"Sit up straight, Reynard," admonished the older of the two vulpix sitting in the back of the chauffeur-driven limosine. "I paid very good money for that suit and I will not see you ruin the image with your slumping," he said with a slight sneer. The younger vulpix shifted uncomfortably but did as he was told. "Do you know what kind of image you present when you do that?" scolded the older vulpix. "It says you look down at your feet because you're afraid to look ahead. That you have no direction."

The younger vulpix sighed and looked out the window. He had no desire to be here and despite his father's scolding was not shy about making that fact known. He was immensely uncomfortable in the suit and tie that his father had made him wear and for that matter was uncomfortable sitting in the back of the car with him. There were countless other places he would rather be but his father demanded his presence today, and what his father wants, he gets, one way or the other. "I still don't understand why you need me here," he sighed, more to complain than to get an actual answer.

"This meeting is very important," answered his father. "The 'mon I'm meeting with is very big on 'family' so I expect you to act the part of a successful and ambitious son that I can be proud of," he sneered. "I will not have you ruin this for me with any of your... nonsense, do I make myself clear?"

"Yeah," answered the younger vulpix, look of disdain on his face.

"What was that?" snapped his father, his voice striking fear into his son's heart.

"Yes sir," corrected Reynard, his father's angry tone having taken the defiance out of him.

After twenty minutes of silence the car pulled up in front of a large office building in the heart of downtown Viridian City. It was one of those modern office buildings that looked more like a hotel on the outside, made to showcase the wealth and influence of its owner. The older vulpix regarded it with a look of near contempt as he exited the car. "You are not to touch anything, and not to speak until spoken to," he instructed. "When you do, you will answer in a polite and sincere tone, understand?"

"Yes sir," answered Reynard meekly as he climbed out of the limo and took up a position behind his father. The two of them marched into the office building and through a lobby decorated with posters of some of the day's most famous and successful arena battlers as well as memorabilia from past champions. The lobby almost resembled a museum, and despite himself, the younger vulpix couldn't help but find it interesting. He would have been perfectly happy to have his father leave him here for the duration of his visit but he would have no such luck.

The two vulpix walked through the displays and up to the receptionist's desk where they were greeted by a smiling and overly cheerful flareon girl. She was about to say something but was preemptively cut off by Reynard's father. "Robert Vulpes," he intoned. "I have an appointment."

The receptionist checked her log book and made a note in it. "Of course Mr. Vulpes. Floor twenty-eight, go on up," she said, pointing to a short wall of elevators. "I'll tell him you've arrived," she said with a smile as she picked up the phone. Robert wasted no further time with her and moved to the elevators, his son in tow. The two rode the elevators in silence, the elder vulpix's oppressive gaze keeping his son silent and compliant. The elevator came to a stop with a ding, opening up into a small lounge decked out with several couches and a wide screen television. A lone door at the end of the room caught Robert's attention and he strode up to it, knocking on it sharply.

"Come on it!" yelled a voice from the other side, somewhat muffled by what sounded like shouting. Robert did so, opening the door to see an opulent and well-decorated office. Sitting on the desk in a pair of jeans and loose-fitting dress shirt was a meowth. His long whiskers framing his shrewd-looking face, his attention focused on a large television screen that was tuned in to a pokeball game. "Damn!" he exclaimed, excited by something on the screen. "Did you see that hit?" he asked as he turned towards the two vulpix. "C'mere" he said, motioning them in. "I love this thing," he said as he pushed some buttons on a remote, bringing up a replay of a monstrously hard hit that send the recipient flying back at least twenty feet.

Robert regarded the entire scene with disdain, remaining quiet and impassive. "Not much of a ball fan eh?" asked the meowth, noting Robert's disinterested look. "No problem, I can kill it," he said, pushing another button on the remote that caused the screen to retract into the wall and some wooden paneling to slide into place, hiding it. "Welcome to Blackclaw Tower," he said with a smile, reaching his paw out first to Robert and then Reynard, shaking both of their hands. Both of the vulpix had a skewed look on their faces as he did so, glancing down at the meowth's ebon black claws and fingertips. "Have a seat," he said, indicating a pair of comfortable leather chairs in front of his desk.

"This is my son, Reynard," said Robert with a nod towards his son.

"Nice ta meet'cha," said the meowth. "Call me Felix," he said with a smile as he sat down.

"Nice to meet you too, sir," answered Reynard as he sat down. Something was bothering him, something he couldn't put his finger on. Like he should recognize the 'mon in front of him but somehow he couldn't.

"Can I get you somethin' ta drink?" asked Felix. "Hungry?"

Reynard opened his mouth to answer in the affirmative but was cut off before he could say anything. "No, thank you," answered Robert for the both of them.

Felix nodded his head. "Hey kitten?" he called out towards another room bordering the office. "Could you bring a couple a' brews with ya when ya come back this way?"

"Sure daddy!" answered a female voice from the other room.

"I said I didn't want anything to drink," huffed Robert in response.

"I know," answered Felix. "That's why I didn't ask for three," he laughed. Robert regarded him coolly in response, a gesture the meowth took notice of. "Somethin' wrong?" he asked curiously.

