Pokegirl Adventures - Melanie's Tale Chapter 6
#6 of Pokegirl Adventures
Melanie's Tale continues and her time at the Temple comes to a dramatic end.
'I don't think it was meant to be easy.' Jacob said, Alicia still hovering protectively by his side. A stance mirrored by the Abbot and the rest of the monks, all of them alert for any other attacks as they quickly regrouped together. 'Or hard. I think they were just testing us.'
'I agree.' The Abbot nodded. 'This was little more than a test. To what end, I'm not sure. But I don't think we have seen the last of them. Still, I think we are safe for now. Jacob, will you arrange for watch patrols to be mounted? This is a temple, not a fortress. We cannot count on our walls alone to keep them out.'
'Are you okay Emma?' Melanie asked with a smile that could only be called proud. 'You did so good back there. She didn't hurt you, did she?'
'Nuhuh.' Emma shook her head. 'I'm good. Didn't even scratch me.'
'Well...I'm glad you are okay. Easy fight or not, I'd hate them to get hurt. But..what could they want here?' Melanie asked, quickly moving to fall into step beside the Abbot as Jacob turned smartly, presumably to follow her orders. Tamika and Emma for their part fell into step beside Melanie, alert and ready for danger themselves. 'You just said it yourself, this is a Temple. It's not a breeding centre or Pokegirl Centre or anything like that. Sure, you have Pokegirls here but there have to be easier ways to collect some if that is what they want.'
'Indeed.' The Abbot replied. 'Even around here, there are plenty of wild Pokegirls that could easily be raised to be formidable in combat with a little training. Something that Team Jade is not above putting in the time for. As a Pokegirl fighting force, they are not the same Team Rocket. Team Rocket relied on sheer numbers for victory, Team Jade relies more on the skill of its members in battle.'
'Well..those few we fought didn't exactly seem well trained.' Lost in her musings Melanie only vaguely noticed that they had returned to the Shrine, the bright daylight muted by the heavy slatted windows that only allowed a few slim slivers to illuminate the wide space.
'Those were likely new recruits.' The Abbot strode through those slivers of light towards the ornately carved alter at the far end of the Shrine, Melanie almost hesitantly following behind. True, she hadn't said she shouldn't be here but that feeling lingered. 'Very new recruits. Team Jade only starts to train those who prove themselves with dedication.'
'You..do seem to know a lot about them.' Melanie tried not to sound suspicious or doubtful, but that didn't stop questions rising in her head. Clearly an effort that failed given the appraising smile the Abbot gave her as she turned to stand before the alter, Melanie halting a few respectful steps away.
'I'd say more something than a lot.' The Abbott said. 'We hear rumours of course, tales from those who travel trough this area. It's not uncommon for us to get visits from Pokemon Rangers and League Officials.'
Like Peter. Melanie briefly wondered if he had come this way but pushed that question down. She couldn't afford to be distracted by thoughts of him. 'But..that's not all. Is it?
'No..it's not.' The Abbot said. 'We have a disciple who was one of their number for a time.'
'Really?' Melanie couldn't hide her surprise, even as that flood of emotion rushed over the icy trickle down her back. 'Someone here?'
'Yes.' The Abbot replied to that with the same serene grace as her previous answers, something that struck her as odd given that she could easily have asked her next question with any number of edges to her voice. 'Does that worry you?'
'No. No.' Melanie replied before stopping to think about her answer, repeating that word more slowly. 'No. Just..surprises me I suppose. But...if it's someone you know then you must trust them. And if you do then I should as well.'
'What's so funny?'
'Huh?' Melanie asked, genuinely confused. It wasn't until her mind caught up with her mouth that she realised she had actually laughed, something that made her cheeks burn. 'Oh..sorry. I just realised...I trust you and yet I don't even know your name.'
'Oh..forgive me.' The Abbot replied sincerely. 'Members of my order usually call me your holiness so I have quite gotten out of the habit of giving my name. But you are not member of our order, so I see no harm in you calling me Selene.'
'Selene.' Melanie repeated. 'So..what do you think they want here?'
'I can only guess.' Selene replied softly. 'Again, this is where they differ from Team Rocket, who were brazen almost to the point of arrogance in their goals. Beyond collection of Pokegirls both wild and bred even the Pokegirl League has very little idea of their true aims. But...there have been rumours gathered and inferences made from Members that have been captured or surrendered, rumours that they are working on somehow strengthening Pokegirls. It could be pure bluff of course, little more than bluster from a defeated enemy. But equally could it be true.'
'Could that be what they did to Tamika?' Melanie blurted before realising how little sense that actually made so she took a deep breath before continuing. 'I mean..I think they were looking for Tamika when I found her. Could they have..wanted her for some experiment.'
Letting that hover in the air, Melanie glanced at Tamika who was still standing impassively at her side. This was hardly the first time they had discussed this, Melanie wanting to have no secrets between them about how she came to be her Alpha. Something like this, had it been kept a secret, would no doubt have caused her some pain had she learned it. And she wouldn't have done that to her. Still, part of her always worried about the emotions that might be stirred up in the now whenever it came up.
