Premier

  A day of rest and rexation had seemed like a great idea to Annie. They'd been so busy tely, and while it was good to train everyone to focus, sometimes you just needed a breather. A few new gym badges were pinned on Annie's bag, and some Trainer Battles and exciting date nights were cataloged in the Dex. They'd fought in a Tournament and even helped a few Rangers tackle a Beheeyem invasion, an honorary orange beret, something Telly liked to wear now and then when she was trying to show off.

  Wyndon didn't have a gym to worry about, so a day off where they could rex seemed like a great alternative to the usual pnning. It was proving much more challenging to pull off than Annie had anticipated.

  Telly was rolling about on the park grass, her ears bouncing and long grey sweater sleeves filing as Mirri danced around her, not letting up with her endless barrage of compliments.

  "You're Annie's favorite, and none of us mind because you're also our favorite. The strongest of us all, a mind sharper than any bde and the prettiest, shaggiest fur." Mirri ughed as a shing arc of pink psychic energy burst from the Espurr's eyes as she rolled onto her back and gred at the dancing Impidimp.

  Mirri barely dodged it, spinning on her heels as the arc of energy kept flying out across the skies of Wyndon and neatly bisecting a cloud in two.

  "Holy shit," Mirri whistled. "Annie, our girl could make a Gardevoir blush. I'm a little scared and a lot aroused."

  Annie took a bite of her prawn mayonnaise sandwich and smiled. It was delicious; she'd worried when Maki had spent about half an hour making it, but the Sinistea's overzealous efforts had paid off this time. "You're the one who wanted to power her up. You could have learned a Move that didn't need you to tease her to do it."

  "And miss out on an excuse to tell this fuzzy moggy how much we love her? Never!" Mirri ughed, diving on Telly and wrapping her up in a hug. "Ftter forever. Shame I can't use it on Maki without her stumbling about like she's drunk on her own tea."

  Annie held up her sandwich, and Maki leaned over her shoulder to take a bite. Her plump lumps with the brilliant cyan lipstick took a long bite, an excuse to stare at Annie with brilliant golden eyes. "My tea is delicious. I love delicious things."

  "She's not thinking about sandwiches or tea," Telly mumbled from the grass, rubbing her head. "Though she is thinking about eating. Wow, that Move is annoying, Mirri, but everything feels clear afterward. I feel like I could blow up the moon."

  "I am awesome like that," Mirri said as she offered a hand to Telly with a fanged smile. Telly rose and stretched up on her tiptoes to pat Mirri's horns. Then she settled back, her purple eyes glowing brightly as she stared up into the sky, making little explosion noises under her breath.

  Mirri ughed nervously and gave her a gingerly hip bump. "Hey pup, you're not going to blow up the moon, right?"

  "Maybe," Telly sniffed the air. "Can I have a bit of Annie's sandwich?"

  Annie held out, and Mirri walked over to break a bit off, then hopped back to Telly quickly to feed it to her. Telly pped her little pink tongue at her fingers, eyes fluttering happily. "The moon can live."

  "Good, I don't want the Legendaries up there to come down and compin," Mirri ughed, then sat beside Annie and Maki. Their head tilted as she tried to work out how to sneak into Annie's p without squashing her. She settled for settling her head in there, legs kicking against the park grass. "Ftter is awesome. It wouldn't be as good a Move if it weren't for this team. Telly can't be confused, and now you've inherited Own Tempo from her, Annie can't either. I can safely power up our lovely trainer through shameless compliments."

  "I can power up our trainer too," Maki said, pressing her hands to Annie's top and letting her hands turn to that purple and gold-swirled liquid that so easily flowed through the gaps in Annie's shirt. The liquid caressed the soft curves of her breasts, warm and with just a little pressure that made it a pleasantly soft squeeze. "You know what she's like when she's worked up."

  "We know," Mirri and Telly both replied in unison, then giggled at their perfect match. Annie gave Mirri's head a nudge with her thigh and leaned back against the firm bulwark that was Maki.

  "It's nice being pampered, but don't push it, Maki," Annie said, feeling a warm flush creeping over her cheeks as she took another bite of her sandwich. "We're all having a day off. No sex, just rexation."

  "Then I'll just make sure you're rexed," Maki whispered, making Annie shiver. The heat behind her words worked very nicely for her. Maki licked Annie's earlobe, pressing her face into Annie's blue and pink hair as she began to chew.

  "Oh, that is rexing," Telly purred, giving herself a zy lick, her long pink tongue curling out from her mouth to run across her nose. Seeing it made Annie's insides squirm a little, and she ducked her eyes to regain her composure. Mirri was in her p, tongue poked out and waggling at her.