"It's just that I was expecting a certain amount of... decorum for a meeting of this level," Robert answered. "I didn't come over here to watch the game and have a few beers," he said with some disdain. As he did so Reynard looked up to see another meowth enter the room, a tall, long-legged girl with sandy blonde hair carrying a couple of beers in one hand and a bottle of water in the other. Her outfit, a pair of shorts and half length crop top, did nothing to support Robert's idea of "proper decorum".

"Well we're a bit more casual around here," answered Felix with a shrug. "I worked hard all my life so that I wouldn't have to wear a tie," he laughed, to Robert's chagrin and Reynard's amusement. "This is my daughter, Nicole," he said as the female meowth strode over to the desk and sat the two bottles of beer on it. Reynard's expression suddenly changed from one of curiosity to one of near panic as he finally put two and two together and realized who she was. Nicole Blackclaw, the Poke-Combat Academy's alpha bitch. Terror of the hallways and the arena, one of the few students at the academy that Reynard was actively afraid of, despite having never met her in person.

"Hi, nice to meet you," she said with a smile and perky tone of voice that Reynard would never have expected her capable of.

"Charmed," answered Robert dryly, promptly ignoring her. "Mr. Blackclaw, I've brought projections and proposals regarding our arrangement, but in the absence of formal proceedings I would at least like to go over them without children underfoot," he said with a sneer. Nicole's expression immediately changed to the angry glare that Reynard was more familiar with. If Robert noticed it, he didn't care.

Felix sighed and shrugged. "You're th' boss," he said. "Kitten, you think you an' Mr. Vulpes's son here can kill a few hours? Maybe give him a tour of th' place or somethin'?"

"Sure thing daddy!" she answered excitedly, her expression changed again just as quickly. "I'm sure we can find a way to stay out of your hair," she smiled as she ruffled her father's head.

"Great, sorry hon', but business calls," he said apologetically. "Your boy isn't gonna try to pull any funny business with my little girl is he?" Felix asked. Reynard almost choked at the suggestion.

"No," answered the older vulpix. "I very seriously doubt that," he said with a sneer as he looked down at his son.

"Naw, I'm just joshin' ya," laughed Felix. "He's a good kid, I can tell. You two take off, have fun, I'll give ya a call when we're done, alright?"

"Alright daddy," answered Nicole, leaning over to hug him. "Come on," she said, nodding her head towards Reynard. Reynard stood up to follow her out of the room, something that he wasn't thrilled about but at the moment it was more desirable than spending any more time with his father. Nicole led them out of the office and into the elevator, pulling out a keychain and twirling it around one of her claws as she did so. "Your dad's a prick," she said flatly as the elevator doors closed and she pushed the button for the underground garage.

"Thanks," answered Reynard with a slight laugh. It was nice to hear somebody else say it.

"And you look ridiculous in that suit," she continued.

"Thanks again," laughed Reynard. He had never been happier to be insulted.

"You go to the P.C.A. don't you?" asked Nicole as she watched the floor indicator in the elevator descend.

"Yeah, I do," answered the vulpix, feeling somewhat proud that she knew who he was. "I'm surprised you recognized me in this get up," he said as he struggled to loosen his tie.

"I didn't," she answered flatly, taking all the wind out of Reynard's sails. "But guys look at me a certain way when they first see me. They stare at my tits or my legs. Even the gay ones check out my hair or accessories," she shrugged. "But when you first saw me, I saw fear. Which means you've heard of me."

"Yeah, I have," muttered the vulpix. "I'd rather be caught dead than in a suit like this but my dad insisted," he sighed, trying to change the subject. "Normally I'd be wearing something a little more... ordinary. And have a scyther or drowzee girl with me. And I go by René," he said as he pulled off the tie and unbuttoned his top shirt button.

Nicole looked at him oddly for a moment. "Oh right," she drawled. "The cross dresser," she said with a slight laugh.

"It's not that," answered René, slightly irked. "I'm trans-"

"Yeah yeah, whatever," interrupted Nicole with a dismissive wave of her hand. "Everybody's got a gimmick. Look this is my fourth year at the academy and when it comes to weird outcasts, you don't even crack the top twenty."

René didn't know what to say, he wasn't sure if he should feel insulted or relieved. After some thought he decided to call it a draw. Just then the elevator came to a halt, the doors opening with a chime. Nicole led them into the underground parking garage and towards a pair of large metal doors in the back. Approaching one of them she pulled out her keys, opened up a panel, and turned a key in the lock underneath. After pushing some buttons on a numbered keypad a red light turned to green and the door began to rise.

René was never comfortable in his own fur, but on rare occasions he allowed himself a "guy moment". This was one of those times. His eyes got quite large in spite of himself as he looked into the garage at a pair of very nice, very expensive sports cars. One a cherry red convertible, the other a jet black foreign import. Both of them shone and sparkled even in the dim lights of the garage. René let out a low whistle as he looked them over. "Wow, nice," he said. "Your dad lets you drive his cars?"

"I'm sure he would, if I asked," answered Nicole with a shrug. "But these are mine," she said with a grin. "So, any preference?"

"Not really," answered René. "My dad won't let me so much as touch his cars, he's afraid I'll scratch the paint or breath on them wrong. Let alone let me drive or have one."

"What an ass," laughed Nicole. "It's a nice day, let's take the convertible," said Nicole as she climbed into the driver's seat of the red car. She looked at René expectantly who just stood there, in a state of disbelief. After taking a moment to collect himself he climbed into the passenger's seat.

