: Mt. Moon isn't that far, and-
STRETCH: I'd rather risk a bunch of caves than these punks.

 

You come up to the registration booth, the pigeot inside looking thoroughly bored.

They don't react to you standing there, rolling your eyes and tapping the glass with reverb.

????: F-
????: What?!
STRETCH: Here to register for a fight.
STRETCH: Are there any appointments for-
????: What, one today?

 

They laugh, bitter.

????: I can get you in with an hour's notice.

 

Filigree looks particularly troubled, and you can't blame them.

STRETCH: Standard turnaround's three hours on a slow day.
????: Yeah, and the wait here is nonexistent.
????: Cough up a thousand and you're in.

 

You slide the coins across the counter, the pidgeot barely bothering to count them. Your antennae twitch as you overhear the nearby, growing snicker at your apparently surprising entry.

????: Think we can get in to see this?
????: No chance, they think they've got the right to be picky on who's in the seats.
????: Beggars can't be choosers! Stations won't even broadcast the matches!
????: Last I hear, they might actually push for it-
????: Bringing the freakshow right to your couch-

 

Your antennae are crackling, biting the inside of your lip.

MINERVA: ...Stretch?
STRETCH: H
STRETCH: I.

 

You're getting looks, but the feeling of inexplicable anger building in your chest numbs your self consciousnes as you take your tickets.

STRETCH: Have a bad feeling about this.

 

The group walks away, getting some distance. You're surprised to see Frond as just as irritated, a rare scowl on his face.

FROND: ...gonna be one of these, then.
MINERVA: ...one of what, exactly?
FROND: Someone up top playing dirty.
FROND: League gyms get put under a lot more scrutiny.
FROND: Usually all gets slapped on TV and the radio, helps build hype for challengers going further into the circuit.
FROND: Public image's just as important for a gym as getting exciting fights on the air.
FROND: Local circuits?
FROND: Now that's good ol' family values!
FROND: Community members. The guy down the street!
FROND: Heroes right in your neighborhood!
FROND: The League-
FROND: It's not just for "serious" people.
FROND: It's for people willing to put it all on the line, even a sense of "decency."
FROND: It's always been an adult sport.
FROND: It's violent.
FROND: Wardrobe malfunctions mid-fight. Battlers caught in affairs on camera.
FROND: There's blood, puke, personal feuds gone wrong.
FROND: God knows me and Stretch caught flack for wanting to specifically go into it versus some kind of smaller, southwest Kanto circuit.
FROND: League challengers, gym battlers, they're broadcasted and pried into and-
FROND: ....
FROND: Anything goes if it lines pockets.
FROND: That's why-

 

He doesn't continue the thought, huffing to himself before changing gears.

FROND: ....if this new gym is getting censored, something's up and I don't like it.
 

---

 

Our heroes have reached the first major hurdle in their journey... but what could possibly be waiting for them in the Pewter City gym? Even with their newfound strategies and bonds as a team, can they bring their best to rise to the top?

Suggesters...with Stretch as the team leader, it's up to you what kind of pep talk it gives here!

Find out next time...on SPACE CASE!

[DanZapman]

I'm sure everything will be fine and normal. Also it'll be interesting if Frond ever has to fight a ghost.