  Annie pressed a finger to Mirri's tongue and pushed it back into her mouth, which just left her sucking on Annie's fingertip.

  "You are all terrible at rexing." Annie sighed but couldn't keep herself from smiling. She had the best Pokémon in all of Gar, and it was hard to be mad at them for trying to press her buttons. "If you can't do it naturally, I will force you."

  "Oh really?" Mirri grinned, "How are you going to do that?"

  Annie leaned back against her touchy-feely Sinistea. Maki took her weight effortlessly, and something stirred in Annie, knowing she had all this power underneath her, ready to be molded. "Maki, sit on your hands. Telly, sit up. Mirri-"

  Annie got a hand under Mirri's chin, gripping her jaw and squeezing her cheeks. "Be a good girl."

  "Yes, ma'am." the Impidimp said, eyes wide behind her domino mask.

  "Good." Annie smiled, "The next person to bring up sex will be forced to watch while I treat the other two."

  "I am going to be a very, very good girl, Annie." Telly mewled, sitting upright and looking at her trainer with an expectant gleam in her eyes. "Only clean thoughts. Mirri is still thinking of eating you out."

  "Tattletale! And you brought sex up; Annie isn't psychic. She wouldn't have known!"

  "I'm excusing Telly because you were probably baiting her, Mirri." Annie ughed. Mirri's pout proves her judgment right. "Come on, enjoy some sunshine and unwind with me. We've all earned it."

  There was a long, peaceful moment as they all settled down. Mirri closed her eyes in Annie's p as she stroked her skin. Maki moved from feeling Annie up to actually trying to do a massage. A little tricky at first, but Telly mumbled out instructions as she shared Annie's headspace and the feeling of those soft, liquid fingers pressing into flesh. She was getting really good at it after some guidance, melting through the little aches and pains the journey had built up. Another victory for the power of teamwork.

  Annie leaned her head against Maki's rather comfortable chest. She watched the clouds while the Sinistea politely explored her body with probing hands. The cut Telly had made in the clouds had healed over now. A few people in the park were still watching and gossiping about it. Telly had clearly been peeking in on their heads to calm herself down. She'd gotten incredible control tely but still got rather spacey if she didn't constantly use her Psychic Moves. So it wasn't a huge surprise she broke the quiet first.

  "Guess how many people are imagining Annie naked?"

  "A thousand," Mirri said and tilted her head. "A thousand and one now. Mmmm."

  "In this park, not including us. I'll say three." Maki said, "She's not showing much skin, and we're probably more distracting than she is. Her best asset is warming my p."

  "It's between those." Telly snickered. "Five. Maki was closer."

  "Really?" Mirri gasped, her pink ponytail filing around her horns, almost like it was slumping over to pout. "People got no taste here. Annie, take off your top and win me the bet."

  "You really think that's going to work?" Annie stroked Mirri's pink ponytail, picking up the fat blob of hair and batting her in the face with it. "Behave."

  "We are behaving," Mirri said with a splutter, spitting out a few loose strands of hair. "It's your fault. You are the best thing in all of Gar, like our own personal goddess. How are we supposed to behave when in the presence of a divine body like yours?"

  Annie felt the praise settle on her like a bnket. Mirri's Ftter wasn't what she'd expected; she'd been ready for insincerity, but every word from Mirri's lips was so heartfelt it resonated deep inside. It was wonderful, and even as Annie was rolling her eyes at Mirri's games, she felt the praise and affection warming her up, helping her think more clearly.

  Spending time with her Partners was lovely, but they were an active bunch, and the challenges they'd been tackling always brought out the best in them. Telly focused harder, Maki turned her adoration of the group into a protectiveness that made her a bulwark against any attack, and Mirri let her mischief spill out to infuriate her enemies while always quick to pick up anyone who was fgging. Struggle made them all shine. Sitting back and rexing made them restless, and they started acting up.

  Still, they couldn't just spend all their time fighting and fucking. As attractive an idea as that was, she wanted more than that for the group. Something challenging that wasn't going to have her a naked, sweaty mess for once.

  "Telly, is anyone not thinking of me naked?"

  "Only one, she's weird," Telly whispered. "She's thinking of putting clothes on you."

  "Weird," Mirri said.

  "Incredibly weird." Maki agreed.

  "Let's go say hello to her," Annie said, "Maybe she'll take the chance to prove you all wrong."

  "No chance," Mirri snorted. "You naked is the best thing ever."

  That extra dose of Ftter washed through Annie, and her heart beat quicker from the praise, everything sharpening around her. No wonder this Move confused people normally; without inheriting Telly's mental training, she'd have been left a blushing mess. Only Mirri could weaponize honesty.