"Where we goin'?"he asked.

"Why? You have somewhere to be?" asked Nicole as she started up the car and pulled out of the garage. René didn't have an answer, he just sighed and went along for the ride. "So what exactly have you heard about me?" she asked with a smirk.

"That you're a bitch?" answered René. He felt his heart sink immediately, he couldn't believe he had just said that to her. He quickly put the blame on the stress of spending the day with his father and made ready any number of apologies. But to his relief Nicole just laughed.

"Pretty forward aren't you?" she chuckled. "But I like that. So lemme ask you, do you know why people say I'm a bitch?"

René wasn't sure if he should answer, but figured he had nothing to lose. "Well, from what I hear, you're cruel, vindictive, heartless," he started.

"People say I'm a bitch because I am a bitch," she interrupted. "That's what people call females who are strong, strong-willed, know what they want, and are willing and able to reach out and take it," she explained. "If I were a guy they would call me determined, ambitious, and driven. But since I'm a girl, I'm a bitch," she shrugged. "You can think of me in that way all you like, it doesn't offend me. I wear it as a badge of honor."

"Well that's one way of looking at it," replied René. He found it hard to disagree with her on some level. "But the way you treat everyone else at the academy," he continued with an accusing tone.

"You're right René," she said with a scowl. "I can be very cruel and vindictive. Towards the people that disrespect me and everything I've worked so hard to accomplish," she snarled, her whiskers twitching in the wind as the car sped along. "You're rich, you know what it's like. Nobody gives you credit for anything. It doesn't matter how hard you work to achieve anything, everyone just assumes that you bought it. It's obvious you can't stand your father, and I don't blame you. But what about your mother? Do you love her?"

"More than anything," replied René wistfully.

"So how would you feel if someone insulted everything she ever taught you? How would you feel if someone said that everything she ever did for you, you didn't deserve?" she asked. René regarded her coolly. "What would you do if someone spat on every sacrifice she ever made to give you a better life?" René glared back at her, an obvious look of anger on his face. The fear he felt of her was rapidly fading as she was going in a direction that he wasn't going to tolerate. "That's what I thought," said Nicole, noting his response. "I love my father and have nothing but respect for everything he's ever accomplished," she explained. "His own parents abandoned him when he was just a child. He clawed and fought for everything that he has today. And he taught me that if I wanted to keep it, I would have to be prepared to fight even harder. When someone insults that, someone tells me that everything he's taught or done for me is a joke, I take it very personally. And I don't let it slide."

"I guess I never looked at it that way," René answered, suddenly sympathetic. "I just figured you were one of those stuck-up girls who puts other people down to lift yourself up."

Nicole scoffed in response. "People always start things with me then get upset when I finish them," she growled. "When you're on top, everyone comes lining up to knock you down. And when you tell them they haven't earned a shot, they get pissed off. They don't show any respect and try to earn their shot, they always start insulting me, trying to get me mad enough to let them have their way," she said with a glare. "And when I tell them no, when I tell them to pay their dues before talking to me, somehow I'm the villain," she said angrily. "So why does your mom stay with him anyway?" she asked after a few moments of silence. "Is it the money?"

René sighed loudly and spent a few moments in thought before replying. "She doesn't have much choice. She was in a wreck when I was a kit and has been in the hospital ever since. She... won't wake up," he said quietly.

"Sorry, I didn't know," said Nicole sympathetically, which genuinely caught René by surprise. "I guess they had some psychics check her out?"

"Yeah, my dad said he had some of the best psychic doctors he could hire to see about her but they couldn't find anything. Then he complained about how much money he'd wasted," he said, tear coming to his eye.

Nicole looked at him inquisitively for a few moments, as if studying him like a lab specimen. "That all makes sense now," she said quietly.

"What makes sense?" questioned René suspiciously.

"Why you are like you are," answered Nicole flatly. "You loved your mother more than anything. When you lost her your father sure as hell wasn't going to be a replacement, and you didn't have anyone else to turn to. The only way you had to fill the void was to become her."

"What?" protested René. "That isn't true!"

"Isn't it?" she asked. "I never said that was a bad thing, it wasn't an insult, it was just an observation. You ever read Sun Tzu?" she asked. "No, probably not," she said quickly, answering her own question. "He said, 'Know your enemy and know yourself and you need not fear the results of a hundred battles.' How well do you really know yourself René?"

"Not very, sometimes," he grumbled, suddenly lost in thought. "You ever think about turning that insightful eye of yours inward?" he asked, suddenly feeling embolden and taking the offensive.

"What do you mean?" asked the meowth as she stopped the car at a red light.

"Well you're right, I didn't have anyone else to turn to," acknowledged René. "I don't have a brother or sister and guess I never will. But you have a sister that you won't even-"

"I don't have a sister," snapped Nicole.

"Tenebra?" asked René.

"Isn't my sister. She's just some hanger-on street punk," she snarled.

"That's not what your father seems to believe, I thought you respected him and his decisions?" said René accusingly. Nicole's angry gaze took some of the bite out of him but not enough to shut him up like she wanted. "What's she ever done to you anyway?"

"She came into my life," growled the meowth, her tail twitching rapidly in the seat. "That's enough."

