PokeSync (Pokemon Fanfiction)

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On Cloud Nine as she examined herself from different angles in the dressing room mirror, Rhea made up her mind on it; dresses would not do, as Jason commented that she already had an outfit worthy of the Contest.

Stepping out in her blue-and-gold-themed Water-Type kimono and unfurling her matching paper umbrella, she showed a dazzling smile to her small audience in the Contest store.  “Well, what do you think?”  she asked, adjusting the black Altaria-cloud scarf that she’d added from the shop.

“Oooh!”  a few women cooed, gathering closer to study her gray stockings and geta, which had extravagant golden flowers and fan designs on the dark blue outfit, trimmed with the aquamarine undergarment.  “That is one of the most gorgeous kimonos I’ve ever seen!  Where did you get it?”

“Fuchsia.  Nova learned to evolve into a Vaporeon, so it really caught my eye… I’m pretty sure it was uber expensive, but my aunt paid for it.  I think Dawn might be a bit too liberal with my aunt’s money.”

“Nonsense,” Amira chuckled, unfolding her legs to get up and join the others in examining her.  “Clothing like this can last you your whole life for special occasions.  It could be a wedding gown with how stunning it is.  Don’t you agree, Jason?”

“Amira!”  Rhea choked, making the other women giggle.  Her face turned bright red, which probably didn’t help with the blue theme; Jason’s thumbs up and grinning nod only deepened the shade.  “I, uh… what about the fluffy black scarf, though?  I really like how it looks.”

“Absolutely agree, Ms. Swablu!”  Jason immediately replied.  “Which… is why I’ve decided to buy it with a bit of extra money I had.  Your grandpa is going to love it!  Pictures,” he sang, taking out his phone and flipping it on its side.

The other girls scattered for a second for him to snap it before they came back in like the rise and fall of the tide, showering her with questions and compliments.

“Can you actually walk with geta?”  one asked.  “I’ve never tried them myself.”

“Ooh, yes!  Heels are one thing, but geta always intimidated me, especially with how limited your movement is in such an extravagant kimono like that… not that I’ve ever tried one.  Maybe I should drop some hints to my husband…”

“Do it, girlfriend!”

Once again, Jason came to her streaming brain’s rescue, overstimulated with so many women fussing over her appearance; he was such a good boyfriend, and it helped that he knew almost everything about her life.

“When she was little, Rhea used to try to dress up like her aunt during her big performances; Bianca used to help her when she lived with them.  She, uh-haha, took a few tumbles down the stairs in geta when she was twelve, but there was always a dutiful Ghost there to catch her.  Klutz much?  Wait, you do have a Lopunny!”  he joked with a grin as he caught her accusatory glare.

“Jason, you don’t have to go into that much detail, geez, and Alice doesn’t even have Klutz, for your information.  My mom bred it out of her for a reason.”

Amira came back into view with a sly smirk, her beggar’s outfit in a bag beside her.  “Naturally, we wouldn’t want two klutzy girls on the same team.”

“Oh, ha-ha!”  Rhea shot back with a small smile.  “I mean, sure, compared to the dancer and superstar on our team, I could be the klutzy one.  I’ll own that!  So, should we—wait, Jason, you bought this scarf?!” 

Jason gave Amira a lifted eyebrow.  “Took her long enough.  ROFD?”

“Too soon!”  Rhea playfully huffed, crossing her arms and making Amira laugh with the other girls.

“Rhea,” Amira smiled, moving around her back to check on her bound locks.  “It’s been months since the Rapid Onset Fortitude Distress.  Maybe we should have your mom do another checkup on you since Brock is… occupied with other engagements.”

“Why am I the punching bag right now?”  Rhea snickered, her stomach beginning to hurt from her boyfriend and the redhead taking shots at her.  Although Amira’s comment made her wonder how Ash, Misty, Brock, and Holly were doing on their travels.  “What do you think, girls?”

Nova, Mya, Alice, and Lulu bounced up and down on the bench, totally missing the question and saying she looked pretty.

“Vaporeon!”

“Ne-ne!”

“Lop-punny-punny!”

“Mawile!”