'Maybe they did.' Selene said. 'Or perhaps they just wanted her to use to bolster their ranks. Either way, I sense nothing abnormal in Tamika. I have a feeling for such things. You have spirit and courage and power as befits your species, my dear. And loyalty and love for your Tamer. The same love and loyalty that you, Emma, have for her. And the same that she has for both of you. But anything else, anything that shouldn't be there, well..I don't think you have to worry. Now, have you given any thought to what you will do next?'
'Well..I was thinking I would stay for a bit.' Melanie saw no reason to be anything but forthright about that. 'If that would be okay. If Team Jade try again, then I'd like to help if I can.'
'Then you are welcome to stay.' Selene smiled. 'I hear you have started training with Jacob. You should seek him out again. If I know him, he will be eager to continue his lessons.'
'You know, I think we might just do that.'
'You know..I think I'm getting better at this.' Melanie grabbed a drink of water, in that moment feeling more glad for the simple relief of cool water hitting the back of her throat than anything in her life. 'Or used to it at least. A couple of days ago I could barely have gone ten minutes before I felt ready to drop. Now it's been what, twice that?'
'An hour.' Jacob said with an understanding smile as he turned his back on where Alicia, Tamika and Emma were still running through the same exercises Melanie had just abandoned, the Rack leading the other two through the movements that were second nature to her. 'I know. I lose track of time when I'm training too. Back when I started days would just blend together as well.'
'I can relate.' Melanie said. 'I can't really believe it's been two days. Feels like longer than that. Although...thinking about it..two days is a long time for Team Jade to not have tried anything. Isn't it?'
'Is it?' Jacob replied. 'To us, maybe. We cannot know what the leader of this group has in mind.'
'What makes you so sure it has a leader?' Melanie asked.
'Team Jade never sends out groups without a skilled Member leading a group.' Jacob said softly. 'Otherwise it would be chaos. And chaos is very much what they want to avoid. No, they have a leader and he or she will have a plan.'
'Well..sounds like you know them very well. You must have been...' Melanie trailed off for a second, the line she had meant as a joke suddenly becoming deadly serious in her mind. So serious she couldn't help finishing it. '...must have been one of them. That's it, isn't it? Selene said someone who used to be one of them is here. It was you..wasn't it?'
'Yes.' There was no shame or anger in Jacob's voice, just a sort of..acceptance. 'Does this worry you?'
'No.' Melanie said and found she meant it. She had gotten to know Jacob very well over these last few days. And even if she hadn't started to trust him herself, she would still have put her faith in Selene's trust of him. 'I'm just surprised I suppose. I guess I was expecting someone..I don't know..older.'
'I was not much younger when I quit.' Jacob said. 'Or when I joined. I was looking for something. I wasn't even sure what. Just..something to do I suppose. After school was done, I just drifted until I heard about Team Jade. They seemed to have a vision, a goal they were working towards. And I thought..couldn't that be my goal? So I tried to follow that. Only, the more I saw of them, the more I saw they weren't for me. So I quit and found my way here. I've never looked back.'
'Well..you do seem to have learned a lot here.' Melanie switched the topic tactfully. 'I'm not sure I could learn as much. I'm improving sure, but I still don't feel like I'm getting the jumps right.'
'Don't be too hard on yourself.' Jacob didn't say as much and his tone remained the same, but something in his eyes told her he was grateful for her decision. And she could understand that. This was clearly something private and she had no right to press him on it unless he wanted to talk. 'The jumps are the hardest part of the style. You are doing fine.'
'I can't jump as high as you can.' Melanie pointed out.
'You and most other people in the world.' Jacob pointed out. 'But that is where people do this wrong. Jumping as high as I can. It's just a training exercise. Nothing more. Here. Punch me. Go on.'
'Okay.' Melanie drew back her fist and threw a quick jab that once would have been little more than a clumsy lunge. Quick or not, that did nothing to stop Jacob pushing it aside with a simple press of his palm.
'See? Did I jump?' Jacob asked. 'No. But the jumping helped make my legs stronger to help me block that blow. Now..dodge this.'
'Dodge wha..' Melanie never got to finish that question, her attention drawn to the leg Jacob lashed out at hers. A kick that her body reacted too before her mind, carrying her up in a short hop that made the kick scythe through nothing but empty air.
'See?' Jacob repeated. 'Often you won't have to jump higher than that. And if someone kicks or punches higher well..that's why we have practiced ducking. So you are doing fine. Trust me.'
'It's not you I don't trust.' Melanie picked her words very carefully, not wanting to return to their earlier conversation. 'It's Team Jade. I still think it strange they haven't tried anything else. Why attack and then stop without having done anything? It just doesn't make any sense to me.'
'And you expect to get answers to these questions?' Jacob replied. 'I find answers come best when you aren't looking for them. Now..let's go again.'
Melanie didn't move but instead fixed Jacob with a confused look. 'Don't go looking for them? Then what am I supposed to do?'
'Don't look.' Jacob responded with a shrug. 'Why not just let things play out?'
'I've never been good at that.' Melanie admitted. 'I like to be in control of things I suppose. Maybe that's a weakness. I don't know.'