"But what has she ever done to you? Your father took her in because she needed him, is that your problem? You can't stand sharing?" he said. "From what I understand he's gone out of his way to help her and show that somebody cares, and you go stepping all over that. I would give anything for a sister, someone that I could confide in."

"You aren't me," said Nicole with a glare, pulling away from the light as it changed to green.

"Thank Arceus," muttered René under his breath. "Have you ever tried giving her a chance? Tried talking to her with compassion instead of contempt?" Nicole's silent glare was all the answer he needed. "I just don't get it," he said with a defeated tone. "You tell me how much you respect your father, and then go out of your way to sabotage something that obviously means a lot to him?"

"Of course I do!" she shot back. "That crazy dark bitch is a psycho, everybody knows it! She may have my father convinced that there's some good in her but she doesn't fool me. She's just using him. He's watched out for me my entire life, now it's time I return the favor," she growled.

"Did you ever stop to think that maybe he's a better judge or character than you are?" asked René accusingly. He was putting on a brave facade but inside knew he was probably treading on some very dangerous ground. His fears were answered by the soul-chilling glare that Nicole shot back at him. "That growlithe girl, Mitzi, she's your best friend right?" asked René, hoping to change the subject.

"Yeah," answered Nicole quietly, as though she didn't want to admit it.

"I've overheard her talking in the locker room. She hates seeing the two of you fight, it's one of the only things that makes her sad. Whenever anyone starts talking bad about you, she's always there to defend you," said René with a bit of a glare of his own. "She's one of the nicest people I've ever met and she stays by you because she refuses to believe that you're the evil, hateful bitch that everyone else sees. Doesn't that count for anything?" Nicole glared at him but didn't answer. "You remind me so much of my father, he would love to have a daughter like you," he said as he turned his head towards the window.

"No he wouldn't," growled Nicole. "I wouldn't put up with his crap for a minute."

"You wouldn't have to," snapped René. "You would be everything he would ever want in a daughter! Cold, heartless, all business, looking to slit his throat at the first opportunity. And he would be proud of you for doing it," he said angrily as he watched the traffic go by. "All I ever hear about is what a disappointment I am.

"I think we've already established that your dad's a prick," answered Nicole, taking a quick glance over he shoulder before changing lanes.

"He wants me to be a clone of him," continued René, not even acknowledging her comment. "He wants me to be some corporate jerkoff, slave to the 'financial bottom line' like him," he said. "Which will never happen. But he doesn't care about me or anything I might want to do with MY life. It's all about him."

"Are you serious?" asked Nicole, sounding almost offended. René looked over at her with apprehension on his face. "You tell me all this and still let him treat you like garbage? Pathetic," she snorted.

:"What are you talking about?" said René defensively. "What do you want me to do about it? I don't have the relationship with him that you do with your father. I can't talk to him, he won't listen to reason. The only 'reason' he cares about is his own."

"I guess you really are that naive," she answered dryly. "You really have no idea how much power you have, do you?"

René looked back at her with a look of utter confusion on his face. "Power?" he said, almost laughing. "That's his department. I'm just a failure, remember," he grumbled.

"Look, 'mon like your father, all they care about is their precious legacy," said Nicole, swerving the car to make a quick turn. "They feel like a failure if they don't leave some kind of mark on the world, they measure their success by what people say about them once they're dead. You said yourself that you're the only shot he's ever going to have at his precious 'immortality'."

"Yeah, pretty much," answered René wistfully.

"You have no reason to be afraid of him," said Nicole. "He's afraid of you. You hold the only thing he cares about in the palm of your hand. That's why he so desperately wants you to be like him. Because without you, he's nothing. You have him by the balls René, and he's spent your entire life brainwashing you into believing otherwise."

René sat in the passenger seat in silence. He had spoken with his female friends at length about his problems with his father, often through tears. They had always been very supportive, telling him that things would change, and that he was strong enough to get through it. But none of them had ever said anything quite like that.

"All I know is that, and it would never happen but," she continued after some silence. "If my father treated me like that, and I had that kind of an edge over him, I would take hold of what I had, pull out the claws, and squeeze until the tears rolled down his face like rivers," she growled, extending her own claws and clinching her fingers for emphasis. "And do you know why I would do it?" she asked.

René thought for a moment, several answers coming to mind that he thought better of saying before replying with a simple, "Why?"

"Because my father raised me to never let anybody treat me like that," she said with a scowl. "Not even him. And only if I let that happen would I be a disappointment," she said. "If I were you I would take what you have and squeeze until he backs off. Then don't let go until you shows you some respect. Maybe throw in one parting kick just to make the point. But then again, I'm a bitch, remember?"

René sat silently with no answer to give. He was in a bit of shock over what Nicole had said to him, hearing it had genuinely stunned him. But her words were like a virus, the more he thought about them, the more thoughts they brought to mind in turn. "I... I couldn't do that," he finally said with a sigh. "I can't do anything to him that would catch my mom in the middle," he said with a slow shake of his head.

"She doesn't have anything to do with this," said Nicole bluntly. "She may have put up with it for your sake, but do you really think she would want you to do the same? I'm not saying burn down the house or steal one of his cars to go out on a drinking binge to embarass him," she shrugged. "I know some 'mon in your position do that, but I think you're smarter than that."

"So what should I do?" asked René after some hesitation. He wasn't sure if he really wanted her to answer. But some part inside of him was eager for her insight. Her words may have been cold and heartless, but in all fairness, they were the truth. At least from a certain point of view. And it was a point of view that the vulpix found inriguing in spite of himself.

