Looking around the inside of the establishment they’d gone into, Ranma looked around with wide-eyes as she saw the numerous kinds of PokéGirls all gathered at tables, at the bar, and in booths. There were even some gathered in the back around pool tables playing the game.
Overall, the Tigress was trying to take it all in, like she had all the sights there were. First, there were the numerous shops done up like a bazaar or outdoor market; PokéGirls tending their stalls with various goods and wares. One thing that really caught Ranma’s interest was that there where two squirrel-fox girls called ‘Evas’. The elder sibling was selling Healing Items like potions and berries, while the younger sister was selling TMs, ‘Tech Machines’ that could teach new skills, and various items that granted unique powers depending on what kind of item it was.
Of course, if they needed to buy anything, they needed to use the Felecity Bank. Sharing one of the solid stone buildings, the bank was run by another cat-type PokéGirl, a Purrsian. It was a place where locals could deposit and withdraw money. The Purrsian was kind enough to explain that it was actually a chain, and so PokéGirls could do their banking actions from all over the league if they needed to travel.
This was because sharing the same building as the Felicity Bank was the Pidgeota Post Office. The Town’s foremost form of contact with the rest of the continent. Not only was it a place to receive mail and have it delivered but it was explained to the petite Tigress that it was where ‘Rescue Team’ missions were delivered by Pidgeota. Outside the contact post was a message board where one could find missions to take on. Rescue Teams seemed to be a big part of the culture, as inside, there was a line specifically for sending in rescue requests or thank-you letters to those who had performed a quest.
It really made Ranma wonder just what the heck was going on with the rest of the world, and how prevalent danger was if there was need for such a thing as ‘Rescue Teams’. She remembered when being first found by the Cheetit, that one of the first things the older PokéGirl said was that there were strange disasters and PokéGirls acting weird.
Of course, from there, there was a place that, while Brit was more than anxious to get the Tigress to go inside, Ranma had to decline. In its own building was the JigglySlut Club. From what she understood, it was a place run by a rather amorous JigglySlut who just loved ‘friends’. Rooms for those who want to take the time to Tame in Private, along with all sorts of equipment to ‘enhance’ the experience.
One could understand that Ranma wasn’t up for such a thing just yet. The whole screaming her head off and running away thing kind of drove her point home. Still, Britanny had hopes she could get Ranma to visit the place with her later.
Still, there was one place that Ranma saw, and she was more than a little excited about wanting to go into to check it out. It looked too much like a Dojo to be anything but one!
It was the Herochan Dojo! Upon going in, Ranma was able to find out that the place was run by a Herochan and plenty of volunteers. The Herochan explained that it was not only a place where individual PokéGirls, but that Rescue Teams could train in three-floor dungeons with PokéGirls of a single elemental-type, as well as being a place for Rescue Teams to practice and keep their skills up. The Herochan was more than happy to boast that Rescue Teams AOK, Jet, and A.C.T. were known to practice here on off-time.
Needless to say, a chance to train and spar was just what the doctor ordered. Ranma felt more clear-headed after being able to work off stress in ways she was not only familiar but very comfortable with. She was still a little confused though. Britanny didn’t join her, saying she wasn’t into working herself like that, yet she noticed that the Cheetit was watching her go through her katas and moves quite attentively.
Unfortunately, they were made to vacate the premises once some large Dragon-like PokéGirl came into the Dojo, demanding privacy and use of all floors solely for her group’s usage. It made Ranma seethe for a bit that her fun was cut short like that, but she didn’t do anything. Something about the way that woman looked at her, the way she looked with all the scars on her body... it really freaked Ranma out, and so the Tigress was willing not to pursue it any further than that.
After that, Ranma had really wanted to see what was up with the largest building in the city, the PokéGirl Research Building. Britanny explained to her that it had once been the laboratory of one of the most famous PokéGirl Researchers in the Leagues: Professor Mahogany Stroaks. Unfortunately, the citizens of Phallus Town and visitors weren’t normally allowed to go there because of the building’s current use. The building served not only served as a city hall of sorts for those who made sure everything ran smoothly within Phallus, but it also served as a dormitory of sorts for the Rescue Teams from all over the League. This was a place for them to stay for some ‘downtime’.
And it was then that Ranma found out the reason why Britanny knew so much about what went on in there was because used to be part of a Rescue Team. However, she’d been kicked off her team because of a problem she had. She’d spend slc faster than she’d make it, and she’d been in debt for awhile. Ranma didn’t pressure the poor woman for information on how she’d managed to pay it off, but the Tigress had a pretty good idea of what the Cheetit was willing to do.
So without that, there was only one more place to hit. And since it was dinner time, it made more than enough sense that they should go to the building on the beach. To Ranma, it really did look like a shipwrecked pirate ship, like she’d seen out of those gaijin pirate movies. The place known as...
“Welcome to the Taverngirl Tavern and Inn,” a rather human-looking PokéGirl in a dress with a low-cut in the front that made her look like a harlot spoke up. “This is not only Phallus Town’s only real restaurant, it’s a place to get a warm bed to sleep in if you’re from out of town or just don’t have a home...” the girl said in the cheeriest voice Ranma’s heard so far. “So what can we do for you this evening?”