'Just because there are things you do not know doesn't mean you aren't in control.' Jacob said. 'I've seen you think on your feet. So trust in that. Now, let's go again.'
'How can we not be sure that wasn't just some opportunistic attack? Surely it's just as likely that they will not attack again. It's been days. Surely they will have lost the element of surprise and left.'
'How can we be sure they think that way? Surely it's possible they know the Scroll is here. That has to be a possibility we cannot discount. If they do know...'
Selene let the debate ring around the long table and around herself, the voices bouncing back and forth between the walls of the small chamber which sat to the side of the Temple main. Once she would have interrupted the growing debate and quickly put her stamp on it. Now..well..now she knew better. Letting her monks speak their minds often helped to clear her's and she the truth when she was wavering or conflicted. Outsiders might think that as Abbott she stood alone, relying on divine wisdom to guide her but that couldn't be less true. Often it was worldly wisdom that showed her the way.
'I cannot say that they know.' Selene used the pause in the debate to cast the stone of her own thoughts into the mix. 'Perhaps they only suspect. That is the strongest reason for their presence here. We are not the only keepers of such ancient knowledge remember. We like to believe that we alone hold the knowledge of the Scroll's location and that we alone have guarded it jealously. But is that the truth?
Selene paused to allow that to sink in as much as to collect her breath. 'We cannot know or have the full foresight to say with absolute clarity that no other record or mention of it exists somewhere. Perhaps it is not mentioned by name just simply by rumour of an ancient artefact being moved here. Or perhaps there does exist some record which names the Scroll and its final resting place. No..we can be sure that their arrival here is no chance arrival. This has been long planned and prepared for.'
'Not so long prepared. Otherwise they would already have taken what they wanted.'
'Can you say that?' Selene allowed her gaze to fix not solely on the Monk that had spoken but rather let it sweep over the assembled faces. 'They could have just been testing our defences. I think it certain they have more tricks up their sleeve than one frontal attack.'
'So..they might try more cunning means against us? And you still allow this stranger, this Melanie into our temple? How can any of us trust she is who she says she is.'
'You forget yourself.' Selene allowed the barest hint of an edge into her voice, something she seldom used and which was often enough. 'You forget that which I have seen today as well perhaps. Melanie was sent here by the will of the Goddess. She doesn't know it but Bastit has seen fit to send her to us. So yes, we can trust her. She has a part to play in this. Today. In the future. I do not know. But I trust her.'
Unaware of the interest and trust being shown in her, Melanie had taken to wandering with Tamika at her side. So was Emma of course, after a fashion. After the battle and her training, she had agreed it would be smart if she rested in her Pokeball for a while so as to recover her strength. Then when she had recovered, Tamika could take a rest if she wanted. An idea Tamika had agreed too which brought them here. Wherever here actually was.
Truthfully, Melanie had no idea exactly where she was. Wandering and lost in thought, her feet had carried her where they would and while she knew she was still inside the temple, her exact location was a mystery to her.
'Funny. I always used to come here to think as well. Not purposefully. I just found myself carried here. Chance most likely. Yet that chance became something of a habit. And now my habits seem to be rubbing of on you.'
'I suppose they are.' Melanie knew she should have been surprised to see Selene before her but somehow she wasn't. 'I didn't mean to intrude. I was just..well...'
'..troubled.' Selene finished. 'One doesn't need to have a psychic blood gift to see that.'
'Well..yes..I am.' Melanie said. 'I just still can't see why Team Jade would bother with this place. It's not as if the Pokegirls here are easy pickings. I'm just wondering if..there is something else. Something you might not have mentioned.'
That hung in the air like the silence that followed, Melanie silently praying that Selene didn't take that as if she was accusing her of lying. 'If there is and you don't want to say or can't say that's okay. It's not as if you trust me.'
'Trust.' Selene mused. 'Yes. Trust. That is something I was just discussing with the Monks. They asked if we could trust you and I said we could. So..I suppose I should make good on that. Follow me.'
Wordlessly and a little taken aback Melanie did just that and wasn't exactly surprised when she was lead back to the Shrine, Selene again leading her towards the alter, yet this time beckoning her to move closer. 'I suppose you don't know the history of this Temple. No reason you should. It's not something we freely share with outsiders. This Temple, this Shrine, wasn't just built as a place of worship and spiritual contemplation. It was built to hide something, to protect something as old history itself, something that predates Pokegirls but is directly tied to them. Something that Team Jade would very much like to posses and no doubt turn to some malign purpose.'
'And..they know it's here.' Melanie said slowly. 'Or are sure in thinking it is. And they are right, aren't they? It's here, isn't it?'
'It is.' Selene followed Melanie's gaze towards the alter, towards the enclosed ornate cabinet that sat demurely at the far end of the Shrine, its smooth sides, slanted roof and latticed worked doors carefully and lovingly polished and maintained with the care someone could only show towards something of great value.
'But..is it safe here?' Melanie asked. 'Surely it would be safer to hide it or bury it or..I don't know..put it somewhere I cannot be so easily seen.'