  Annie took a deep breath and nudged Maki to help her up. The Sinistea took her time, her hands dancing over Annie's body as she slowly raised her to a stand. Maki was still a little scared of separation and clung to Annie protectively like she'd slip away if Maki didn't keep contact. They were working on it, but it'd only gotten worse as Maki had fallen deeper and deeper in love with her. Even on a rexing day like today, Maki had that fear about her, so Annie let her hold hands to calm her.

  They strolled across the park, Mirri and Telly squabbling like sisters as Annie tried not to ugh at them. As her hips swayed, she felt heads turn her way. They'd probably been looking anyway sneakily, but everyone was being a lot less subtle about it now the hips were in py. She didn't mind the attention; it didn't make her feel good, but she didn't dislike it either. If people enjoyed looking, they were welcome to look.

  The groups descended on a woman sitting under a tree who stood out like a sore thumb. She had a gorgeous full-length dress patterned with green fmes that faded to a night sky. Two feathers, bck on the edge with blocky grey squared on the inside, pinned two fiery red ponytails back so long they trailed on the ground. Her golden eyes roved over Annie and her team with open, confident interest before she craned her neck to look at Annie.

  A spark flickered between them, not one of lust. It was that hot thrill Annie got so rarely. That burning in her belly when she cshed with someone strong enough to take all she had to give. Who didn't just melt before her but stiffened their spine and rose to a challenge many had found impossible. She'd never gotten it from just a look before. Could you inherit that kind of thing?

  "The Park Trainer is interested in me," the woman said, a smile quirking her lips. She had a cute, upturned nose, and her dress was dropped at the front to show the curves of her cleavage. "You've made quite a stir already with your hair. Pink and blue, is it dyed, or have you really inherited it from a Hattena?"

  "No, it's natural," Annie said, reaching up and stroking a lock of her hair. The stranger's eyes lingered on her curls, chewing her bottom lip. "And my mother was a Hatterene."

  "Impossible," she ughed, "There can't be more than twenty of them in all of Gar and even fewer who have a Partner."

  "Our Annie is quite the special woman," Maki said, taking Annie's side. One arm slipped around her waist as she leaned on her. "Practically unique."

  "Agreed, a once-in-a-lifetime catch. You must feel very lucky to find a Partner so pretty."

  "More blessed than you can imagine." Maki agreed, rubbing her head against Annies. "She's everything we could ask for and more."

  "Well, she certainly seems to be agreeing with you," the stranger smiled, "I've never seen a Sinistea look so content."

  The little fre of pride Annie got off that compliment was unexpected but welcome. She was used to everything in life being easy, but helping her Partners was the first real challenge she'd had in a long time. She could see their progress, but having it validated just felt good.

  "Her name is Maki," Annie said, stroking her hand through Maki's dreadlocks and smiling at the little bubbly sigh she let out at the affection. "I don't suppose you could tell us yours? Since she's given away mine already."

  "Ria, and I'd give you more than my name if you want," she said with a sly smile, her golden eyes shining.

  "We should break that no sex talk rule," Mirri said, "I want to hear what else is on offer."

  "Shush," Annie said, squeezing one of Mirri's horns. Her tongue lolled out happily as her ponytail wrapped around Annie's wrist. "I'm sure she didn't mean that."

  "Well," Ria waved a hand from side to side. "I won't lie and say it wasn't on my mind. You are simply gorgeous, and I am only human. But I actually do have something else I'd love to ask you. Tell me, Annie, have you ever done modeling?"

  "Modeling?" Annie's eyebrow raised, "No, why?"

  "Because I think you'd be a natural," Ria smiled, leaning in. "Your figure is simply stunning, and you've already got a unique look with your hair that makes you stand out." Ria raised the top cloth fp off a heavy bag next to her, revealing a chunky camera with a huge lens attachment that looked like it weighed more than Telly. "I'm trying to break into the fashion market as a Photographer. I'd do anything to get you in my portfolio."

  Annie looked down at her white shirt and bck skirt. It was a functional outfit, and her Hattene inheritance had left her with wide hips and a generous chest that turned eyes easily. She'd never needed to dress up before. The idea of it was almost alien to her. "I don't know anything about fashion."

  "Perfect!" Ria cpped. "I'll teach you a few things you might find useful as we go. I can see your partners are interested."

  Mirri gave Annie the puppy eyes, Telly's ears were pricked up, and her eyes shone with curiosity. Maki was practically vibrating, her porcein armor jingling as she stared off into space, no doubt imagining some saciously impractical outfit.

  "I think they're more eager for clothes to come off than go on." Annie said, "But it would be good to learn a new skill."

