373 – Fit to Fight
Much as Brandy was excited about the pair's date, she had clarified the illegal part of it all. It turned out the "illegality" was more of a technicality; matches held here wouldn't count toward any official Poké-dex rankings. It wasn't banned so much as non-sanctioned, nothing that would get the Rangers on your butt in the unfun and unsexy way.
Still, it sounded like a blast. With Dani still sleepy, Brandy was happy to dangle the Magikarp off one arm and Sparky off the other as they followed Calcine toward the venue. Morgan hadn't turned back up yet, but they'd left a note telling her where they were headed. If she didn't show, they could start worrying; for now, the night was young, and expectations were high.
Spikemuth's nightlife was in full swing, and Brandy, flanked by two lovely ladies, was left alone for once. Calcine, on the other hand, had to gently fend off admirers, which made everyone smile because they'd put effort into dressing Calcine up. One of Brandy's white button-down shirts was tight across her chest and shoulders, the sleeves rolled up to show off her molten-streaked arms. A nice shiny pair of black pants hugged her hips and bulged around her cock, which they'd all agreed should be on full display. Every time Calcine shifted her weight, it flexed, making onlookers bite their lips. The older punk and goth ladies of Spikemuth were practically circling Calcine like hungry Mandibuzz, eager for a taste of the Carkoal. Calcine was clearly nervous about Morgan's absence, and Brandy let her enjoy the attention, hoping it'd take her mind off it. By the time they reached the alley entrance, Calcine was smeared with lipstick and had several phone numbers tucked into the hem of her pants.
"Hey, Calcine," Sparky asked innocently, "Why are you walking funny?"
"They can't resist a squeeze while they're down there," Calcine answered, straightforward as always. "It's hard to not react to that."
"It's a big bulge," Dani murmured sleepily. "The ladies seemed to love it."
"You like them big, Dani?" Sparky asked, leaning over Brandy to punch Dani's arm playfully.
"Oh, I'm only little; everyone's big to me," Dani said quietly. "It's awesome."
"I feel there has to be a limit. What if you met a Wailord?" Brandy asked, morbidly curious.
"I'd just climb up and claim my throne," Dani yawned. "I've been stretched out before; it's worth the work!"
"That's horrifying, and I respect it," Sparky grinned. "We should ask you more questions when you're sleepy."
"I could help make her sleepy some other time?" Calcine said, looking back at the Magikarp.
It was adorable how badly Calcine wanted to fuck Dani. Brandy wanted to be Dani's first, but maybe Calcine shouldn't have to wait too long to be second.
"I love that your team is so keen to be helpful," Dani mumbled proudly, already drifting back to sleep against Brandy's side again. "This is a good team."
Brandy still wasn't sure if Dani was unaware of the future destruction Calcine would visit upon her body or if the Magikarp was just cheerfully accepting of it. She had innocent confidence, but Brandy also knew she'd been a willing partner for many Pokémon ladies while in the sea. There was something terrifyingly serene about her, nestled in Brandy's arms, half-asleep and humming softly to herself. Was she thinking about how she'd be ground into gravel by Calcine's affection? Or was she just happy to be included in the group? It was either hopelessly endearing or the boldest display of horny bravery Brandy had ever witnessed.
The mysteries of the Magikarp would have to wait; they were close to their destination. The alley to the place was marked only by a flickering neon sign shaped like a Binding Ball split in half with a huge crack. Calcine led the way down the narrow alley, brightly lit with LED strips, Sparky at her heels, bouncing with anticipation. Brandy followed, tugging Dani closer to her as the heavy bass pulse started to bleed along the walls. The thumping tune drummed like a heartbeat, and it felt like they were walking into the belly of a beast.
The alley ended in a wide, open archway that spilled vibrant light into the night, the music and chatter from within already beckoning them closer. Beyond the arch was a sunken fighting arena carved into the ground like a stadium tucked under the city. A broad walkway led downward from the alley into the arena proper, guiding them along a gentle slope that allowed for a grand view of the whole space as they entered.
