I pull at the bottom hem of my black silk slip dress. The thin straps and dipping neckline makes a perfect frame for the long diamond studded necklace that pairs perfectly with my bedazzled heels and rhinestone studded purse clutch. I run my fingers over the variety of lipsticks Nessa and I bought today, my newly painted black nails brush up against the rouge red tube of lipstick.

I pluck it up from the pile and pop the cap, the satisfying sound of opening up lipstick for the first time causes a smile to spread across my lips. I brush my curly hair away from my face and hold it away with one hand as I lean close to the bathroom mirror, slowly I smear the red cosmetic across my lips with my free hand careful to follow my natural lip line. When My lips are painted Rouge, I rub them together lightly and smack my lips with a satisfied smile. I push the tube of lipstick into my small purse, careful to keep it away from the pokéballs I managed to stick into my purse.

Nessa said we'd drop our pokéballs off at the pokécenter, Trained Pokémon are banned inside clubs unless a part of staff. However, I'm not stupid enough to leave all my Pokémon at the Pokécenter. I'll leave Ninetails and Houndoom, but Zarude will be coming with me. Houndoom has always been my bodyguard Pokémon, but Zarude has always been the Pokémon I call on incase of an emergency.

A text from Nessa brakes me away from brushing my fingers against the pokéballs in my purse. I quickly close my purse and do one last eyeliner check before making my way out of the hotel and to the lobby. I take it upon myself to order a Corviknight taxi ahead of time. It pays off because by the time Nessa gets here the taxi gets her just a few minutes after.

I glance at Nessa hesitantly, the wobbly metal box of the taxi doesn't look all that safe but Nessa simply rolls her eyes and pulls me in by my wrist. I quickly take my seat before the Pokémon can take flight, to distract myself I look over what Nessa decided to wear. She too wears a silk dress slip, only hers is a beautiful ocean blue with a layered diamond necklace and black heels. Her fresh nails match her dress and her makeup is flawless as always.

"Raihan said he's goin' to pick us up from the taxi." she announces, I nod my head and close my eyes. Surprised by the fact I'm enjoying the cool night air the taxi is giving off, "You're not planning to run amuck in a city that isn't yours are you?" I smirk, crossing my arms and leaning my head back. "It's not my city, why should I care?" She scoffs, I open one eye to peek at her only to snort when I see her examining her nails out in front of her.

"Perhaps, out of respect to your fellow Gym leader?" I muse, "Trust me, once ya meet Raihan you'll understand." she sighs, crossing her arms and rolling her eyes. "Whatever you say darling," I hum, finally finding the courage to look out the window only to see a sea of black. Oddly enough, I find it soothing.

It isn't too long after our conversation that we finally arrive at Hammerlocke, the bright lights of the castle-like city making itself known before we even land. The gentleman who carried us here held out his hand to help us out of the tin box, I sent him a pretty smile and tip him generously before I let Nessa lead the way to the meet up spot. She texts frantically before her head shoots up and scans the plaza we landed in. Her blue eyes suddenly narrow before going wide and she starts to wave frantically. I follow her line of sight to a man, he's tall, six foot easy with dark skin that matches Nessa's.

He has a smirk itched on his lips as he gets closer, Nessa takes me by my hand and pulls me to meet him halfway. "Welcome to Hammerlocke," He greets once in range, I audibly gasp at the sight of his eyes. Blue, so very blue. While Nessa has pretty blue eyes hers remind me of the ocean in sunlight, his eyes, they look like fire. Like the blazing blue fire of a Mega Charizard X.

"See something ya like love?" He smirks, "Your eyes are beautiful." I complement. The man goes stiff and red tints his ears, "Don't take it to heart Raihan, she had the same reaction to me when we met." Nessa snorts. I recall that, I was in the middle of talking to her manager when she came over. I stopped mid sentence to pay her that compliment. A small laugh floats from my lips as I watch the grown man pout, but it's soon replaced with a small smile when he turns his attention back to me.

"(y/n)." I introduce holding out my hand, "Raihan, at ya service my lady." He muses, taking my hand in his and kissing my knuckles. I quirk my eyebrow at him and smirk, "Local charmer I assume." I laugh. "Ya damn right." He grins, I hum in acknowledgement, "Well I don't know about you Raihan, but Nessa and I need to make a quick stop at the Pokécenter before we can start our fun. If you would be so kind as to escort us there it would be much appreciated." I smile flawlessly.

Raihan lets out a low whistle, "Fellow charmer I assume?" he chuckles. "Of the sort, but unlike you it comes with the job." I muse. Raihan nods before turning to Nessa, he jerks his head to gesture to follow him. I link my arm with Nessa as we follow behind him, turns out the Pokécenter wasn't all that far away from where we dropped off. One quick visit to Nurse Joy and we were ready to head out.

Raihan leads us through the streets and steadily the crowd gets bigger and bigger. I didn't know where we were until we turn onto a street with lines of neon signs and people, however Raihan didn't lead us into any of them. Instead he led us into a back way where he took a few turns, low and behold there's a door along the left wall, a neon sign lights up the alleyway. An Haxorus head glows in the dark with the words "Dragon's Castle'.