'We could.' Selene replied. 'But then we couldn't see it or have it close. Something's are safer close to hand. Besides, would you send Tamika or Emma away to protect them?'
'No..no, of course not.' Melanie suddenly felt ashamed for reasons she couldn't exactly put her finger on.
'Then trust is to protect it as your Pokegirls trust you to protect them. And as you trust them to protect you.'
'Where exactly are we going?' Melanie asked, that question filled with genuine curiosity rather than any frustration or confusion over the fact that Jacob had lead her down here following his rather cryptic message that he had something to show her. Although, the whole thing was somewhat of a mystery. For a start, Mellissa had no idea that there were caves underneath the temple. Not that she had been here long enough to learn all of its secrets, or any of its secrets. But here she is, Tamika and Emma still resting in their Pokeballs after yesterday's training session, walking side by side with Jacob in these expansive caves. 'Not that I mind the break or anything but I thought we were going to do some more training.'
'We were.' Jacob said, his footfalls joining Melanie's in echoing around the cave, which themselves mingled with the soft flaps of Felicia's wings as she followed behind the pair. 'But we've been training pretty much non stop these past few days. So I think we can take afford to take a break. And as I said, there is something I want to show you.'
'You mean..something beyond all these caves?' Melanie glanced behind her at the single straight passageway they had been following, very glad they hadn't taken any of the dozens of other caves that lead off it. It would be very easy to get turned around in here. 'Not that they aren't impressive. But once you've seen one rock tunnel you've seen them all.'
'Rock Tunnel? Isn't that over in the Johto League?' Jacob answered with a short laugh. 'But yes, I do mean something beyond these caves. And I do think it's very much more impressive than these tunnels.'
'Have they been here long?' Melanie asked. 'Sorry, silly question. These couldn't have been dug over night.'
'Not without some serious heavy machinery or Rock Pokegirl power.' Jacob agreed. 'They've certainly been here longer than I have. I discovered them during my second week in the temple. And I've been coming down here ever since.'
'Must be something pretty special to keep bringing you back.' Melanie said.
'Oh it is.' Jacob nodded. 'It's just down here. Then you can see for yourself.'
'See wha...ohh..wow!' Melanie's voice trailed off as her feet carried her around into one of the side tunnels, one that was instantly lit by a soft, shimmering blue light. A light carried to her eyes from the dazzling clusters of tiny crystals which lined the walls of the expansive Grotto a few feet ahead. 'This is..amazing. What's making that light?'
'I don't really know.' Jacob lead Melanie into the grotto proper, Felicia making use of the increased ceiling space to rise above their heads with a few powerful thumps of her wings; her keen eyes sweeping across the wide space as if she longed to soar across it. 'I think it's coming from the water. Something in it makes it luminesce which gets reflected to the crystals and spreads it throughout the grotto. That's just my guess though. None of the monks or other disciples really come down here, so I don't think anyone has really looked it.'
'Yeah, well..they don't know what they are missing.' Felicia called out from where she was now hovering over the small lake, the same odd blue light now rippling over her feathers. 'It's super quiet and it's great for flying too. I could just soar around in here all day.'
'Well..don't let me stop you.' Jacob chuckled. 'Go on. Have some fun.'
'I will then.' Felicia laughed, quickly turning to buzz both humans with a rush of air that tousled Melanie's hair before soaring up and over the lake.
'So...what brought you down here in the first place?' Melanie asked. 'Can't have been the view.'
'Not since I didn't know about it.' Jacob agreed. 'No..mostly I came down here to think, to clear my head. Back when I first joined, I used to have serious doubts about being here. If I could do it, if I belonged here. If I deserved to be here even. See, I wasn't with Team Jade for very long. But I was with them long enough to do somethings I'm wasn't proud of. That I'm still not proud off. Back then, with it all being so fresh, I wasn't sure I could ever escape what I'd done, escape the memory of it. And the guilt. Coming down here..seemed to put everything in perspective for me somehow. Or at least gave me time enough to think and put them in perspective for myself.
'Oh?' Melanie grinned, her expression cut across with mock disappointment. 'And here I was expecting to hear some profound wisdom, something about how something great has to start from something small. Surely that's how this Grotto was made.'
'Well..maybe the Abbot might say that.' Jacob allowed himself a chuckle, mostly Melanie suspected to show he had gotten the joke but she appreciated it all the same. 'I'm not much for that kind of wisdom. Well...not for coming up with it anyway. Maybe after some more years of study. Right now, I prefer a different kind of wisdom. Like it doesn't matter where you came from or the mistakes you made. It's what you do after that that really matters. No one is perfect. But as long as you move forward then you are doing alright.'
'I can get behind that.' Melanie said. 'Speaking of moving, do you think we could do the same? It's beautiful down here but I might have to come back with a few more layers on.'
'I'm sorry.' Jacob said with a smile that was pure apology. 'I've gotten so used to it, I don't notice the cold down here any more.'
'I suppose I'd get used to it too.' Melanie replied as she cut ahead to lead the way back to the cave proper. 'And it was worth it for the view. Now..it's this way out, isn't it?'