“Hello!” Britanny greeted back. “Could we get a table and some dinner?”
“Sure!” The Taverngirl said in her usual merry voice as she stood up straight, causing her breasts to jiggle. “This way, please!” She said as she started to lead the two cat-type PokéGirls towards the end of the place. Ranma and Britanny were lead to a wooden round table near the pool tables. “Is this spot okay?”
“Sure,” Britanny said as she went up to and pulled out a chair. “You first, Ranma.”
“Um... thanks?” Ranma said as she then walked over to and sat down in the offered chair. She let out a cute squeak as the Cheetit then pushed the chair in. Ranma watched as Britanny walked around, taking out a chair right across from her before she sat down, taking the large metal box-like purse she’d been carrying off her shoulder.
Getting comfortable in her chair, the Cheetit reared her arms out to the side, stretching. “So...” she said slowly as she then slowly started to look towards the Taverngirl. “How’s the fish?”
“Fresh,” the Taverngirl acting as their waitress replied. “Caught just this afternoon.”
Grinning lightly at the response, Britanny asked, “Tuna?”
Nodding her head, the Taverngirl responded, “A few...”
“I’ll take ‘em all,” Britanny said with a mischievous grin on her face. “Grilled, preferably. And I’d like a bottle of milk to drink, please”
“All right...” the Taverngirl said as she took a pen out from between her breasts and held up a small writing pad with her left hand. As she was writing that down, she asked the Tigress, “and what about you?”
Thinking about it for a moment, (as she didn’t see a menu to go over) Ranma considered what they’d said about the fishing before replying, “Well, I guess any fish would be good right about now...” blushing lightly, she added, “And a bottle of milk, too?”
Smiling lightly, the Taverngirl nodded her head. “We can do that.” Finishing up writing, she told the two Cat-types, “I’ll be back with your drinks shortly.” And with that, she was walking off.
Watching the younger PokéGirl watch their waitress leave, Britanny coughed in her hand to get the Tigress’ attention. “So, Ranma,” she said softly. “What do you think of Phallus Town so far?”
“It’s very interesting...” Ranma said seriously. There were so many different things to see and do in the town. With how lively it was, it was a definite contrast with Viridick. “Are other towns like this?”
“Somewhat,” Britanny said. “Some towns you wouldn’t even think had a problem. They have a lot more real buildings from the previous age still standing and more resources. Some towns are actually worse off, and without modern conveniences, so its been up to their own work to keep things going...” considering her words for a moment, the Cheetit felt it was safe to say, “Phallus is like the middle-ground for how cities ended up.”
“I see...” Ranma said slowly. “So are there other places that ended up like Viridick?”
Shaking her head, Britanny said, “No... well, unless you count Cinnibuns and the Sexii Islands, no single place in the Indigo League, the Kanto Region, got hit as badly as Viridick City had been during the great disasters.” Sitting back in her chair, she chalked it up to, “Karma. Viridick was the focal point of many terrible things that happened to PokéGirls, and so the karmic backlash was sure to be terrible.”
“Yes, karma is a powerful thing...” came a voice from the side. Both feline PokéGirls turned their heads to see a tall animal-like woman. Her appearance was definitely lupine, and she was wearing various pieces of mismatched clothing, her tail waving back and forth behind her slightly. She was standing by the pool table, holding a pool cue in her hands. “No one viewed us as human. We were Guinea Pigs then... and we’re still Guinea Pigs today.”
“Excuse me?” Ranma asked, the woman’s words sending a cold chill down her spine. They were Guinea Pigs?
Frowning a little at the Lupina’s words, Britanny snapped, “Jetta! Why do you insist on talking like that? No one likes that kind of talk!”
“Because it’s true,” the PokéWoman told them. “Centuries ago, after the War of Revenge had come to an end, the Leagues had kept us alive as a demonstration of their compassion and their humanity. Weapons of War, Prisoners of War, Spoils of War... it’s all the same thing when it came to us...”
“PokéGirls are living a novelty life now...” Jetta continued. “And with the way things are going with the weather, with the mentality of the Feral PokéGirls... I can say that in another five, ten years, we’ll all be dead. And the planet earth will breathe a big sigh of relief when we artificial creations are gone, leaving only ‘natural’ things here.”
At the words of the PokéWoman, Ranma shivered slightly. Damn, this Jetta woman was really creeping her out, and not just because she was a canine-type either. She may not have been of this world, but the Tigress couldn’t help but feel there was a ring of truth to what the PokéWoman was telling them.
“Jesus, Jetta! Cut it out already!” Britanny shouted, obviously getting annoyed. “Goddamn, I hate when you PokéWomen get all pessimistic about life like this. You’re all either depressive as hell, or you’re just nasty bitches.”
A small smile creeping onto her face, the Lupina let off a small, dark chuckle. “Bitches? You’re referring to the Dragoness bearing the scars of past conflicts that came through town today... the people she works for pay her to keep us in line. They yank her chain, so she’ll yank our chains...”