The arena was ring-shaped and slightly recessed into the earth, surrounded on three sides by tiered spectator stands in a loose horseshoe curve. Thanks to light rigs mounted above, each level was bathed in glowing colors, blues, pinks, and greens. Teams? Brandy couldn't even begin to guess. Fluorescent murals adorned the curved walls of the pit, each a vibrant, stylized tribute to a trio of towering, avian-themed women whose presence seemed to blaze from the walls themselves. One was regal and serene, her body cloaked in elegant, flowing violet and glacial blue feathers. She gazed out with calm, unreadable eyes, psychic energy rippling from her outstretched hands in ghostly waves that shimmered across the wall.
Across from her, a muscular woman with fierce, angular features was mid-leap, caught in a spray of projected dust and wind. Her sharp wings beat behind her like blades, her legs were coiled for impact, and her talons glowed with electric tension. Her palette was all bold orange and black, and storm clouds rolled behind her in sync with the thudding bass.
Above them both, circling the entire arena in projected loops of glowing crimson, was a third figure: wild and commanding, with flowing hair like molten silk and wings that burned with stylized fire. Her eyes glared down with passionate intensity, flames licking from her shoulders as if daring the crowd to look away.
"Fucking sick," Sparky whistled as she looked up at the legendary bird lady plastered on the ceiling. "Zapdos is such a babe."
"Electric favoritism," Brandy teased.
"As if. Galar Zapdos is a Fighting Type. This is just pure, honest lust for the thighs."
Brandy couldn't argue with that.
Calcine was scanning for a sign of Morgan, but the crowd had already gathered in force, a dense thrum of excitement filling the air. There didn't seem to be anyone in charge, nobody in uniform to flag down and ask questions, so there was nothing to do but wander and hope, Calcine cutting them a path by politely nudging people out of the way.
It was honestly a bit much for the senses. Everywhere Brandy looked, something absolutely wild was going on. Turn her head left, and a tall woman in a heavy leather harness and shredded tartan coat was wrapped up in a passionate kiss with her partner, a lithe, shadowy woman whose smoky tendrils occasionally flicked out to tug teasingly at her lover's collar. The two swayed in perfect sync with the music, caught in their own little world despite the madness around them.
If she turned her head right, then she saw a gang of punk-styled ladies with matching piercings and studded jackets wildly cheering on a gorgeous Houndoom lady who'd gone bare-chested and was pouring beer down her breasts right into their open mouths. Her fangs were bared in a victorious grin as they chanted her name between gargled swallows and a few gasping chokes. Brandy wasn't a prude by any measure, but just this once, she felt a bit out of her league. These ladies were almost feral!
"Oh shit, check the stage!" Sparky said, bouncing to grab Dani and lift her up. "This place rules!"
Right up on the stage outcropped to overlook the fighting pit, a lean woman stood atop a towering speaker stack. Her skin was a striking split of neon purple and acid yellow, and jagged bioluminescent lines ran down her arms, flickering in time with the beat. Her mohawk of static-charged spines crackled and popped with every swing of her head. As she raised her mic to her mouth, her voice distorted into the reverb with a wild snarl that sent the crowd into a frenzy. Sparks burst from her fingertips as she hyped them up, riding the pulse of the music like it was her own heartbeat.
"YOU READY TO GET LOUD, SPIKEMUTH?" she screamed, her voice crackling like a live wire. The crowd roared in answer, a sea of fists clutching glowsticks pumping in rhythm. "WE GOT FIGHTING, FIRE, FEATHERS, AND FLIRTING. THAT'S JUST THE OPENING ACT! WE'VE GOT HEAVYWEIGHTS, AND EVEN SOME FRESH BODIES STRUTTING THEIR STUFF. AMY GIVE THEM A TASTE OF WHAT'S TO COME!"