  "You'll have to take orders from Ria, too," Mirri said. "You could use the practice of listening to people; you tend to bulldoze right over them. Which is fun to watch, but I know you want to learn a gentler touch. It'll be good training for you."

  "I'm not opposed to being bulldozed," Ria grinned as she packed her bag. "After the photo shoot."

  Telly giggled, hiding her mouth with a sleeve. "She thinks she can take Annie. That'll be fun to watch."

  "I might surprise you," Ria said, offering Annie a hand. "There's a small studio I can hire that's a short walk from here. Usually, they won't let me book on short notice, but I feel they'll make an exception for you."

  "I can be convincing." Annie nodded, taking Ria's hand. It was warm and firm in her grip, her fingers wrapping around Annie's hand as she gave her a squeeze. Annie squeezed back a little harder, which got a grin from Ria.

  "Oh, I bet you can," Ria's eyes gleamed.

  ---

  Ria was an aspiring modeling photographer, so her setup wasn't exactly professional. The studio wasn't even a dedicated pce for photography, but a colorful yellow-painted house that a Ribombee was hiring out. Annie had expected a fight to get in, but the Ribombee had taken one look at Annie and congratuted Ria, teasing her cheeks with quick tongue licks as she buzzed around her.

  "Fizz, come on!" Ria ughed, batting back the Ribombee with a hand. Her enormous white wings patterned with brown loops fluttered behind her as she licked the hand instead. "I'm working!"

  "You're kicking me out of my living room! I deserve a few licks and to enjoy an eyeful of your partner, too. Woof. Are you dating?" Fizz said, buzzing over and circling Annie. Her twin antennae poked through her long honey-colored hair and bounced excitedly as she nodded in appreciation. "Ria's a real catch that nobody has found the right bait for; if you're dating, I want to hear how you did it; I've been trying for weeks."

  "Fizz!" Ria clucked her tongue in exasperation at her. "I want to work? Stop ogling my model."

  "She's ours anyway," Maki said, holding up a hand to keep Fizz from licking at Annie. She settled for licking the Sinistea's hand instead, smacking her lips thoughtfully.

  "Someone's put some sugar in your tea," Fizz said with a big smile. Her pure bck eyes had a cute oval shape that made her always look cheerful, and she certainly wasn't disabusing the idea. "That's quite a nice mix. I can even taste some caramel?"

  It was Maki's turn to be embarrassed. She'd been very bitter when Annie had met her, and their retionship had mellowed out the Ghost so much. Her flowing body was nearly always in perfect shape, and the purple and golden swirls had only grown more patable. It was a little weird to say your partner's taste was improving, but that's how it worked with Sinistea. It was the perfect thing to say to win Maki's loyalty immediately.

  "You look like a bunch of powerful Pokémon, so can you help me shift my things to one side of the room?" Fizz said as she stepped back. "Come on, I'll show you how to set up."

  They all helped push the furniture to the side in the Ribombee's big, open living room. It was a kitschy pce, with all pastels, colorful yellows, and whites that made it look like the cartoon idea of a pce to live. Annie was pretty sure the couch was the same shade as Fizz's hair. Incredibly tacky and yet somehow adorable in just how earnest it was. It didn't surprise her that she wasn't having much luck with Ria. Her loud sense of interior design didn't gel with Ria's fiery yet refined look.

  Once they'd cleared the pce, Fizz flew up to pull down a massive white backdrop from a roller built into the ceiling. Once it was fully unfolded, it turned one-half of her room into a white void. Fizz then fluttered down to Annie and led her into the center of it all.

  "Ria, Going to need me to Switcheroo her?"

  "And the lightning, if you could," Ria said as she set up her camera on a tripod. "This is your first shoot, Annie, but don't worry, you'll kill it. Fizz is going to swap out your clothes with her Move Annie. She's got a bunch stored. I promise they're not all, you know-"

  Ria waved a hand to gesture to the half of the living room that was jellybean colored. Maki had sat on the middle of the yellow sofa, Telly and Mirri squeezed in either side of her, all looking excited for a show. It'd actually be good focus training for them. They'd have to watch without disturbing Ria's work.

  "We won't put you in anything too risqué," Fizz buzzed. "Unless you're okay with that?"

  "Ria said she wanted to teach me some fashion, so I'd like to start with casual wear?" Annie said, "And something for tournaments. But I'm fine with doing more if we've got time."

  "Nobody disturbs this," Mirri whispered to the others. "We need that time."

  "Annie looks lovely in everything; the more we get of her, the better." Maki nodded.

  "I shall watch and reflect," Telly said. "I'm the quiet one."