'No.' Jacob said with a slight chuckle. 'It's this way.'
'Funny.' Melanie didn't turn away from the direction she was facing, her eyes narrowed in concentration. 'I can feel a breeze coming from that way. I think.'
'No..you're right.' Jacob moved slowly up to her side. 'And there shouldn't be. Just round that turning there the passageway is blocked by a rockslide. Has been for years.'
'Should we go and take a look?' Melanie already had one hand resting on Tamika's Pokeball without thinking.
'I think we should.' Jacob agreed. 'Felicia, you go first. Your speed should help if you get jumped.'
'Tamika, go.' Melanie wasted no time calling out her Alpha, only now fully realising how odd it had felt to not have her by her side. And how right it felt to have her here. 'Protect Felicia if anything sneaks up on her.'
Nodding the very second the white flash of her release faded, Tamika took up a position by Melanie's side, close enough to protect her if needed as well. Melanie didn't have to see the focused look in her eyes to know she was ready for battle, ready to defend her Tamer as well as carry out her orders. Of course, Melanie reflected, the best way to protect me is to make sure nothing slips past Felicia.
'Well..that's different.'
'What's differe...oh.' Melanie answered her own question as her eyes fell upon the two huge mounds of rock and earth neatly piled at either side of the tunnel, clearly the remains of the rockfall Jacob had mentioned. 'Someone has been busy.'
'Yes.' Jacob said. 'Earth Pokegirls unless I miss my guess. You couldn't fit any heavy machinery down here. And even an army with shovels couldn't move that so easily. I...quick. This way.'
Luckily for Melanie she reacted without pausing to think about why; ducking into the narrow cave to the side barely a second before voices reached her ears, somehow cutting over the thumping of her heart.
'Right. Let's just stick to the main cave. That has to bring us up into the Temple. All these side passages must be dead ends.' Ducked back as she was, Melanie couldn't get a glimpse of the owner of that voice. Yet she knew with a dead certainty who it belonged too. Well..who he belonged too. Team Jade. Those words bounced around in her brain but she didn't dare speak them aloud. Even her breathing seemed too loud right now. 'Once we get up there, you know the plan. So stick to it. Let's go.'
'Team Jade.' Jacob whispered as the group of six figures retreated into the distance, already having gone far enough away for them to risk poking their heads out. 'They must have found another entrance to the caves and guessed they could dig through and find a way up. Either that or they were going to dig up to the surface with their Earth Pokegirls and attack that way.'
'Yeah..so we have to stop them. We should..'
'Hey. Who are you?'
Melanie spun to find herself staring at a boy not much older than her, his youthful attitude emboldened by the Team Jade uniform he wore, the loose short jacket in pure white set over sturdy trousers in a light grey with boots of the same shade. The jacket itself was securely with a steely metal zip, that held the material clear of the belt hung with two Pokeballs.
'Felicia, stop him.' So Jacob had seen what Tamika and Melanie had, that the boy was reaching not for his Pokegirls but for the device clipped to the other side of his belt that could only be some kind of communication device. Luckily Felicia was quicker than him, one quick swipe of her wing knocking the small oblong object from his grip and sending it bouncing down the cave. 'Don't even try it. There are two of us.'
A stern a warning as that was, it still fell on if not deaf ears then certainly closed ones. There really was really no other reason for the way the brash youth reached for and threw the pair of Pokeballs previously fixed to his belt.
Fast his reactions and throw might have been yet before the flare of light from the now opened spheres had faded Tamika had joined Felicia in a fighting stance, Pokegirls and Tamers alike sizing up these new foes.
It was the one on the left which caught Melanie's eyes first and with good reason. Barely around 5 feet tall, there was something about her yellow skin that couldn't help be eye catching. The same being said about the black stripes that lined and cut across her torso and arms, running in random patterns that surely were unique to her. The most striking thing about her was her horns, horns that bore a striking resemblance to electronic adaptors you might plug into a power socket, horns that were already sparking with barely contained power. An Eleklit. A basic form Pokegirl but an electric type for all of that. Which could be a problem, either against Tamika or Felicia, even with a basic electric attack at her command. Which she was sure to have.
While the first might have been the more eye catching of the pair, Melanie couldn't exactly ignore the second either. She could almost have passed for a human with her pale skin, soft brown eyes and gentle curves completely on display by her equally nude state. Had she been clothed and walking through a street or city square, she would likely haven't drawn a single glance. Even without that covering, she was absent the markings, colouring, claws and the multitude of animal and extraordinary traits her sister species displayed. Really, there was nothing to set her out as a Pokegirl. Save her hair. Which obviously could not belong to a human. Bright yellow beyond even the most vibrant blonde helped to identify her as a Godiva, a plant type which also gave her a strong type advantage against Tamika.
Now..the best strategy would have been for Felicia to engage the Godiva while Tamika battled the Eleklit since at least the Rack would have a type advantage over her foe. But that plan fell apart as the electric Pokegirl leapt at Felicia, leaving Tamika to square off against the Godiva.
Felicia at least had taken this surprise in her stride, soaring back to avoid the a near miss from a fork of electricity that must have made her feathers tingle, which did nothing to stop her powerful wings carrying her back towards her foe with grim purpose.
