FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

PART EIGHTY ONE

I t was dead on eleven twenty two when Jack and the rest of the group had arrived at the forest city gym with Ahsoka bringing up the rear, Jack recognised the receptionist straight away looked at him as if she knew she should know him yet she was unable to quite put her finger on just who he was. It was like some distant memory that had faded into obscurity, the woman eventual shrugs slightly pushing it from her mind as she watched them approach her desk.

“Can I help you?”

She asked in a calm though polite tone, Jack smiled slowly as he responds to her enquiry.

“I have an appointment for a gym challenge at eleven thirty? Names Jack Thornton!”

The receptionist turned her gaze to the touch screen on her desk top, making the occasional vertical swipes with a as she went through the list on names and times, eventually she found hat she was looking for.

“Ah here we are, if you would like to take a seat, I’ll let the Gym Leader know you’re here”

She announced gesturing to row of seat by the large wall mounted TV screen, the sound was muted but the subtitles where active allowing it to be viewed without distracting the receptionist. Though he had not intended to eavesdrop upon her he could not help but watched her slip an earbud into one of her ears, the woman’s fingers danced across the desk once more as basic human curiosity started to get the better of him. When she started to speak, in spite his better judgement he found himself straining to hear what was being spoken about, alas a mixture of Blaze and Bunny arguing over what type of pokémon they would be facing combined with being just a little too far away to comprehend what was being said.

“I know it’s natural to be curious but it really is rude to stare”

Ahsoka chuckled, her large strong hand slipping around his back as it came to a rest against the side of his hip. Tilting his head up with her other hand she leans down brushing her lips against his to distract him, this lasted up until a discrete cough followed by the receptionist politely interrupting

“Sir, Ma’am?......the gym leader will see you now, please head down the corridor to the far end where one of his assistants will be waiting for you.”

Jack blushed brightly as he squeaked out a thank you while being led away by his giant lover, it didn’t take too long before they saw a tall lithe woman with a black pixie hair style. She was dressed in a grew pinstripe business suit that matched her large circular glasses, cradled in her arms was a tablet; its screen nestled firmly against her chest as she watched the latest challenger to face off against the city’s gym.

“Greetings, which of you will be challenging the gym leader today?”

She asked, her tone clear yet firm.

“That would be me please”

Jack gulped not sure why he had said please at the end of his reply, the smartly dressed woman looked at him for a moment as if trying to appraise their chances against the leader of the gym.

“Very well follow me please!”

She announced as she turned on her heel and approached the large double doors, they all most instantly slid sideways in opposite directions allowing those present to step through. Just as with the lobby in reception the décor was clean; crisp; with a more sterile laboratory environment feel to it.

“Okay here are the rules of the challenge, you may have no less than one pokémon and no more than six in your party, you may think this is a given! But we have had numerous numbers of trainers turn up with no pokémon, expecting for us to provide them with rental pokémon or some such nonsense that their home region tends to do.”

The woman lets this sink in before continuing with the scripted explanation, it was something she had repeated on so many times that she was for all intent purposes on autopilot.

“You will be permitted to switch out your pokémon as many times as you like, while the gym leader cannot.”

Again, she paused as if allowing the information to seep into the challengers’ head, it wasn’t that he thought him to be mentally inept far from it. She did how ever want to make sure the rules where clearly understood.

**“All those accompanying the challenger may watch and offer moral support, but must done from the spectator stands either side of the arena, only the referee; gym leader and challenger are permitted on arena itself during a pokémon battle.

During the battle, the pokémon of those participating not in use must be kept within their pokéball.

In addition, before or during the battle No items may be handed to or used upon those pokémon being used.”**

The woman paused as she turned to Ahsoka, gesturing to the left she spoke without really thinking about what she was saying.

“To the left is an elevator and a stair well leading to the spectator stands, you will find vending machines for refreshments but we do ask if you do use them, please put all empty packaging into the provided trash receptacles.”

After this she turned back to Jack as she spoke in an all most automated manner.

“This way to the challengers dressing room and entrance you will be using to enter the arena.”

With a soft smile Jack leant up to give his beloved a kiss on the cheek only for Ahsoka to grasp his cheeks, leaning down she delivered a deep passionate kiss that left him dazed for a few seconds when she finally allowed him to stumble backwards with a dazed expression about his face.

“When your quite Done! WE do have as schedule to keep”

The assistant noted after a discreet cough to catch their attention, with this done the woman headed right forcing him to rush to catch up with her as se began turning another corner where another door awaited them.

“Beyond here is the challenger changing room and entrance to the arena”

The woman mused as she had done so many times before, turning around she began heading back the way she came to leave him to his own devices, turning his head to look at each of his pokémon; he could feel their confidence and trust in him. No words were needed to be said as in one united motion they stepped forwards through the door as it slides open. The locker room had a sterile feel, decorated in all white from the ceiling to the tiled walls; even floor had been painted he same bright shade of white. Jack headed over to a long metal bench just beneath the lockers that from what he could only conclude was meant for seating, to the left was what he guessed at being a communal walk in shower. There was a door on the other side of the room that he was sure led to the arena where he would face off against the gym leader.

“The gym leader will probably use grass and bug type; I mean the gym is in a city with Forest in its name so it’s pretty much a given. So, let’s send Blaze out first to incinerate them.”

Bunny suggested, Blaze seemed to like this idea as she began nodding in agreement as the Lopunny spoke but Oni was not so sure about this as she piped in with her own theory about what they would be facing.

“We thought it would be a cake walk in the Grass Vale Gym, and just look at the trouble we had there! I had to take on three of them because flame chicken and hoppy pants could handle one and a half each.”

Both Bunn and Blaze gave an unamused glare at Oni but remained silent, there was not much they could say since it was true, it was then Lucy interjected for moment with a subdued tone of voice.

“Um…perhaps I could take part please?”

All three turned to face the Lucario as Blaze sighed softly as she replied to this request, her feathery head slowly shaking as her tone was surprisingly gentle as if treating the Lucario with kid gloves.

“I’m sorry, but you’re just not ready yet, I know you want to prove yourself and your chance to do so will come, but that time is not now.”

Jack could see the look in Lucy’s body language that she was about to try to argue her point with the group that she was ready and could fight in a battle with the others, putting on a firm expression he eases a hand gently around the Lucario’s shoulders turning her gently to face him.

“I will let you take part if you can produce an aura sphere here and now”

Lucy looked at him her eyes lighting up as she looked over at Blaze who just gave a slow nod of agreement at this statement, closing her eyes Lucy began focusing as she would have when she had first begun learning to use aura sphere. Reaching out with her own aura she drew it towards where her chest spike had been; while simultaneously drawing her paws towards her left side as she concentrated on pushing the aura, she had gathered down to the spikes upon the backs of her paws. Slowly opening her eyes, she dared to look down only to find sparks of aura energy flickering around the smooth round domes where her spikes had once been but nothing else.

Again, she tried but with just the same results with a look of frustrations she tried even harder as Bunny went to try to stop her but Jack placed a hand upon her shoulder to stop her while giving a slow shake of his head.

“I know you really want to join in, but please trust me on this you need to complete your training, it will allow you to use your aura in other ways.”

Jack whispered to Lucy, she looks up all wide eyed as if she was about to burst in to tears as he eased down to her height while easing his palms along her fluffy cheeks and smiled tenderly to her.

“So for now please be patient your time will come, please trust me on this, but not today”

Bringing his mouth to her thick lack canine lips he kisses her tenderly before standing upright, with a few sniffles she wipes away her tears and watches as her trainer gets ready for their gym battle.