  What a shameless liar. Telly was as noisy as any of them when she was excited. Still, seeing them all supporting each other on this was good. Half the time, they felt more like a messy family than partners, but that didn't make Annie love them any less.

  "Right," Ria said, stepping away from her camera. "Fizz, are you ready? Let's start with a chiffon dress. Purple or Emerald Green."

  "Not yellow? Aw, alright then," Fizz said, her wings fluttering and shimmering around the edges.

  Annie's clothes melted into white light shining on her body until there was a loud clicking sound in the air, and it all shifted rapidly across her body to take the shape of a dress. It was all one piece, two purple straps crossed over her chest and behind her back to secure it, the top half hung close to her skin, accentuating her curves. Annie's chest wasn't massive, but she had a nice handful, and the smooth sheer fabric was very complementary in highlighting the curve. Annie might overwhelm women easily, but she wasn't deaf; she knew her hips and ass were something people got reverential over, and the dress clung to it in one smooth curve, only turning into pleats halfway down her thigh.

  "So simple," Annie said, twisting to look at the dress down the side. It really showed off the curve of her hips. "Strange not to have a belt or anything, I feel like it's sprayed over me. How would I put this on without tearing it?"

  "It's a cloth that stretches; you'll find it hugs, but as long as it's well-tailored, it won't pinch too much. You'd want the hips taken out, fuck I'm jealous of your hips. Is that what a Hatterene has?"

  "I'm a pale reflection of my mother, I'm afraid," Annie smiled, "People can't handle her."

  "I can't even imagine," Ria licked her lips. She was clearly trying. She took a moment to shake herself back to reality and walked over to Annie. "Okay, so Fizz, light her nicely, please. A bright summer day is good. Annie, I think you've got a very confident look?"

  "You've no idea," Mirri chuckled. "Enough to make Steel Types jealous."

  Not the only ones; the heat was pouring from Ria's golden eyes as she gingerly reached out a hand, asking for permission to touch. Annie took her hand and put it on the side of her hip, enjoying the blush that raced over Ria's cheeks. She wasn't trying to break Ria, but something about her just made Annie want to prod her a little.

  "So I'm going to try and get you in a few poses where you can really py up your natural confidence," Ria said, her twin red ponytails wafting behind her as she took Annie's wrist and put it on her hip. "Try leaning to one side and letting the dress hang off you. Do you have a memory that makes you smile?"

  "A lot more tely," Annie said, looking to her partners. "Telly, you get to be first. The first time you got to walk around town without giving people headaches, you were dancing on your feet so much I thought you would float away. I was so proud of you. We got a donut, and you ate it in one bite. I've never ughed so hard."

  Telly hid her eyes with her sleeves, smiling as Maki nudged her with an elbow. The memory of it really did warm Annie's heart. Telly's good mood eventually bled out across the whole town, and people bought her all sorts of treats as a thank you.

  "Hold that thought!" Ria raced back to her camera, whispering madly with Fizz. A few glimmering lights twinkled into existence around Annie, warm and soft. They made Annie's skin glow and her blue and pink hair shine. Ria's camera shutter clicked madly as Annie held that pose. "Fizz color is your thing. Can you give her a little theory?"

  "Sure, sweet thing," Fizz said as she fluttered her wings, the lights slowly drifting around Annie and casting different shadows. "Ribombee see more colors than most. It's why my house might look odd to you, but I swear, I know my stuff. This sort of simple wear is good for day-to-day because it doesn't take much effort to put on and looks amazing. You want to find bck, purple, greens, and yellows to match your hair. Avoid Orange and Red if you can, maybe a little as an accent, but as the main color, it won't work."

  "I usually wear white shirts," Annie said as Ria stood up, "Do I need to toss them all out?"

  "No, they'll be fine, but they're pin. You're pretty enough you can make pin look good," Ria said, coming up and adjusting Annie's arm, moving it further up her hip, "I can't have my favorite model running around less than fabulous."

  "You've known her for an hour!" Maki heckled from the sofa.

  "And she's already my favorite." Ria grinned at Maki as she returned to her camera, "Now, Annie, lean your head towards me a little. Look off to the side, think happy thoughts, and let the confidence shine through. There, just like that."

  Ria's camera clicked a few times, her fingers adjusting the settings on the back of it. Fizz buzzed and hovered nearby, her wings shimmering with a white tint that made her a living spotlight. Together, the pair seemed to really know what they were doing. It was surprising they hadn't hooked up yet with how enthusiastic they both were about their work.

  They tried a few more dresses. Annie got a few uproarious whistles from the sofa crowd when she tied off her waist with a sash, and the shorter the dresses got, the quieter everyone acted. A palpable hunger in the air as it went on.