Ranma blinked her eyes at that. There was some higher power to everything here?
“Sure, the PokéGirls in charge saw we’re free, that we’ve been liberated from mankind’s yoke...” Jetta’s eyes narrowed. “But they keep a close eye on us. They don’t want us armed. They don’t want us meeting in big groups. They don’t want us getting any ‘funny’ ideas. They regulate who gets to have children...” the Lupina growled, her hands tightening on the pool cue and causing cracks to appear along the lacquered wood. “They fuck us over, and not in the good way...”
Crossing her arms over her chest, Britanny told the older PokéWoman, “I think that’s enough, Jetta. It may seem unfair at times, but the PokéGirls that are in control are there for a reason. They can be trusted! They have everyone’s best interests in mind! Hell, they’re the ones who set up the whole Rescue Team services, aren’t they?”
“They did... with Phallus Town as a focal point for them,” Jetta admitted. “And that means their presence will be felt more here than anywhere.”
“Eh-excuse me?” Ranma spoke up hesitantly, getting the attention of the Cheetit and the Lupina. “There’s somebody in charge?”
“Yeah,” Britanny said. “It’s not a League like there used to be, but there are PokéGirls in charge and watch over what’s going on with the towns. This group is known as UPN, the United PokéGirl Nation. They’re the ones that brought everything back as well as they could from the Great Disaster...” she thought about it for a minute before admitted, “Although some would say that their broadcasting was a great disaster in and of itself...”
Jetta smirked lightly. At least the Cat-type had some sense. Turning her head to look at the Tigress, Jetta told her, “They have a building which houses their work in every city... with the exception of Viridick...” she said seriously. “Usually it’s in the Pidgeota Post Office, but in some cases, they’ll be in a better building. Like in Phallus, they got to take up residence in Stroak’s Lab, or in Sapphron where they took over the old Jahana Corp. Building for their needs. Just more proof that they kept the best for themselves and left us with slums.”
Ranma blinked her eyes as she digested what the PokéGirl and PokéWoman were telling her. At first, she’d been under the assumption that every town took care of itself, which while true to an extent, it would appear that they still answered to a higher power.
After a moment or two, the pigtailed Tigress finally asked, “So where are all these people anyway? Is there a boss in every town or something?”
“Well, little Tigress,” Jetta said seriously. “They’re as far from here as you can get. We’re in Phallus Town, the most Southwestern town in the entire Kanto region. They’ve set up shop in a PokéGirl Research Lab just North of Cerulesbian, placing them at the most Northeastern spot in the region. It’s why they use also claimed Stroaks Lab and Jahana Corp as theirs. Besides getting the best stuff, they have a strong base of influence in the Northern, Mid, and Eastern regions of Kanto.”
“Goddamn, Jetta...” Britanny whined. “You make it sound like a conspiracy theory!”
“It IS a conspiracy,” Jetta snapped.
“Hey, Jetta!” Another PokéWoman by the pool table shouted, this one a green-skinned with dark green spots and an open flower on her back. “Are you gonna take your turn or what!?”
“Coming, coming!” Jetta called back. She took one more look at the Cheetit and Tigress before going back to the pool tables.
Watching the Lupina go for a moment, Ranma quickly turned to Britanny. “Is it true?”
“Sorta,” Britanny said. “But I really think Jetta is just blowing things out of proportion. I’ve never had any real problems, and neither have any PokéGirls I associate with.”
Slowly nodding her head to that answer, Ranma still couldn’t shake the uneasy feeling that talk gave her. Somehow she knew, just knew, that this was something that was going to rear its ugly head later...
However, anymore thoughts on a possibly dark presence behind the cities were cut short with the feminine cry of, “Britanny! What took so long!?”
Both Cat-type PokéGirls turned to look to the source of the voice; a PokéGirl walking towards them with a serious look on her face. “Did you get what I asked you to from Fewtits?”
“Relax girl, I got it, I got...” Britanny said as she placed a hand atop her kit and tapped on the lid.
“Great!” The newcomer said with obvious relief. “I really needed those Evolution Stones to continue my work.”
Ranma blinked her eyes at that. “Evolution Stones?”
As the newcomer stared at Ranma strangely, Britanny explained, “Evolution Stones were stones that had been effected by the large amounts of energy and magic being used around the world. These stones retained special energies that transformed them into special shapes and granted special abilities. A stone’s main purpose is to induce evolution into a PokéGirl of a similar element, (Fire stones normally evolving Fire-types, Water to Water-types, etcetera, etcetera... when a stone is touched to a PokéGirl she might evolve, and the stone used to evolve her is absorbed by the transformation, lost forever.”
“Well, duh,” the PokéGirl said seriously. “Everybody knows that.”
“Not here,” Britanny answered as she motioned to Ranma, causing her to blush.
Blinking her eyes as she looked Ranma over, the newcomer asked, “Who’s this?”
“Well, this is Ranma Saotome, a Tigress...” Britanny said seriously. She then turned to the pigtailed PokéGirl and said, “Meet my friend...”
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(Posted Sun, 05 Nov 2006 01:02)
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