Then Melanie had to turn her full attention back to the fight before her as the Godiva charged. Before she could even call out a Command, Tamika had leapt away from the powerful grab thrown her way. While Godiva aren't exactly known for their strength in combat, Melanie would have agreed that getting caught by her Wrestle attack, as the move surely was, would have been a bad thing. Had those arms locked around Tamika she would have had a tough time fighting her way free.
'Bubble.' Melanie called out quickly, not wanting to give her foe a chance to attack again. Tamika true to form let spray a rapid Jet of bubbles, which caught the Godiva full in the chest before she could react. However it was a strike that only staggered her momentarily before she charged again, the momentum of her Tackle letting her push closer to Tamika even if her attack didn't strike home.
Again Tamika was forced to jump out of the way of this rushed attack, jumping back towards Melanie in one easy movement. Sadly it wasn't far enough. The first warning Melanie and Tamika had of danger was the soft ripple of movement through the Godiva's hair; hair that quickly lashed out in a fashion exactly like a whip. Even the crack sounded just the same, a crack that drew a sharp exclamation of pain from Tamika as the Hairwhip caught her squarely on the side of her head.
'Tamika!'
If Tamika heard that panicked shout Melanie had no idea, the Water Pokegirl shaking her obviously ringing head as she fought to orient herself. Still, she had enough focus to dive to the side, just barely avoiding the whip which cracked a hole in the floor where she had been a second ago. Quick as a flash Tamika was up on her feet again, but that wasn't fast enough as the whip cracked out again, lashing around her foot and dragging her off balance. Or it would have done had instinct not kicked in. Moving with that sudden impetus, Tamika leapt and twisted through the air, that elegant movement tugging her leg free of its binding and dragging her opponent off balance.
Back down to her feet Tamika swept, finding her balance before racing back towards her foe. In close she raced and struck with three swift punches, two strikes connecting as fierce body blows before a mass of hair as strong as spun steel wrapped around her half extended fist.
Tamika's eyes widened as this time it was her who was sent flying by a powerful tug, it only being pure luck that she barely missed being slammed into the cave wall, instead landing in a heap barely a foot away. More dizzy than dazed, Tamika struggled back to her feet, only to lose her footing as both ankles succumbed to the sudden grip of the same wrap of hair, another powerful tug sending her sprawling backwards.
Obviously fighting disorientation, Tamika somehow managed to leap over the head of the Godiva, staying just a bare second ahead of the flicking tendrils of hair that reached for her. Which only gave her a bare seconds respite before they were on her again, reforming into one solid whip that would have lashed her head again had she not ducked easily below the strike.
Down Tamika flowed and then up again, dancing around her foe as the whip like hair cracked just inches from striking home. Somehow she managed to stay one step ahead of her, leaping aside or over each strike just before it hit. Until one low wide strike prompted Tamika to not just leap over the whipping hair but leap over her foe, her outstretched hands closing on her head and dragging her down to the ground to land with a whuff of expelled air.
'Tamika.' Melanie was at her side the instant the jump carried her back towards her Tamer. 'Are you okay?'
'I am.' Tamika said. 'I can keep going but I can't see how to beat her.'
'Me neither.' Melanie admitted. 'She took a few good hits though. Just..keep your distance and wait for an opening. Water Gun won't hurt her but maybe it can drive her back.'
'I'll try.' Tamika said firmly, rising to face the Godiva who had again found her feet and just taken a step forward when a blast of water slammed into her. True to Melanie's fears it didn't hurt her, just slowed her down. But it couldn't hold her indefinitely as Tamika couldn't hold the attack indefinitely either.
So Tamika was driven back on the defensive again, relying on her agility and timely warnings from Melanie to avoid the whipping strikes flung her way. Left, right, back or forwards. It didn't seem to matter which way she moved, the strikes kept coming and the Pokegirl delivering them followed behind. More than once Tamika was only saved by a last ditch blast of water buying her enough time to leap clear but this strategy was exhausting Tamika.
'I..can't keep this up.' Tamika admitted as Melanie raced back to her side. 'If only we could slow her down somehow.'
'I know. If only she didn't have her plant side to..hey..Could that work?' Melanie mused. 'Yeah..maybe. Look at her hair. It's covered in water droplets. But like her it's still a plant. And when plants get wet they get heavy, like when a plant droops during heavy rain. If we can really make her hair wet, I bet we can slow her down enough.'
'Guess it could be worth a try.' Tamika rose up to her full height again, buoyed up by Melanie's unfailing faith in her. Oh, she hadn't said as much exactly. Not in words. But it was there in her tone. She knew she could do this. And Tamika wasn't going to let her down.
Drawing strength from her conviction, Tamika raced back towards the Godiva, the sudden attack giving her time to drive a powerful kick hard into her stomach. She was rewarded with a satisfying whoosh of air leaving her lungs as the air was driven from her, her foe barely having time to suck in a breath before the impact drove the little breath she reclaimed out of her lips again. Not wasting this chance, Tamika landed in a solid stance to unleash as powerful a Water Gun as she could manage. Pressure was her friend here, relying on the pressing of the water to hold her foe down as long as she could. And it was working. Still winded, the Godiva was struggling to get back to her feet, it taking all of her strength to just get up on all fours. And yet even with the pressure of the water pressing on her back and pouring over her hair, she was slowly getting back to her feet.