  "She needs to try a suit," Fizz eventually cut in as Ria mused over another dress. It hadn't even been an hour, and Annie was losing count of all the styles they'd cycled through. It felt like Ria would have made her try on every dress Fizz had if the Ribombee hadn’t cut in. "She's got the shoulders for it and seems more of a suit woman to me."

  "I'm a Trainer too," Annie said, "I need loose clothing for what I do. Suits are stuffy."

  "Stuffy?" Ria gasped, "Annie, goodness, no, you've just had bad suits. Anything well-tailored enough will fit you like a second skin. Fizz, let's have the dark green waistcoat with the scks and a ruffled colr shirt."

  The clothes were switched again with a click of Fizz's fingers, and Annie found herself squeezed into a pair of scks that strained against her thighs and felt right around the belt. The waistcoat was thankfully much looser, the dark green of it patterned with bck vines that crawled across the fabric. She tugged it to make it settle better, then snapped her head at the shocked gasps.

  "I didn't even think she could look hotter," Mirri said as she clutched Telly's hand for support, "But here we are."

  "That's not a good thing," Telly said, fanning her face. "If she gets any hotter, I think I'm going to die. I don't want to take my sweater off, but look at her! Maki!"

  "I'm looking," Maki said, her golden eyes wide and fixated on Annie's hips. "I am looking very hard."

  Annie was used to getting stares and being the center of attention, but this was something else. A shiver ran up her spine as Ria stared at her, mouth agape as Fizz giggled at her reaction. That look was doing all sorts of things to Annie's head. She didn't think of herself as prideful, but stealing away someone's breath with just her looks? It had a power to it that was a little intoxicating. She could see the appeal if this was the reaction she got to looking well-dressed.

  "This feels better than the dress," Annie said, "It's tighter around the waist than what I'm used to but more comfortable than I thought it'd be. I feel like I could run in this."

  "You can do anything in a well-tailored suit," Ria said, still staring and looking lost. Her cheeks were flushed with heat, and her breathing was heavy; sweat glistened on her neck. Fizz fanned her with a wing, trying to stifle her ughs at Ria's reaction by biting her fist.

  "Anything?" Annie teased, rolling her hips. "I think some things would be challenging."

  "Don't!" Ria squeaked, composure cracking. "Don't stress it. Those pants are tight on you. They might tear."

  "Tear! Tear! Tear!" Mirri chanted from behind her. Maki joined in, both of them bobbing on the sofa while Telly tried to shush them.

  "Tear off or rip the seam?" Annie asked, "Because either way, I'd love to hear the noise that makes."

  "You're a devil," Ria muttered as she leaned to look through her camera. "I want you to tug the front of the waistcoat like you're adjusting it. Can you change your look from happy to proud?"

  "Mirri, you're up then. What about you makes me proud?"

  "You don't have to do this," Mirri said, csping Telly's hand with both of hers and squeezing. "Skip me and go to Maki."

  "You're the first person outside of my family to make me change how I think." Annie tugged her waistcoat as she reminisced. "I used to think everything was easy, that only other people struggled. But you saw how I rarely smiled and made it your task to fix that. You don't care about talent or skill. You just care about me. I'm lucky to have you."

  "This bitch," Mirri moaned into Maki's arm. "I learn Ftter, and she's the one who ends up confusing with fttery. Saying nice things with no mercy like that. Maki, Shadow Ball her, and we'll call it a day."

  "Not a chance," Maki smiled. "I'm going to be next, and I want to hear it. You can take your compliments with more grace."

  "Even Maki is saying I'm a mess," Mirri buried her face even deeper into Maki's arm, trying to hide herself entirely from sight. "I hate this."

  Ria didn't hate it, snapping away while Fizz illuminated her like a halo. "Hold that pose, please. Arceus, you were really made for the camera. I wish I were this pretty."

  "You are beautiful," Fizz said, leaning in to lick the back of Ria's neck. She yelps and nearly tips her camera over, but Telly's glowing eyes right her and it before anything breaks.

  "Fizz!"

  "I don't like it when I hear you lie," Fizz tutted. "Be more honest. You have a good critical eye, Ria. It's what I love about you."

  "You've got eyes of your own, Annie's a walking fantasy!"

  "I'm a simple Ribombee. We don't see things like you humans do. More colors and sensitive tongues." Fizz said, putting a hand on Ria's shoulder and turning around so she could give her a fluttering kiss, "You, my pretty flower, are all I ever have eyes for."

  Ria didn't answer. Her blush did that for her.

  "Okay, okay," Ria said, returning to her camera, breathing quickly to try to clear the sudden fog of adoration from her head. "Enough bug teasing. Let me work."