I hum at the name, "How fitting," I giggle, "Only the best for famous first time visitors." Raihan responds. I watch him knock on the door three times before a slot on the door opens up, Raihan flashed the pair of eyes behind it a grin, almost instantly the door opens. Raihan steps to the side and allows us in first, Nessa walks through the door first and I follow her in. I can't help but glance to the side looking for the owner of the pair of eyes, a buff man stood stiffly with his arms crossed with a Obstagoon not too far behind him.

I sent them both a smile before descending down a staircase. Nessa's silhouette forming against flashing purple and blue lights at the bottom of the staircase, muffled music slowly becomes more clear the closer we get to the bottom of the stairs. "What is this place?" I question Raihan who walks behind me, "It's a club love, only the kind where you have to know someone to get in." He calls back in return. "And if I choose to attend myself?" I ask as we're just a few steps away from the bottom, "Well," He calls as Nessa is the first to exit the stairway. However I pause upon the sight I'm met with when the hallway opens up.

Masses of bodies slur together as the bump of the music floods with my ears and clashes with the bump of my heart. "It'll take a few visits and more of that pretty smile of yours to get ya access here, but stick with me love and you'll be a local star in no time." He mumbles softly into my ear as his hands brush against my hips when he pushes past me to follow after Nessa.

I lick my lips and scan the crowd one last time before following after the two, I meet them at the bar where I take a seat next to Nessa. Raihan and Nessa are quick to order their drinks but I request a menu with a toothy smile, the man behind the bar slides one over to me with a small smile in return. I nibble on my lip as I scan the menu, I feel someone loom over me and I glance over to the hovering figure.

Raihan scans the menu with me before tapping his finger against one of the drinks, "Desert storm, was named after me." He smirks. I scan the menu to see its under something called the Gym challenge drink set, "What's this drink set it's under?" I question. Raihan laughs as Nessa rolls her eyes while receiving her drink, "Well obviously it's a set of drinks, but the thing is that every drink is modeled after gym leaders and Champion. If you can beat the challenge you get free drinks the rest of the night," He chuckles, "Is there a catch?" I mumble scanning the different drinks, "You gotta be able to do it within the hour." He shrugs.

I look over at Nessa, "Have you done it?" I ask, "Yeah, but I didn't have it in me to use my free drinks for the rest of the night." She grumbles. "But that was like...a year or so ago." she mumbles, I tab my newly painted nails against the bar in thought, "Hey Raihan?" I called. The man hums in the edge of his glass he's sipping on, "How much street credit would I get if I beat the challenge?" I muse. Raihan paused in thought, "Well given the fact that only me, Nessa, and Lee only ever managed it I'd say it'll be enough for them to know your name." He chuckles.

I lick my lips and smirk, "Excuse me!" I call the bartender. The man hurries over and I send him my prettiest smile, "I'd like the gym challenge drink set." I chime. The man's face goes slack in shock, "Are ya sure bout love?" He questions, "Sure am!" I giggle. He glances over to Raihan, looking for some sort of permission, Raihan must have given him the okay before moving away to ready the drinks.

"Who does he think you are? My keeper?" I huff with a pout, "A dragon to a princess." Raihan smirks. My eyes widen and I spin around in my chair, I don't think twice before hooking the man by the front of his dragon themed hoodie and bringing him down to my height. "I am not a princess, and if you think for one second a mere dragon is capable of sweeping me away. I'd be more than happy to show you how a queen like myself conquers over his kingdom." I all but sneer. I watch Raihan blink twice before letting him go and turning back to the bar, "Period." Nessa butts in with a smirk.

"Now, I think I'd like my drinks now." I chime out, taking advantage of the prying eyes of the bar. The still air that took over our little corner went back to chattering as the bartender rushed over with a tray of ten different shots. I smile as he lines them up in front of me, each one progressively getting bigger and bigger, the champion shot is easily three gulps.

"The rules are ya have to be able to finish each shot within the hour, ya reward is the rest of your drinks tonight is on the house." the bartender explains, "You can drink'em in whatever order ya want but it's recommended to be the order they're set in." He continues, "good luck." He finishes.

I lick my lips as I eye the first shot, I decide not to think about it and dive in. I down the first four, being the easiest of the bunch given it only takes one gulp, I flip the glasses over and look at the next four. I'd have to take two sips from them while the last two take three. I take a moment to think this through while I still can, I could probably section the remaining six shots into three groups with twenty minutes between.

I roll my shoulders and send Raihan a smile, "Keep me company?" I purr. "For the night?" He chuckles, "Just till I can down these shots, Nessa doesn't have much patience." I muse looking over to see the girl already done with her first drink. Raihan shrugs, "I don't see why not." He chuckles while taking a seat beside me.

"Tell me (y/n), why ya here?" he questions, I lean against the bar with a hum, "Ambition." I answer with a smile. "The gym challenge?" He questions, "Bigger, the Pokémon league." I answer. "What's a pretty thing like you want with a room full of stuffy old men?" He chuckles, "Revenge." I answer simply. "Complex. Sexy." He snorts while taking another sip of his drink.

"I'm a lot more complex than people give me credit for, much to people's surprise I'm not all sparkles and fairy types despite having been a Pokéstar." I snort, "Then tell me what is your preferred type?" He grins, I glance up to the clock high above the bar. I take my next two shots before looking back at Raihan, I lick my lips and smile. "Dark types." I muse. 

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