Didn't help that Tamika was weakening herself, her arms straining with the effort of keeping up the water stream. Still she fought, pouring on the pressure until the very last second. Only when she had fully risen to her feet did she pull the stream back, her brow beaded with sweat and her breathing a little faster than she might like. Her training had made her stronger, but that had still been an effort for her. And now was the time to see if it had paid off.
With a snarl, the Godiva swung her hair, ready to lash out again with that wicked whip. And as she moved, Tamika moved too. Not away, but forwards, running right towards her foe. Running with all the power she could muster. Sluggish as her movements felt, she was actually moving faster than her opponent. It had actually worked, her hair weighed down by the sheer volume of water that it was little more than a sodden clump. Not wasting that chance and without the strength to do anything flashy, Tamika did all that she could; landing one solid punch that proved too much for her. Clearly her struggles to get back to her feet had drained her because with a gentle sigh she collapsed back, her eyes rolling into her head. Which was the last thing Tamika saw of her before the Grunt recalled her back to her Pokeball.
With what little of her strength remained, Tamika turned to aid Felicia in her battle only to see her opponent hastily begin recalled as well, much to the horror of the Grunt who looked torn between the urge to run and to try and do something else to stop them.
'Get out of here.' That soft utterance from Jacob, devoid of any malice but with an unyielding firmness seemed to break his resolve as with barely a look backwards he fled down the tunnel.
'Good choice.' Tamika sighed. 'For me. I'm not sure I could have fought him right now.'
'I know. But you were amazing.' Melanie said, already reaching into her bag for a Potion which she quickly sprayed over Tamika, the light mist dusting her from head to toe. 'That should help. But you could rest in your Pokeball if you like.'
'No..no. I'm good.' Tamika said, those words being the honest truth. Already she could feel the restorative effect of the Potion flowing through her and restoring her energy as well as healing her wounds. 'I can go on. And we should go back. They may have already attacked the Temple.'
'Okay.' Melanie nodded to Jacob and Felicia in turn. 'Let's get after them.'
Even with caution proving the counter against haste the quartet of Pokegirls and Tamers alike were quickly back aboveground, the entrance to the tunnel looking much the same as it had before they had descended. Which wasn't to say things hadn't changed, Melanie picking up on what Jacob cocked his head towards; the unmistakable sound of fighting in the near distance, soft cries and shouts mixing with the unmistakable crack of electricity discharging. Electric Pokegirls most likely. But on whose side, that was the question. One to which Melanie didn't exactly have a good answer.
'You hear that too?' Jacob asked. 'I'm going to help them. I won't force you to come but something tells me you will anyway.'
'I would but..' Melanie hesitated, a hesitation that had nothing to do with the type she might face. She had Emma after all. She was more than able to take on an electric type and was by far the more sensible choice than risking Tamika getting seriously hurt. '..shouldn't we head to the Temple? The Abbot told me about an artefact you have here. Surely they are after that. Maybe we can get there first and protect it.'
'I suppose we could do more good there.' Jacob agreed. 'And if they aren't there, we can still cut around and join the fight. Let's do it. Follow me.'
Taking that more as a mutual suggestion than a controlling order, Melanie and Tamika fell into step behind him, the former's hand gently fingering Emma's Pokeball, fully ready to draw and throw it the second they arrived at the Temple. It was a focused delay that proved highly advised, for barely had they stepped around the corner towards the already thrown wide doors did a Jet of flame send them all scrambling for cover.
'Jacob..are you alright?' Melanie called, her first ingrained instinct to look for Tamika bringing with it a huge relief to see her still at her side, which just left her companion who did seem alright as he rose, if separated from her by the still flickering line of flame scorched along the floor.
'I'm fine. I can handle this.' Jacob replied. 'You get inside. Go. I'm trusting it to you. Go.'
'I..right. Be careful.' Melanie called out, motioning Tamika through the doors ahead of her. And just in time too. Barely had Melanie raced through than they slammed shut with a thunderous echo.
'Well..that was close.' Melanie breathed.
'Close, yes. Smart, no.' That voice drifted out of the low light at the end of the Temple, a voice soon followed by a figure dressed smartly in a almost military styled jacket complete with discrete epaulets, the look completed with the brightly polished buttons offsetting the dark green material. Below that she, and Melanie could now see it was a she, wore plain black trousers and boots that couldn't hide her shapely legs. A figure with a long slender case in her hand which surely contained the item Melanie had come to protect. 'And too late. You see, I already have what I came for. Which I will be taking now.'
'You think I'll just let you take it?' Melanie asked. 'Well, we won't. Go Emma.' With that cry, Melanie flung the Pokeball out before her to release the Boobiesaur who quickly rose to her full height as Tamika moved to join her.