Rhea forced a smile as the other women moved around to comment on her hair, done up into a bun.  When down, her hair typically reached her lower calves, and with how thick it was, the blonde locks needed a lot of attention.

Thankfully, Jason had done her hair a ton when they were out camping or doing outdoor activities, and he knew more styles than her, which was kind of funny and sweet now that she thought about it.  Her aunt’s trademark hair ties did wonders with hair as thick as theirs.

“I so wish I had hair like yours.  Sure, it’s probably a pain sometimes, but how does it not hurt your neck with how much it must weigh?”

“Natural Fortitude and genetics, I bet,” another laughed.  “It’s so unique and gorgeous!  Can you tell me what products you use?  And what is this crazy portable closet that’s like a Poke Ball?  You have so many cool things, Rhea!”

Amira came to her rescue this time, giving her time to slip back into the dressing room to change out of it.  She sat against the wall for a second, heart thumping like a drum and feeling the warmth of support Jason and Amira were offering her.

That’s it, girls…  We have to win this!  I can’t lose if Jason is watching… I don’t want to lose while he’s watching.  Let’s have fun, but let’s also win!

Her Pokemon chirped outside the door, and she opened her eyes to look at herself in the mirror, the still-open umbrella making the area somewhat cramped.

I do look really elegant and beautiful like this… like Aunt Cynthia.  Tingles ran up her arms and down her spine as her smile grew, anticipation welling up within her breast.  Nova, we’re going to get you a kimono, too, even if the insurance and fees for ruining it will be high.

“Pori!  Pori-vap-vap,” her transforming girl barked, telling her that she’d make sure to take care of it.

Yeah, well, our opponents might not be so gracious.  We have to play the part, though, and we’re Kanto princesses today!

“Vaporeon!”

“Fired up, I see,” Jason called from outside, probably wearing a dazzling smile like she envisioned he was, making her chest hurt a little.  “No fear!  You’re too beautiful and strong to let anyone get in your way.  My princess takes no prisoners!”

Stupid!  Rhea silently giggled, finding it hard to undress with her boyfriend cheering her on.  I take no prisoners… except maybe you!  You’re too good, Jason, but I’m not going to lose, either.  Just you watch, boy; this girl has her own weapons!

Dancing on the inside and humming as a new song came on over the speakers, she changed out of her kimono and carefully put it on the special hangers and protective bags to be placed inside her portable closet when she exited.

Donning her black dress again, she exited the room, where Jason was standing, still discussing things with some of the enthralled women, and Rhea felt a new fire rise within her chest.  She wasn’t afraid anymore, and she didn’t like holding back when she wanted something.

“…No, Rhea is totally an outdoors kind of gal; you should see how long she can hold her breath under—Rhea?”

Skipping to her boyfriend’s back, dress bouncing a tad against her thighs, she tapped his back, causing him to turn.  Showing a happily confused smile down at her hungry and rosy smile, he chuckled, “Done already?  I thought it would—huh?”

Hands untangling behind her back, she reached up, arms looping around his neck.  She pulled him down and kissed his lips.  Chocolate swelled in her mouth as she tasted his hot chocolate-laced tongue, hinted with a bit of honey and cinnamon.  Fire lit down her belly and tickled her spine as his slightly surprised hands closed around the back of her neck, her hair still done up in the bun he’d done for her.

After a few seconds, she pulled back, cheeks rosy and licking her lips with satisfaction as she looked right into his stunned amber eyes.  She spotted a lump drop down her boyfriend’s throat before he cleared his hoarse throat.

“What… was that for?  Wow.”

Rhea felt fireworks go off in her chest at being complimented for her kiss when he was the expert on the subject, but she’d just wanted to do it for herself, well, and reward him a little for all his effort, but that was secondary.

Flashing her teeth while staring up at the recovering boy, the other women giggled at one another, but Rhea didn’t feel embarrassed in the least; she went for what she wanted.

“Do I need a reason?”  she asked, playfully patting his chest while moving around him to join her visibly impressed teammate.  “A Joltik just needs to keep her prey on their toes, Mr. Squirtle.  Now, let’s get Nova a kimono.”