  "I am happy to watch you work," Fizz smiled, putting a finger over her mouth to swear Annie to secrecy. When Ria bent over to take her photos, she thrust her ass out, and Fizz was getting herself an eyeful. Annie was all for this cute couple actually getting together. They needed a helping nudge. She'd wait for a chance to give it.

  "So what about suits makes them special?" Annie said as she followed Ria's guidance, letting the camera get its shots in.

  "They're seen as powerful, which suits Trainers. A lot of Professors wear suits, and a lot of the top Trainers wear them if they don't have a costume. If you lean into your own style, it becomes your costume. You look great in a waistcoat and tight pants. A single-breasted suit for warmer weather would look incredible, too. You can mix them with knee-length skirts if you want to, but you make pants look so good it seems almost criminal not to show off everything your legs can do."

  "She gives good advice," Telly nodded, "She really does. You look as good as you are!"

  "Another good thing about suits," Fizz added, "Is they're a lot of fun to take off. Just the right amount of yers and easier than a dress. It's the sexiest to unwrap, no question."

  "Fizz," Ria's voice was warning. "Let me finish."

  "Speaking of unwrapped," Fizz continued, heedless. "If she's your new model, aren't you going to do your specialty?"

  "Speciality?" Annie asked, turning her head a little so Ria could get a good profile shot of her. "This isn't your specialty? What is it, dresses?"

  "She's a true artist," Fizz ughed as Ria tried to kick her without looking. "She designs lingerie, and working with her on those shoots is always a pleasure."

  "Lingerie is the best way to accentuate curves," Ria says, hiding behind the camera and trying to keep herself sounding professional. "And a Pokémon favorite, but we might not have the time."

  "We got time," Maki said, "We can stay forever."

  "No, we can't!" Annie snapped. Still, she had an idea of how to help this couple now. "But, we can stay a while. Come on, Ria, I'm curious, don't be ashamed of your talents."

  "I'm not that big a deal." Ria huffed, and Annie felt that spark again. Ria had something in her that riled Annie up and made her want to grab Ria and shake her. She had no idea what it was, but she wasn't going to resist it anymore. Walking over, she pulled Ria from behind the camera; still bent over, she used her new look to loom over her, looking down with narrowed eyes.

  "Ria," she growled, "You are a big deal."

  "But..." Ria's objection faded in the face of Annie's overpowering gre.

  "You ae. Get up here with me. Telly, can you operate the camera?"

  "I'll read her mind to do it!" Telly slid off the sofa and ran over, "Mirri, help hold it for me!"

  "Sure thing, pipsqueak," Mirri said, joining her as Annie led Ria onto the white stage with one hand under her chin.

  "Now," Annie said, letting her voice drop. "I'm sick of hearing you put yourself down. You have talent. Fizz sees it. I can feel it. "

  "O-okay," Ria said, gulping, her cheeks a dark red. "That's just my Rivalry. I inherited from my mother, it makes women um ... um ..."

  "Want to impress you?"

  "Yes, that. But the real me isn't that impressive," Ria swallowed. "Really, I struggle."

  "You are special," Annie said. "You've got something I like, and I will find out what. Fizz, lingerie. For both of us."

  "Gdly!" Fizz clicked her finger, and Ria and Annie's clothes disappeared in a burst of light. In their pce was the softest bck silk. A pair of panties and a bra that were works of art. They were patterned with flowers, parts gauzy enough to see through, while the rest was embroidered a little thicker to hold it all together. Ria was much bustier than Annie; her rge breasts squeezed into the fabric, and her cleavage was spilling over the top.

  "How do you make a pin bra and panties look like a fashion statement?" Ria sighed, running her hands over the bck silk. "It's a simple set, but you pull it off like it was made for you. I'm all ... lumpy."

  "Fizz," Annie called out. "You're the expert here. Does Ria look good?"

  "She looks divine," Fizz said, hovering around the pair. "The silk has a lovely texture and matches her creamy skin perfectly, and the way the flowers are patterned is elegant and draws in the eye. I want to bite it off."

  "Bite it off! Bite it off!" Mirri heckled.

  "I'm not ruining her work," Fizz pouted, "But I want to, I really want to. Ria, you're beautiful.""

  "Stop, just stop," Ria pleaded, but Annie could feel her trembling in her arms.

  "No. I'm done with you putting yourself down," Annie said, putting her arms around Ria and lifting her up, holding her bridal style. The other girl let out a small shriek as she was swept off her feet. "I'm going to teach you a lesson. One that sticks. Telly, you know how to work that camera?"

