Viridian Forest

The forest is dark, and full of bugs.

The bugs are large ones, thankfully, not the sort that get in your hair. They're no less scary, though.

"They don't usually attack trainers," Julia explains. "Unless we run out of pokemon. If one of them challenges you and you try to walk past it, it seems to get offended. That's when the goo sprays start happening. They have sticky goo, itchy goo, clothing-dissolving goo..."

"Well. That won't happen today!" you promise. "We're going to get through this thing!"

You set out, following the map. Julia takes half the fights, now; Charmeleon is startlingly effective against bug types. Your pokemon keep getting poisoned. You think your antidote supply will hold. It's going to be a long trip.

One of your Rattatas faints, and you catch some sort of yellow bug-thing -- a "Kakuna" -- to take its place. You move the Rattata into your backpack; you're not abandoning a fainted pokemon in the bug-filled forest, but you'll leave it near Pewter City. It would be nice if there were a way to have more than six at a time.

The forest is spooky. It's too dark to see well, but you can hear just fine, and there are sounds of movement everywhere. Every few steps you hear another soft rustle or footfall, suggesting some unseen foe lurking just out of sight. You know intellectually that bug-types don't attack trainers, but every rustle and chitter sends a fresh jolt of adrenaline through you. You can't help but feel like prey, scurrying from tree to tree, hoping to stay out of sight.

Your nethers have their own opinion about all that fear and adrenaline. Your panties are getting damp.

You turn a corner and spot a trainer, too close to avoid. He waves. "Hello there!"

Aha! You step quickly in front of Julia. "Hello there! We're a team," you say. "Challenge me first, please!"

He shakes his head. "What, in here? No way! I've only got half my pokemon left, and I need them for exploration!" He looks at you funny. "Why? Do you want to be challenged?"

"I was, ah, going to surrender," you admit sheepishly.

He looks around. "This isn't really the best spot for a forfeit," he notes. "Too dark and creepy. That's not my kink. Some other time?"

Inside, you give a sigh of regret. In fairness, it wouldn't have been kind to Julia to make her defend the two of you while you did your forfeit. You should probably be glad.

You shake the trainer's hand. "Well. Thanks anyway. I'm Hazel. MidnightSnuggler. You?"

He breaks out in a grin. "Loud Hazel! I heard you last night! Are you going to do that every night?"

You sigh. "I'm not going to hear the end of that, am I?"

"I'm Kevin," he says. "NoobKevin, but I'm hoping to change it as I get badges! I'm already following your profile, but it's great to meet in person!"

"Right," you say. "Well. Best of luck?"

You step aside to let him pass, and soon enough you and Julia are alone in the dark again. "Close one, there!" Julia says cheerfully. "Some trainers do challenge in the forest, but most of the lower ranks usually let you pass."

Julia's words prove correct. You meet two more trainers as you pass through Viridian Forest, and neither of them wants a challenge. The dark environment does wonders for your libido; by the time you reach the third trainer, you have to restrain yourself from tackling him to jump his bones even without a challenge. By the time you get out of the forest, you're seriously considering challenging Julia.

Challenging Julia would be wrong. She's already told you about how she tried to team with a male trainer, and it sounded like he challenged her and claimed a forfeit. You can't compound that betrayal with one of your own. Julia is counting on you for protection, and you like her, and it gets harder and harder to remember that as her butt sways in front of you as walk.

When you finally clear the forest, Julia turns and pulls you into a hug. "We did it! Go team! Thank you so much, Hazel!" She's warm and lively in your arms, and you're very conscious of the feel of her breasts pressing against yours.

"Teammates till the end of the trip!" you smile back. "Thank you too! Go team!" It takes a titanic effort not to kiss her. You wonder if this is what male trainers feel like all the time.

The sun is setting by the time you reach the Pewter City pokecenter. Only one table is occupied, with three male and one female trainer, chatting over dinner. Julia steps away to talk to the local nurse, and you sit down to join the group.

"Hi, everyone!" you say brightly. "I'm Hazel, from Pallet Town. No badges so far, but first one hopefully soon!"

They seem happy to make room for you. You meet Gina and Andrew, who seem to be a couple, and Tony and Pete, who keep darting glances at your chest. "Welcome to Pewter City!" Gina says. "We're all planning our approach to Brock tomorrow. Have you got any tips?"

"Don't worry, it'll go great!" you reassure her. "Brock's a gentleman. I've seen lots of his videos. He can be gentle when you need him to, but he's not afraid to go hard when it's working. And the cock on that man!" You grin. "If it was Koga, or the Lieutenant, or especially Sabrina, I'd want to talk about what you're into and how to approach them. But Brock's a pro. Brock works for everyone."

Gina looks taken aback. Andrew has slid his hand around her waist, holding her tight. Pete, for some reason, has gone bright red. "We were planning how to beat Brock, Hazel," Gina says gently. "With our pokemon."

"...Oh," you say. "Um. No tips, then. Sorry." Are you blushing again? You're pretty sure you're blushing again.

Julia sits down, then, and the conversation turns to more normal things. Everyone introduces themselves, and you trade stories about your hometowns and the pokemon you've caught thus far. Julia knows what pokemon Brock uses against a no-badge trainer, and she happily joins the conversation about battle tactics against rock types.

As you finish dinner, Tony reaches an arm across your shoulders. "So, ladies..." he says. "No challenges allowed in the pokecenter, but you and I could have a little after-dinner fun, if you wanted?" He raises an eyebrow at Julia. "We could do a foursome, even? Pete and I are happy to share..."

You're about to reply when Julia pulls her own arm around your shoulders, dislodging Tony. "Sorry, boys," she says. "This one's taken for tonight."

Wait. What? You're taken for tonight? Who's the guy? You turn to Julia and suddenly connect the dots, and break out in a huge grin. "Yes indeed!" you say. "We're super taken, for tonight. Try again tomorrow!"

And you and Julia make your way upstairs, to the double room she's booked for you.