Amira bumped her arm as she joined the redhead, their Pokemon following.  “What changed?”  she whispered as they left the tall, red-faced boy to find his brain, the other women jogging after them to help in the search.  “You’re like a whole new woman.”

Rhea paused as they reached the doorway out of the dressing rooms, half turning to smile back at Jason, the warm Butterfree taking flight on her insides.  “No, I’m still the same embarrassed, awkward blonde you’ve known…  Well, I am a bit different after spending time with Maria in those icy mountains, but it’s just different with Jason, and now it feels real to me.”

Jason sucked in his cheeks, throat constricting a second as he coughed, his tanned face somehow turning even more crimson.  He tilted his head in acknowledgment, a shiver running down his frame before smiling and walking after them.

“I don’t know who you’re calling awkward or embarrassed because that isn’t the outgoing, spunky blonde I grew up with who would enter a Manky slapping contest, but I’d like to get to know that side of her.”

It was Rhea’s turn to blush again, but she managed to keep it in check as she held out her hand for him to intertwine.  She guided him into the Pokemon area, leaving the cooing women to whisper behind them as Amira went back into the dressing room for some reason.  It didn’t take her long to realize she’d forgotten to put away her kimono or portable closet, which truly was embarrassing.

Rushing back to help Amira, she left Jason to search for an outfit with Nova and her other Pokemon.  About halfway through packing up the expensive articles, a commotion came from outside, causing both of them to jog out to see what was happening.  They hadn’t even made it to the doorway before they saw the big Eevee tackling her dressed-up daughter and rolling around the floor with her.

“Pweee!”

“Pori-pori!  Vaporeon!”

“Pwe-pwe-pweee!  Pwe-pwe.  Pwe!”

Rhea giggled as she saw a messy-haired Elaine—the current Champion of their region—looking as if she’d been kicked out of bed, brown hair a mess, and her groggy-faced fiancé glancing around, trying to figure out where they were.

“Huh?  Picture, Ambrosia?”  Elaine mumbled, patting down her Snorlax pajamas.  “I-uh, forgot my phone—Chase?”

“Uh, yeah, umm—here.  Oh, hey, Rhea.  Woah, a black-and-white Pikachu?  Cool,” he yawned, handing the phone to his fiancée.  

“Pika-pi!”  his Pikachu chirped from his shoulder, jumping off to meet Jason’s Pikachu as the pair rubbed cheeks and greeted each other.  “Pi-Pika?”

“Pi!  Pikachu!”

Rhea giggled and jogged forward to help the two groggy pair, who seemed to be on a totally off-beat schedule.  Ambrosia was now on top of her daughter, licking her face and making Nova giggle, her tail thrashing with the fluffy dress that was too poofy for the performance.

“Hey, Chase, Elaine!  Here to drop off Ambrosia?”

“Hmm?”  Elaine rubbed the sleep from her eyes and showed a cute smile, still having a bit of morning breath as Rhea came near, Amira beside her.  “No, Champions have residences in every major city, so we’re going to get ready and join Ambrosia for the performance.  We can’t miss her girl’s first Drama Contest and Improv at that!  Ambrosia loves Contests, being High-Master+ Contest Champions ourselves.  Chase is only Master, hehe!”

Chase snorted, which progressed into a yawn.  “Because… someone always enters my competitions and gatekeeps me.  Hmm?”

“No!  We’re just having fun competing against each other, and I can’t help but see you all cool and dressed up,” Elaine innocently grinned, latching onto his arm and giving them a peace sign.  “We’re going to get ready, ladies, and I’m sure you girls have a bunch to do, too!  See you soon.  We need to prettify after all the work last night!”

Work, right…  Probably the same work as someone else I know, she mused, finding it adorable how things were progressing with so many couples.  Elaine and Chase seem to be doing well.    

“Speak for yourself,” Chase mumbled, leaning to kiss her cheek and making her giggle.  “You’re the pretty one here.”

“Oh, you’re more pretty than you think.  Why do you think I did the Chase?!”

“Cute.  Cute,” the man chuckled, cracking his neck.  “I believe I’m the one with the battle scars of chasing you, Sweetie.  You’ve got a mean slap!”