  "It's all up here," Telly said, tapping her head, her eyes a bright purple glow that rippled around the edge of the camera. "I won't be as good as her, but with what I'm looking at, I won't need to be."

  "Perfect, we're going to do a shoot together, Ria. You're getting evidence you can do this, and anytime you worry people just want you for your inheritance, you can look at the photos and see the truth."

  "She really is the best model you've had," Fizz sighed as she spread her glowing wings and rained sunlight down on them. "Okay, both of you, I need you to think of something romantic. Something that made your hearts sing. I want you to look at each other like you want to spend your lives together."

  There couldn't have been anything more perfect for Maki to hear.

  "Maki," Annie said as she stared into Ria's golden eyes. "I know you're the newest in the team. I know you worry, just like Ria here, that what you have isn't real. That I'll find something better."

  "It'd be fine if you did," Maki said, "I'm hard to love."

  "You're not. You're very easy to love. You care for us all with such intensity it's hard to accept sometimes. It feels like too much. Unhealthy to care that deeply. But, listen. That's our fw, not yours; if everyone cared as much as you do, it'd be a better world."

  "Annie," Maki's dreadlocks bobbed as she leaned forward, head in her hands. "I don't expect you to feel like I do. You don't need to. You've never made me feel anything but welcome to be a part of your life. I'm lucky to have you."

  She hadn't expected it to be turned back on her, her cheeks burning as she looked at Fizz. "Can you help Ria?"

  "Gdly," Fizz nodded. "Ria, your inheritance is a part of you. I can't say I'd love you without it, I don't know. You might be a totally different person. But the Ria, I know? I love her to bits. If you think you'd be the same person without it? Then that wouldn't change at all."

  "You're amazing," Ria said, the smile returning to her lips. "I love your passion for my work."

  "How can I not love it? You bring beautiful women in here every day and strip them down," Fizz giggled. "But thank you, my flower."

  "All in the mood?" Mirri said head tilted as she looked over the lingerie-cd women bearing their hearts. "We got some magic to get on film?"

  "Deal. You're beautiful, Annie," Ria said, turning away from the camera and looking into Annie's eyes. "Maybe I'll accept I'm pretty. But you really are something special."

  "I know," Annie smiled, "And it's thanks to inheritance, not just hard work. Don't be scared of it. I think Fizz has some wonderful things to give to you."

  "I could use a foot-long tongue." Ria blushed.

  "Wait, you have a foot-long tongue?" Mirri said, staring back at Fizz. Who just shrugged with a smile. "And Ria isn't sleeping with you? Annie, she's not putting herself down. She's just stupid!"

  "Hey!" Ria squeaked.

  "Don't be mean," Annie smiled, "Maki, help me out here."

  "How? I can make my tongue longer, too, if you like?" the Sinistea poked out her purple tongue, which began to swell and lengthen as she fed more of herself into it.

  "Fucking hell," Mirri groaned, "You could do that all along too? Now I'm feeling inadequate!"

  Annie snorted and squeezed Ria as Telly worked the camera. "You've got two evolutions to go. I'm sure you can make up for it."

  "Two?" Mirri stared at Maki's tongue, now as long as her forearm and hanging loosely from her mouth across her chest. "I might need a third, fuck me. This team is ridiculous."

  "I'm perfect," Telly said, her ears bobbing as she snapped the camera. "If I evolve, I'll just be more perfect. Annie loves us all so much there's no point worrying."

  "Ah, to be psychic and know humans so well," Fizz smiled, "Annie, could you move a little closer and touch your lips against Ria's cheek?"

  "Gdly." Annie leaned in, using her arms to curve Riha's spine as she pressed her lips to her cheek, their hair brushing and breath warm against each other's skin. She could feel Ria's heart beating like a drum. "Want to test those tongues out after this?"

  "Absolutely," Ria said, her voice so small it was barely a whisper.

  "Thanks. For everything. You're kind of incredible, you know?"

  "I know," Annie whispered back, her smile growing. "And I intend to share as much as I can."

  "I think this is going to be your best shoot yet," Telly said, taking a photo of the two entwined. "The perfect models."

  "I think it might just be," Ria smiled. "... you want to shoot a porno after? I got spare film."

  "If you have the energy left to work a camera," Annie smirked. "I'm in the mood to prove I'm maybe better than you at some things."

  "Oh?"

  Annie licked her cheek, a good, long, hard lick that had her breath hitch as she squirmed in Annie's arms.

  "O-oh," Ria gulped. "Well, we'll just have to see."

  From the look in Fizz's eyes, Annie knew she wouldn't be able to do much of anything for a long, long time once they were done. Maybe it was not the most rexing day, but it was a very rewarding one. She could settle for that.

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