"You're just going to have to get in his face," she said, shaking her head. "Don't do it where it could embarass him or put him on the spot, that would be a mistake. But tell him what I've told you. Tell him that you know what he wants and that if he doesn't cooperate, he'll never get it," she said as she pulled down a side street. "Tell him that if he wants you to make him proud, he's going to have to start by making you proud. You have to approach him from a position of strength or he'll never show you any respect. But you're going to have to be willing to compromise and actually listen to what he has to say, that's the way this works."

"You make it sound so easy," muttered René. "I wish I had your confidence."

"Know your enemy and know yourself," she repeated. "He's a businessmon, deal with him that way. Trying to relate to him as a father obviously hasn't worked."

René sat in the passenger seat mulling over her words. What she said made some sense, as hard as it was for him to accept. Finally he asked the one question that had been bothering him. "Why do you care anyway?"

Nicole looked at him briefly before returning her attention to the road. "Because I'm good at reading people, it's a talent I picked up from my dad. And just from the few minutes I spent in that room with him, I know your dad. He's the type of 'mon that's always tried to tell me what I can and can't do. He's the type that's always told me I should be content being some debutante," she said with a sneer. "That a meowth has no business learning fighting techniques. That I should be nice and docile and wear a smile and a pretty dress. That training to be a champion when I can't even throw fireblasts or thunderbolts or anything else 'flashy' is a waste of everyone's time and money."

"So getting me to stand up to him is your way of getting back at those kind of people," asked René with a slight scowl.

"You catch on quick," replied Nicole with a smirk. "But there's more to it than that. If not for one twist of fate, it could be you in this driver's seat and me in the passenger seat feeling sorry for myself. And I don't like that."

Only an hour ago René would have dismissed such a thought as ridiculous, laughed about it, and paid it no further mind. But now, having talked with someone that an hour ago he thought of as nothing but a raving psychopath, he had the uncomfortable thought that she might be right. If only a few things in his life had gone differently, if a couple of decisions had gone the other way, he very well could be her. He caught himself staring at her, not in the way that most males stare at her, but staring as though he were looking into a twisted and distorted mirror. And that thought alone was more terrifying than any of the stories he had heard about her.

"Are you hungry?" she asked, snapping René back to reality for the moment.

"Yeah, I could eat," he shrugged. In truth he was starved, he was too nervous to eat breakfast this morning and his stomach had been protesting ever since they arrived at Felix's office. Nicole pulled the car over to a fair-sized, out of the way restaurant and parked near the front, underneath a hand-painted sign that read "Apesta y Mas". Leading René inside they were greeted by a skuntank girl with an armload of bread.

"Hola, welcome to Apesta," she smiled. "Two?" she asked. Nicole nodded silently, prompting the skuntank girl to weave through the restaurant and lead them to a corner booth. "My name's Myra," she said as the pair slipped into opposite sides of the booth. "Can I get you something to drink?" she asked as she took a plate from a counter and sat one of the loaves of bread on it.

"Um... poke-cola?" asked René.

"Orange tea, light on the sugar," said Nicole. "And I'll have the blackened shrimp pasta with just a little splash of extra tobasco," she continued, making a pinching gesture with her fingers. "And bring him something... with training wheels," she snickered. Myra glanced at René and laughed to herself in spite of René's offended expression. "Trust me on this René, I've been here before, and I know what you're thinking. But being a fire type doesn't count for much." René sighed but remained silent. Of all the things today that he could raise his voice in protest over, this was a very minor one.

"Comin' up," said Myra as she turned towards the kitchen.

"So how is it you're able to eat this stuff," asked René as he broke off the end of the loaf of bread and stuffed it in his mouth, looking around at the spices, berries, and other ingredients that were being used as decoration.

"My old master used to put curry on everything," she answered as she rolled her eyes. "A lot of it. Said it would make me strong," she laughed.

"Strong breath I'll bet," said René meekly, still unsure of where he stood.

"Yeah," Nicole laughed. "Just when I got used to it, he would sneak a pile of it into whatever I was eating, and make sure that the only water was in a well that was always uphill. I don't know how he managed that."

"Shounds like you haf a lot of reshpect for him too," mumbled René through the hunk of bread that he was eating, just now noticing that even the bread at this place was spicy and wishing his drink would get here.

"Yeah, I wouldn't be what I am without him, either," sighed Nicole in response as Myra returned with the drinks. René eagerly snatched his up while Nicole lazily stirred hers with a straw. "So, apparently you're still trying to figure out who you are," she said after a few moments of awkward silence. "Have you at least figured out what you want?"

"What, right now? I thought I wanted something with 'training wheels'," he said sarcastically.

"From life," she replied. "And you'll thank me for that, trust me."

"I'd like to become a teacher I guess," René said with a shrug. "One of the glorious, underpaid masses. A 'waste of taxpayer dividends' as my dad calls it. He thinks public education is a waste, something to babysit kids who aren't important enough to go to a 'real' school."

"So I take it that's what you have your eye on?"

"You bet your ass," laughed René.

"So what about the short term," asked Nicole. "What would you be doing today if you didn't get drug out here with your dad?"