“Just a love tap,” she said, winking at Rhea, who knew the truth of the event.  “And you told me that you loved it.  So… hehe, I’ll take that as I will.  Okay, bye-bye!.”

Rainbow lights carried them away, leaving the shop buzzing and drawing attention away from them for at least some time.  Rhea smiled as her phone buzzed inside her purse, and she pulled it out; it was the picture Elaine had just taken.  Another fun surprise was the missed text from her father.

Rhea shook her head.  Her parents were becoming so much more alive than she remembered growing up.  Then again, it was during the Ultra War, and there was a lot of turmoil both of them were suffering through that she’d been in the dark about.  Now, she was out of the house, everything was out in the open, and they were starting to heal.  It was only right they spent more time together.

Rhea saved the texts to her pictures to add them to a folder.  It was so good to see her mom taking a break from research to work on her own happiness.  Typically, she used science and work to hide from her problems and insecurities.  She was truly lucky to have a husband and kids who cared so much about her because she would be in such a mess without them!

Laugh a lot, Mom, and have fun with Dad.  Don’t isolate yourself again and hide from us.

Nova seemed to find a Vaporeon kimono she liked that was more fitted to her size and allowed for easier movement, but Rhea’s fingers had to type one last thing to her mother before putting her phone away.

A smug look crossed her lips as she hit the send button, feeling the devious warm fuzzies tickling her heart.  Putting away her device, she knelt down to congratulate her salt-and-pepper Vaporeon as she waited to be praised.  Nova’s tail was wagging as her mother stood nearby, pride in her posture; Rhea held up her phone to take a picture.

“You… are beautiful!”

“Pori?”

“Mhm!”

“Pwe!”

Alice, Mya, and Lulu seemed to have gotten lost in their own little area, trying out their own fashion show.  Jason stood nearby, his chest puffed up with pride as he presented them.

“Well, of course, she’d reflect her beautiful trainer.  What do you think?  We found quite the kimono that fits your color scheme since she’s not your average blue Vaporeon… which means it comes at a discount!  In fact, it’s so unpopular that they offered to sell it for a bargain.  Thoughts?”

Rhea tilted her head to the side while looking over the pretty Vaporeon-designed kimono, which was made blue to blend into an actual Vaporeon color scheme.  It was probably only used by shiny Vaporeon, which was rare.

“How much?”

“6,000 credits.”

Rhea choked.  “That’s the cost of a Silver Encrusted Battle!”

“Oh, c’mon, it’s not that expensive if you’ve been budgeting and battling often—well, and winning,” Jason added, as if that went without saying.  “Don’t tell me your appetite has destroyed your bank like it did my sister’s because… my sister is a glutton!”

“Jason!  Don’t be mean to Kate,” Rhea huffed, lightly slapping his chest and making him laugh.  “I totally get it when you can’t control how much you need to eat because of Aura and other stuff.  Maybe Kate just has an Aura imbalance thing or something—who knows.”

He held up his hands with a bemused smile.  “I still can’t get over you defending my big sis.  She was on your hitlist for like… our entire lives, and suddenly, you’re jumping in front of bullets for her.  Ugh.  Kate can be the worst, though!  She’s an ear-grabber in fights!  Like, really?!  Kate can get super physical, ya know.”

Rhea gulped and looked away, thinking back to the bruising and other things that she’d seen on her brother’s skin.  “Yeah, uh, no comment.  Umm.  Kate’s… Kate, I guess.”

“Yeah,” her boyfriend grunted, shaking his head and totally oblivious to where her mind was on that ‘physical abuse.’  “Like I said, she used to beat me black-and-blue when I, admittedly, was a little Impidimp to her.  Media makes girls out to be these delicate things, but Muk, Kate beat that out of me.  Anyway, that’s another topic, umm, so are we ready to head to the stadium?  Amira’s just in the dressing room area.”

“Oh, Jinx, I forgot we were putting away my kimono!  Sorry, Amira!”

Amira walked out of the dressing room with her little capsule and handed it to her to put in her purse.  “Don’t worry about it.  It’s a good thing we went back to get it because it came in handy.  I am in love with these devices.  It’s like having a huge bag space like they do in games.  Can you imagine trying to carry around 999 Poke Balls or Potions?  This could change medical personnel and rapid response teams.”