Beside her, the Sableye woman bounced up and down on thick boots, throwing her hands in the air. "They're paying me for this gig!"
"AMY. I TOLD YOU GOTTA HYPE THEM UP, BABE, NOT BRAG."
"I'm going to get a whole ruby for this, and I'm gonna eat it right here!"
The Toxtricity announcer shook her head, but the crowd went wild for the pleased-as-punch Sableye anyway, especially when the Toxtricity picked her up and kissed her stupid instead of arguing. The cheering doubled, a few whistles piercing the din.
Everyone was distracted, but Brandy's very good Compound Eyes caught a flash of wings. She looked up just in time to see Morgan descending from a beam overhead, her wings flaring for dramatic effect as she landed with a perfect bowing flourish.
Calcine sighed through her nose, watching Morgan like someone watching a thunderstorm roll in. A little dazzled. A little annoyed. Mostly annoyed.
"You're late."
"I am perfectly on time," Morgan grinned, striding toward them and then freezing when she saw Calcine. "Damn, nice cock."
"Thanks, it's not new, but I like it," Calcine said, looking Morgan up and down.
Morgan had gone all in on her look, though Brandy couldn't even begin to guess where she'd got the clothes. A flared black coat that shimmered like oil in the lights and dipped dramatically at the back around her tail. Her top was a dark meshed velvet corset, cinched tight to puff up her fluffy chest and decorated with little silver charms shaped like crescent moons and stars and a few serene-looking fox heads. A skirt slit high on one thigh revealed fishnets and tall, heeled boots that laced all the way to her knees. She looked, well, witchier than ever.
"Like what you see?" Morgan smirked.
"Haven't seen what's underneath yet," Calcine replied, the corners of her mouth twitching as she tried to hold back a smile. "It's a good effort."
Morgan stepped in close, reaching out with hands wrapped in elbow-length black gloves that puffed with feathers at the end. She toyed with Calcine's collar, brushing her knuckles along the line of buttons with a featherlight touch.
"So reluctant to praise," Morgan murmured, voice syrup-smooth. "I got an incantation or two that'd change your tune."
She leaned in, letting her lips graze the edge of Calcine's ear. "Just try not to combust before we make it to the ring? I'd hate to ruin your very tight pants."
Those pants did look awfully strained already. Someone had put the flirt in Morgan, and the effect was remarkable.
"Hey," Sparky said, tugging Brandy's arm. "Much as I'd love to see Calcine's pants explode, how about we leave the two to get the night started? You can buy us drinks."
As much as it sucked to not see more of Morgan and Calcine teasing each other, Sparky was right, so Brandy quietly made an exit dragging Dani with her.
"A few drinks, but nothing crazy." Brandy said, "I want to enjoy the fight."
"Drinks?" Dani said, "Like ... lemonade?"
"Dani," Brandy said, squeezing the Magikarp in her arms. "Have you never had alcohol before?"
Dani shook her head slowly, blinking at Brandy with those wide, guileless eyes. "Nope. I don't think we had it underwater. Just salty water and fermented kelp. I didn't like that."
Sparky gasped. "Brandy. We get to be her first."
"Please don't make that sound so dramatic," Brandy muttered, though she was already flagging down a lady wearing a box filled with glowing bottles and a stuffed full tip jar.
"I'm going to start her with something pink and sparkly," Sparky announced, then narrowed her eyes. "Sugary sweet for our girl. Have her bouncing off the walls."
"I can bounce real good!" Dani offered brightly. "I'm pretty buoyant, and I've bounced on a lot of laps."
"We're gonna have so much fun with you, you sweet innocent gal," Sparky grinned. "You're going to love this."
Brandy would ensure the Magikarp didn't get too drunk, but a tipsy Dani? That sounded like the kind of chaos she was absolutely here for. If she couldn't keep spying on Calcine and Morgan's flirting, watching Dani discover booze one bubbly sip at a time was the next best thing.