"I don't know," shrugged René, scooting back in his chair to give the returning Maya ample space to set his food down - a chicken and rice dish that smelled far too inviting. There's this nido girl I like, I'd do something with her, but," he sighed as he picked up his fork and started sifting through the rice.

"But what?" prompted Nicole, stabbing a shrimp on her own plate with her fork and twirling some of the pasta around it.

"I don't know how," answered René after a bite of his own meal. It was very tasty and just spicy enough to add some zing. But any more would probably be too much, as much as he hated to admit it. "I mean, all my experience with girls has been as friends, I have no idea what to do with one... that's not," he shrugged.

"So what would you be doing if she was just a friend?" asked Nicole as she took a sip from her tea.

"Well," shrugged René. "I guess I would-"

"Don't care," interrupted Nicole."Doesn't matter," she said dismissively as René scowled slightly. "Whatever you were going to say, you can't do that. You're going to have to go outside your element. Outside your comfort zone." René sighed, chewing his food slowly to provide an excuse to not answer her quickly. Once again her words made sense, as much as he didn't want to hear them. "If you take her places that you go with your female friends and do things you do with your female friends, guess what she'll become."

René slowly nodded his head. "I know what you're saying," he sighed. "It's just, I'm scared, I'll admit it. I'm afraid I'll blow it, afraid I'll do or say something stupid that I'll regret. I can't believe I'm talking to you of all people about this," he said quietly as he looked up at the grinning meowth.

"Let me ask you something René," she said, setting her glass down. "It's a question my father asked me when I was young. He said, Nicole, there are two kinds of people in this world, and you need to decide which kind you are," she continued. "Many many years from now, when your mother and I are gone, and you're there on your deathbed looking back on your life, will you be the kind of person who looks back and regrets the things you did, or the the kind who looks back and regrets the things you didn't do?"

René sat for a moment, staring down at his plate. He had never thought about such a thing before, but now that he faced that sort of question, he had all kinds of thoughts running through his head. "So which are you René?" she asked, bringing him back to reality. "Are you going to own life, or are you going to let it own you?"

"I don't know," he answered. "I really don't. I mean I understand what you're saying, but it's just not that simple," he sighed. After a minute or two of silence he finally responded with a question of his own. "So what did you say," he asked. "What did you tell him?"

Nicole grinned back at him across the table. The sort of sinister, bordering on evil grin that she was known for. "I said you're wrong daddy, there are three kinds of people. You forgot the kind that look back and regret nothing. He hugged me and said he couldn't be more proud of me."

René looked at her dumbfounded yet somehow not surprised. "Geez, do I have to do everything," said Nicole with a roll of her eyes. "Is your dad going to be dragging you around by the scruff of the neck next Saturday?" she asked.

"No, not as far as I know," answered René suspiciously.

Pushing away from the table slightly Nicole took her phone out of a back pocket and made a quick call. "Hey, Corbin? It's Nikki!" she said excitedly into her phone. "I'm great, daddy's great too. Hey I need a favor, do you think there's any way you could pencil someone in this Saturday? Two someones actually," she said as she smirked at René, who looked quite uneasy. There was a brief bit of talking from the other end that René couldn't make out. "Really? Three o'clock? Great! Thanks a ton. Um, Vulpes," she siad as she cocked an eyebrow at René, silently asking if that was correct. He just nodded silently as he finished up his rice. "Thanks Corbin, I really appreciate this," she said. "Ok, bye bye!"

"Um, what was that all about?" asked René nervously as he chugged down the rest of his drink.

"That was my ski instructor," answered Nicole flatly. "You have about a week and a half to tell this girl, what's her name?"

"Um, Nicole," he answered quietly.

"What?"

"No, that's her name. Too. Nicole," René muttered.

"Well, fancy that," laughed the meowth. "Anyway you have about a week and a half to tell other Nicole that you're taking her skiing. I had to call in a big favor to get him to take you, and if you stand him up, I will be very upset, got it?"

"What?" protested René. "I've never been skiing in my life! I'm a fire type, I don't have any business in the snow!" he said, nearly jumping out of his seat. "I'm going to fall all over the place and make a complete fool out of myself!"

"Yeah, yeah you are," laughed Nicole. "And it'll be fun."

René sighed as he poked the last piece of chicken on his plate but smiled in spite of himself. "You know, all things considered, you really aren't all that bad," he laughed. "Maybe."

Nicole just shrugged as she finished off the last of her shrimp. "People reap what they sow," she said. "Most people treat me like a bitch, so that's that they get. Show me some respect, and it comes back around. But this doesn't make us friends," she said with a scowl, pointing her fork at René.

"Right," laughed the vulpix. "Look, you've given me a lot to think about. I've got a friend who works pretty near here, I can get a ride home with her if that's ok," he said as he slid out of the booth. "I'll get the check, it's the least I can do," he said with a slight smile as he turned to leave. "If my dad asks where I went or why I didn't come back to your dad's office," he started.

"I'll tell him to take it up with you," answered Nicole. "It's not my problem."

René nodded his head in response. "Thanks," he finally said with a smirk as he headed out. "For everything. Maybe..."

That was an excellent read. A little bit of insight into a character is a good thing. It may not change opinions, but it does make you look at them differently.

Cool, that's the effect I was going for

Holy crap, that was awesome. Also a side of Nikki I never would have imagined!