“My mind didn’t even go there,” Rhea laughed.  “I just saw an unlimited closet that I can take around the world… Speaking of closets, Jason,” she said with an innocent smile.  “We should do some… experiments later tonight with the closet after I take everything out to… organize it.”

Amira’s red eyes snapped to her suspiciously, no doubt having read the warnings about what happens if someone tried to hide inside it while it dematerialized.  Jason was totally oblivious, though!

“Oh?  Sure.  I’m cool to help my girlfriend out with her, haha, closet issues.  I don’t know how good I’ll be at organizing them, though.  Wait, does that mean…”

Rhea’s mind froze as she saw Amira wave her stiff hand over her throat, telling her to abort before tapping her head, telling her to think.  If I have him help organize stuff… then he’ll be handling and seeing my underwear…

“Never mind!”  she swiftly interjected, cheeks turning pink as she pulled him toward the register, Nova and Ambrosia in pursuit.  “Amira can help me.  Let’s purchase some stuff.  6k, you said?  Yeah, that’s fine—only a Silver Encrusted Badge—and the girls have been selling some products of ours, so my bank should be…  Oh.”

She slowed to a stop at the back of the line, holding her crystal holographic phone.  After it scanned her face and fingers, her banking information came up, making her blink.

76,460 credits?!  There’s no way.  And this month’s paycheck hasn’t even arrived yet?

Jason whistled.  “Wow.  Okay, well, dinner on you, Ms. Joltik?”

“Eh-hehe.  I guess plushies… are a legitimate business.  Yeah, let’s go somewhere nice after to celebrate, and I’ll already be dressed up, so… yeah!”  She moved her fingers to Jason’s muscular arm and pulled him down to kiss his cheek, whispering, “I pay, so you pick the place.”

A sly smirk creased his amber eyes, and the smell of chocolate, cinnamon, and honey on his hot breath tickled her ear; she giggled as he kissed it.  “I think you’ll be surprised then.  I know the perfect spot.  It’s a date.”

“I’m excited!  What, Amira?”  she asked, giving the redhead a light glare at her side smile.

“Just admiring how much happier you seem every day.  You really are becoming a ray of sunshine.  I’m sure Lori is going to be so very mad that she missed this little development of her Honey Pot.”

“Tease me all you want,” Rhea laughed, puffing up her chest and pulling Jason’s arm tighter against her side, “but I am not going to be embarrassed by something I—Jason, wait…  Ack!”

A firm finger cupped her chin, tilting it up for warm, milky lips to press against hers, drawing the air out of her lungs.  Her tongue popped, and her thighs felt weak at the surprise attack, his other hand caressing up her arm as the finger under her chin moved to tickle the back of her neck, sending pulses down her spine.

“Ack!  Not… fair,” she choked as he broke away, her tongue tingling.  He wasn’t done with her, though, winking and giving her a peck on the forehead before straightening and moving up in the line.  “I can hold my breath for… for like 16 minutes underwater, but I can’t last ten seconds with you!  I don’t get it!”

“Magic,” he softly whispered, resting his chin against the top of her head and making it prickle as more feelings welled up within her belly and chest.  “Besides, you stole my breath with what you did earlier, so I had to retaliate.  You’re more dangerous than I thought, Ms. Joltik.”

Amira was even a little pink-cheeked as they moved up in line, looking away with a small smile on her lips and her bag held against her stomach.  Rhea was too spellbound to pay full attention to her, though, as her mind fixated on her next plan to win this war her boyfriend had started.  Never in her wildest dreams did she think she could feel this way, much less about Jason, yet she felt high as a kite.

Going through their purchases, Rhea had the store do a bit of cleaning on Nova’s outfit, which only took about 30 minutes before they were on their way to the stadium; Chase and Elaine showed up during the wait, all dressed up and ready for a fun day by their chipper attitudes.  They picked up the frowny-faced Eevee to join the stands.