Sadly that was the only move either of them had a chance to make before an eerie flash filled the surround, both Pokegirl's freezing motionless right where they stood. An effect so sudden it would have made Melanie cry out in shock had she too not been struck by the same phenomenon. 'I'm sorry. Did you think this was a cartoon where you promise to stop me and then we fight for my prize? This is the real world my dear. Still, you have courage. And it is unworthy to raise violence against a child. So, this way is better. Come, my darling.'
That tender phrase was directed to the Pokegirl who stepped out of the shadows beside her Tamer, the details of whom Melanie couldn't see, all her attention draw to the glowing green eyes that sent a shiver up her paralysed spine, a paralysis that humblingly held her in place long after the two figures swept through the now reopened doors of the Temple and out of sight.
'I couldn't stop her.' Melanie rubbed her still tingling hands together as she sat with Tamika and Emma resting besides her against the wall of the Temple. 'I tried. I'm sorry I couldn't do more.'
'You did your best.' The Abbot rose up from where she had been leaning over Melanie in obvious concern. 'I'm only sorry I wasn't here to stop you from risking yourself needlessly. I should have guessed you would try to stop them from taking what they sought.'
'Needlessly?' Melanie's brow furrowed in confusion. 'Surely someone had to try..'
'Only if what they sought was here. And it wasn't.' The Abbot replied. 'Once I knew they were coming for it, I had it moved to a much more secret place. And left them a little something in its place.'
'And I rushed in and nearly ruined that.' Melanie sighed. 'I'm sorry. I should have trusted you but..'
'No buts.' The Abbot said firmly. 'You acted out of a desire to help and that is no bad thing. And who knows, maybe your arrival was the final seal on our little deception. Perhaps by the very act of someone coming to defend it, someone not from the Temple highlighted the strength of our need to protect what they had stolen. So do not regret your decision. It was very brave.'
'Funny.' Melanie allowed herself a smile that was still troubled. 'That's what she said. The..one who was in charge. She said I was brave too. Which didn't help me against her Pokegirl. The way she just paralysed us all, we couldn't do anything.'
'And..what does that tell you?' Selene asked.
'That..she is stronger than me.' Melanie let that settle into her mind like a weight that threatened to drag her down. And it might have done if Selene hadn't rested a gentle hand upon her shoulder.
'Yes. But don't take that as a failure. That is just another lesson you learned here. We all have to get stronger.' Here Selene paused and something about it made Melanie raise her head. 'So..what will you do next?'
'I'll get stronger.' Melanie said without even having to think about it. 'Not just me. All three of us. And I want to learn more about Team Jade. I get the feeling I haven't seen the last of them.'
'Then you will go with not just my blessing.' Selene said with a smile. 'But with the blessing of everyone here. And know that you will always be welcome here, whenever you return.'
'Thank you.' Melanie said, her voice mixed with a sort of earnest bashfulness. 'Now..I want to say goodbye to Jacob. Is he around?'
'Of course.' Selene nodded. 'You will find him in the main courtyard.'
'Well..you weren't wrong about her.' Selene said softly as Melanie walked away. 'A very interesting girl. And with a good heart. Something I regret is becoming less common in Tamers these days. I can see why you sent her to us.'
'Can you?' A deep, warm almost purring voice drifted out of the shadows. 'You among all humans do have an unusual clarity of my heart and mind, it's true. But you haven't seen what I have seen. Something stirs in the shadows. Something that should have been lost for perpetuity. And this girl, this Melanie, she sits right at the heart of it. Alone she might be lost to it, but perhaps I have given her the first step to finding what she needs to stand against that which perhaps even we cannot. Still, such dark times may be years ahead. And I did not just come to talk of such things. Not when there are much more..pleasurable ways to spend a day.'
'I expected nothing less.' Selene gave a nod to the two monks standing to either side of the doors to close them before making a graceful exit that was almost painfully slow. Yet only when they had gone did she allow her robes to drift open and fall away, to stand in her glorious nakedness; her full yet subtle chest standing proudly over her slender waist and legs. 'As always, I am yours to command my goddess.'
'Then..' the warm voice replied with a deep husky rumble. '...make me scream. Oh..and bring your Alpha. I want her wicked tongue too.'
'Your leaving.'
Melanie hadn't been expecting that phrase, that direct statement from Jacob the second she walked into the courtyard but in an odd way she was glad to hear it. Saved her struggling how to say it.
'Well..yeah. It's been great here. But..we both knew I'd have to move on.'
'I know. But something tells me we haven't seen the last of each other.' Jacob said with a warm smile that lifted her spirits. 'So..no need to make a big goodbye of it. But if you are ever in the area, feel free to drop back in.'
'I will.' Melanie said. 'Count on it. Same goes to you if you are ever never Meles Town. Oh, and thank you. For everything. Really.'
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Well..Sorry this chapter took longer to get out than I wanted but I'm glad I got it out. It's a little light on sexy content I know but that didn't seem to sit well with the story. On the plus side, I've got a really sexy scene planned for the next chapter. I'm hoping you enjoyed this little dip back into the world of Pokegirls. I'm open again for Commissions and Requests if you are interested, drop me a line.