Myra: Phfft. I'm getting too soft with my "training wheel" meals. Next time, that kid's getting the Tamato surprise special.

She isn't evil, she's just misunderstood! Ok, maybe she's both... but there's a reason why she acts like such an evil bitch. A skewed reason maybe, but one that's understandable.

...Hmmm. That would make interactions between her and Team Safari, all of them are used to looking for predatory pokemon, and they'd immediately treat her with the respect one gives a dangerous threat.

They're the smart ones, far too many have done the opposite and paid for it

Well, you don't live long in the Safari Zone by being a jackass to dangerous people.

Rene: ...What's the surprise? And why does everyone keep calling me 'kid'?

Myra: 'Cus you act like one? Also, why would I tell you what the surprise is? It woudn't be a surprise if I did that, would it?

Rene: ...Curse your infernal logic! What is it with me and not getting along with felines?

Myra: Hell if I know, I no feline. *beat* And no "polecat" jokes or you eat Toxic for lunch.

Charla: Hey, I don't think you're that bad...for a kit.

Rene: *Eyeroll* Nikki. Charla. Myra. What did I ever do to earn the wrath of that trifecta?

Well, you do look kinda catish Myra...and not like that! And Charla? I can only deal with being reamed by one cat per day. Could you hold off for a while?

Charla: But I'm being nice!

Myra: I ain't no cat! You like it when you get called a dog, cachorrito?!

Michi: *whispering* That means "little cub"

Myra: Stop helping, Michi.

Michi: *ulp* Sorry.

Rene: Sorry, I meant nothing by it Myra. Just something about the face that reminds me of a cats'. And be nice to Michi. He thinks I look like a girl!

Michi: *blink*....you actually like that?

Myra: Yeah well you get it right. *enunciating each word while she pokes Rene's forehead with a clawed finger* I. Am. A. Skun. Tank. Not. A. Cat. ¿Comprendes?

Rene: *To Michi* Why wouldn't I?

*To Myra* Yo comprendo already. I SAID I was sorry. *Rubs his forehead* Oh how I long for a nail clipper...how do I keep ending up on the wrong side of girls like Myra and Charla?

Myra: By thinking all you got to do to be liked is to be cute, maybe?

Charla: ...didn't it start with the fact that you were already thinking ill of me before we even got to talking?

Michi: Sorry. I'm still learning about the whole "transsexual" thing. They....kind of skipped out on that lesson in school.

Rene: Beg pardon? I didn't mean to do...whatever it was that I did.

*To Charla* I apologized for that! And I thought we worked passed that...

*Pats Michi on the head* Don't worry about it.

Charla: So did I, so what's with you going on about me still trying to be an enemy to you?

Myra: Look, you nevermind. *shrug* Just takes gettin' used to. Assk Michi how long it took for us to become friends.

Michi: ...I'm your friend?

Rene: I didn't mean enemy. I just meant that you kinda, give me a hard time. Sometimes. *Looks from Myra to Michi* I guess that answers that.

Charla: Oh you know I give everyone a hard time, even those I like the most. *ruffles hair*

Michi: Well we've only been a team for a while.

Myra: And we Seniors. Not like we gonna stay together for long anyway, right?

Michi: What about Lilly's plans to have us become a team for the Battle Cook Contests?

Myra: Ehh, I still dunno about that happening. But we'll see.

Rene: I see...say Myra, how'd you develope such a tongue for spicy foods?

Myra: Easy. Ever since I was a little Stunky mi papi had this small side-business of making hot sauces to sell to his customers - Pique, Sofrito, Lavaridge-style, Legendary Hot Sauce, you name it, he sell it. He even go as far as holding contests for whichever 'morph can take in the spiciest concoctions he can think of. Even to Fire types. Thing is, contrary to what some people say, spicy food ain't spicy because of the heat. It's, the ah... como lo llamas--right, piquancy. See, it chemistry in action -- the capsaicin in the ingredients tricks your nerves into thinking they being burned but they aren't actually burning you. And a powerful enough sauce with the Scoville units through the roof--

Michi: Um, that's a measurement to determine "hotness" in chili peppers.

Myra: *annoyed* Thank you, bird genius.

Michi: Sorry!

Myra: Where was I? Right. Point is, you get the strongest peppers and herbs an' stuff you can find, you can trick a Fire-type into thinking he got burned. Sure, they're still a lot harder to "fool" than folks who aren't "Fuego" themselves, but that's half the fun. Spicy food's an irritant...and irritating is what a Skuntank's all about. Especially me!

Rene: Wow that's really...something. Yikes.

Myra: Right. That's why I think I got too soft on you last time -- your meal had maybe, I dunno, 5,000 Scoville units at most? Lame! Should have hit you with the habaneros but noooo, I had to be all nice 'cuz Nicole asked me to wheel you...

Michi: *whispering* Um...I can get you some dessert for later if you want.

Myra: Just for that, you eating the habaneros too! That's 100,000 Scoville for the both of you!

Michi: *whimper*

Man, have to agree with Kompy. This is an amazing bit of writing. Interesting to see a bit deeper into Nikki's personality and see a different side of her than what's normally presented.

cool read :D

Sweet merciful crap Batman! That was AT LEAST like NINE different kinds of awesome! The characters were written SO well and it really DOES provide a glimpse into the twisty, cunning mind of Nicole Blackclaw. Love it!