The whole city looked different with Jason, more vibrant—no, she was buzzed on something.  It made no sense to her, but when their fingers broke contact at the Contest stadium’s contestant back doors, it felt like a warm hand around her heart was pulled away, causing an aching in her chest to feel it again; it was hard to breathe, yet Amira seemed to notice and took her hand to guide her away.

Jason’s flashing teeth and smiling wave with his Pokemon went out of sight, and Amira bumped shoulders with her.  “You need to chill, Sunshine.  Haha.  You are falling way too fast and hard.  I get I’m probably sounding distant right now, and your ears are popping, but take a second to breathe.  You okay?”

Rhea puffed out the air locked in her lungs, the pressure still not leaving.  “Uh-hehe, I don’t know.  Have you ever felt this… this lightheaded thing—like you’re dreaming—and ugh, this pain—but it’s not pain—in your chest?  It’s just so… so tight, hot, and… and my stomach!”

“Yes,” Amira giggled, pulling her further into the locker room, where a few dozen women were getting ready for their part in the drama with their Pokemon.  “You’re head-over-heels.  Maybe I haven’t felt it nearly as strongly as you apparently are, but it makes sense; your whole life is entangled with Jason, and you’re exploring something new.  Just… cool down a little.  Okay?”

“Haaa.  I’m trying!”  she cried, her Pokemon helping her out and Lulu patting her head while resting on her bun.  “I’m cool.  I’m cool.  Alright… let’s get into our initial character.  We’ve got a Contest to win, girls!”

Amira helped her into her outfit, expanding the portable closet inside the shower area and causing a bit of a stir.  The women preparing with them would be joining the cast in whatever story they, as the Contestant Main Stars, came up with.  This was a part of their work-based training in the industry, specializing in Improv Contests; they had to work their way up from the bottom to become professionals with their Pokemon.

It was all a part of the show, not that the humans would be getting much air time, but at the end, they’d all be shown.  Most of these aspiring actresses and actors were stuck at Bronze-tier, and wanted to make it as at least background cast in their chosen careers.

The hours flew by until it reached 3:45 p.m.  Dolled up in her kimono, Nova by her side, she breathed out her stress as the Contest Hall set the scene and applied the stage props that would be used in the show.

Amira was taking deep, calming breaths with Mariah supporting her and Serenity by her side.  With the Feebas’ half-painted ugly side, she looked like a dead alien fish out of water, fulfilling her role as society’s reject.

For some reason, though, Rhea wasn’t feeling so stressed.  A fire was burning within her—potentially V—telling her that they were winners.  The two other teams stood nearby, waiting to take the stage to introduce their beginning template characters before all of them played off each other.

A man and woman in their mid-twenties, a Raticate by the woman, and a Noctowl by the man were her first opponents.  The Bird was sitting on a bag, and the rat was dressed ladylike, in what Rhea took as a robe for upper-level servants of nobility.

On the other side were two boys, one dressed as a knight, the other a prince, by his kimono.  Naturally, the Escavalier—which totally wasn’t intimidating—was the knight, and an imperial-looking Steenee, which made Rhea gulp.

Two princesses?  Uh-oh.  She totally reminds me of Poppy, too!  I bet Sam and the others are watching.  We’re going to win this, though!  We knew this was a possibility.

She straightened as they were called to enter, the two opposing groups on either side giving her encouraging smiles.  Erika’s elegant, soothing voice came through the speakers.

“For the moment we have been waiting for, our Rookie Improv Drama.  I am so looking forward to what these amazing and elegant young ladies and gentlemen will come up with to pull us into their fantasy world.  Will our cast come out and introduce their characters to the story they will be generating for us on the spot?  Hopefully, I can stay awake long enough to judge.”

Her comment caused a swell of laughter as Rhea took her first step forward.

“Any predictions, Gym Leader Sabrina?”  asked an elderly gentleman.  “You don’t typically join these kinds of Contests.”

Sabrina’s calm and deep voice left the crowd in a hush as they listened.  “Oh, I wouldn’t say that; I rather enjoy Improv, personally.  The chaos of it all that can be brought into harmony is a thrilling challenge; I watch the Master’s Circuit weekly.”

“Splendid!”

“As for prediction…  None that would ruin the surprise.”

“For the best, I suppose.  The show will go on!”

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