You. So. Rock!

Thanks, glad you like. Sometimes a fresh perspective can make quite an impact. Guess we'll have to see what kind of an effect a taste of the dark side can have.

Nikki: If you only knew the POWER of the Dark Side!

Rene: Stop that! That's just too scary. Your sister already looks like a Dark Lord of the Sith as it is!

Hey the dark side isn't without it's benefits, they always have cooler looking outfits for one!

True.

BTW I've always meant to ask. Why Team 'Jet'? Why that name?

It was a play on the color and gemstone naming conventions common in Pokemon. Jet being both a description of something that is absolutely black in color as well as a black gemstone.

Ah. Just wanted to be sure it was because of THAT and not something...else. Sometimes I think of their team and I picture finger snapping, musical numbers, and rumbles.

I have always wondered. o.o Thank you!

Nicole Blackclaw, a sympathetic character? D: Even I feel put to shame for having pegged her so quickly as nothing more than an evil, heartless bitch. I'm kind of surprised she took to Rene so quickly, but he seems to have a certain innocent vulnerability that makes others open up and connect with him, I think.

Can't wait to see how the skiing goes. :D

And does it say something that I visualized this entire story as drawn and animated by Kaemantis?

Oh she is an evil, heartless bitch. But there's the irony that her motives for being so might actually be... good. Her father has made a career out of taking unlikely underdogs and turning them into champions, perhaps she takes after him more than even she thinks.

And that says a lot, thanks

But she's also not entirely an angel, as her attitude towards Tenebra shows. She still wants to be daddy's girl, I think, which is why she refuses to treat her anything like a sister.

Its been said the best villains are the ones that truly believe what they say and are able to make you understand their point of view and question if they are in fact the villain or not. Very nice characterization and story.

"Please allow me to introduce myself, I'm a meowth of wealth and taste. I've been around for a long long year, stole many a 'mon's soul and faith..."

Well played, Racoon. Well played.

Wow...my perspective on her has changed drastically...she's still evil to me but not as reviled as originally percieved. In other words I'm in agreement with everybody else. Well written!

Excellent story.

Magnificen. Such a wonderful look into Rene and Nicole's personalities. It really gives them musch more demensions to them both. Brilliant work, Mr. Carlito.

LOL. Rene owns all the patent monopolies on powerful female friends (and Karen). ;D

And you gotta love Felix.

Uh oh, the "F" word!

I would love to be a flygon on the wall of that meeting, just to hear how many times he tells Rene's dad to "pull the stick outta yer ass."

I have this bit I'd love to do in which Felix seduces the fallen Hurricane Kai over to his organization. It's not that difficult. ;D It's up there on my to-do list...

He can be quite the charmer, how else do you think he snagged Nikki's mom? (Who is on MY to-do list, soon as I finish this page-length work of senseless violence )

Yeah, is she a MEowth or a Persian or what? Or do inquiring minds wanna know too much?...

Felix plays the regulah' guy so well that landing Kai should be a snap. Mostly I see him getting her drunk and making fun of Diane Steelstar (for whom he has nothing but complete professional respect of course, BUT--). It's not easy to get a giant, angry 400-lb shark drunk, but for Feliz it should be kitten's play. ;>

She's a persian. There's actually some subtle indications of that in Nikki's design, she's pretty tall for a meowth (taller than her dad, actually) and her feet are a little smaller. I kind of based Nikki's mom off of Michelle Pfeiffer to some degree. I've got some sketches but nothing final yet.

And actually I wouldn't put it past Felix to take her drinking, provoke a bar fight behind her back, then get to her side and start swinging right along with her. It's his way of showing that he's a caring, involved boss!

SO easy. ;>

And so the method behind Nicole's madness is (partially) revealed... this definitely clears up a couple of things I had been wondering about her. Seems that Rene has an innate ability to bring out the true nature of his fellow 'mon, no matter who they are.

Nikki's never really made much of an effort to disguise her true nature, it's just that nobody ever really cared to look into the matter.

Or if they did, then maybe they were too afraid that following up on it would bring bad consequences.

I love a casual work place. I bet he gave that jerk an equally uncomfortable "Slap on the back" just to give him some more red face.

I love the insight on Nikki. She's a bitch, but she is a respectable one. She's one of those antiheroes you can't help but smile at. And You gave a little more insight to Tenebra and Nikki's relationship.

So many juicey ideas are swirling in my head

She's a bitch but she knows it and doesn't apologize for it, you have to give her some props for that at least. I've been meaning to get a little more detail on those two, will likely have a little more coming up.

Well she definately has my respect. Then again after reading Paradise Lost, I was one of the few that sided with the Devil in our class discussions.

I'm on pins and needles

Well, this is very interesting. My perspective of her has been changed greatly after reading this and the answers to those interview questions that you gave to various people.
Trust me when I say that when compared to Natalia Yargasia, my sadist bitch of a Kadabra girl, Nicole looks like a sweet and kind pussycat.

Nicole looks like an angel compared to the people who actually *are* nasty, irredeemable bastards. Eli's parents, for example.

I have to say, bravo- excellent writing here!

Classic. Self-made man complex, the innate frustration or fear of people thinking you've just gotten lucky in life for having made a name for yourself, so they got to exert their capabilities constantly. Can get stressful fast as shown by this read.