"Brandy, Sparky is hogging the cape," Morgan called out as Brandy poured out the mulled wine from the campfire-warmed tin. She was picking at Calcine's fiery cape, trying to unwrap the snug bug. There was no chance it'd work. Brandy just knew Sparky had webbed herself in from the inside.

  "I'm warm too, you know?" Brandy said, "Cosy up to me if you're cold."

  Sparky started struggling, trying to get out of the cape. "Wait, wait, I'm cold too!"

  Morgan plopped herself down in Brandy's p, poking her tongue out at Sparky as she gnawed at the end of the cape. Calcine scooped the bug up and gave her a squeeze.

  "Never mind," Sparky groaned, "I'm good."

  The campfire hissed as some of the snow melt dripped into it. They'd found a nice spot in the hills shielded from the wind to set up camp, the snowy pins stretching out beyond with a few figures trudging through it or flying over it. The glitter of a city was still so far in the distance as to be only a speck of light. They were all out on their own out here.

  Brandy sipped her wine and held out the tin for Morgan to drink. It was spicy and rich, warming her belly, the campfire heating the rest of her even as Morgan sucked up some of her body heat. She had plenty to spare. It was worth it for a feathery p dy.

  "So, expin why I've been lugging presents around in my pack." Morgan said, "The Unovan is confused."

  "Well, firstly, you haven't been doing that. Calcine has," Brandy teased. "It's Partner's Promise today. Gifts are traditional."

  "Love gifts," Morgan preened her chest. "I'm very gifted. Any excuse for more of them, but why? What's the story?"

  "Calyrex and her Partner's love was so intense that it melted all the snow across Gar and turned it green," Calcine said, holding her hand out for the tin. Morgan handed it over with a pat of her hand. "Or so the story goes. Calyrex and her lovers don't come down from the Crown much anymore. But we've kept up the tradition. Got to give gifts, or the snow won't melt."

  "Probably for the best," Sparky said as she sunk back into Calcine's cloak, the fabric ruffling as she tried to pull her arms free of her webbing. "We've got enough problems with overpowered horse dies."

  Brandy wasn't so sure; she could use another overpowered horse dy in her life, but she kept that to herself.

  "Cute story," Morgan smiled. "Garians are adorable. So quaint."

  "Oh, big city bird too good for our little isnd, is she?" Brandy teased, tickling her sides. "We can skip your gifts if you're above this?"

  "No!" Morgan giggled, batting at Brandy's hands. "No, I want things. Give me things! I spent a lot of time picking out yours."

  "My p not enough of a gift?" Brandy got her hands around Morgan's waist and squeezed, pressing her face into the feathers and finding that wonderfully soft fuzz underneath. "I'm enjoying it."

  Morgan slumped down, leaning her head back over Brandy's shoulder, her hat brim flopping over Brandy's head. "If you want to melt the snow with me, I'm up for that."

  "How about we take turns handing all our gifts out?" Calcine said as she helped Sparky free her arms while keeping her snuggled up in the rest of her fiery cape. "I can go first."

  "I want to go st," Morgan said, "I got the best one."

  "It's not a competition," Calcine said as she dragged over her backpack. "And if it is, Brandy will win because she's the best."

  "Don't count me out." Morgan grinned. She was shamelessly competitive even when she didn't need to be, though Brandy knew it wasn't the winning that she enjoyed really. It was the drama of it all; competition helped her add some spice.

  "I would never," Calcine said, holding out a slim package a bit shorter than her forearm to Morgan. "You're the newest, so you get the first gift."

  Morgan couldn't hide her excitement as she snatched the package from Calcine's hands with a flurry of thank you's. Brandy could see the edges of Calcine's lips tweak up as she sat back, watching for Morgan's reaction. It was a lovely fancy box made of polished wood that folded open to reveal two long, rigid strips of white fabric.

  "Curious gift," Morgan said as she picked them out and turned them around to try to work them out. "Ah! I see."

  With a snap of the wrist, Morgan unfolded one of the fans. It had a brushstroke ndscape along the bottom half, the outlines of mountains, trees, and water, all in the same vibrant red as Brandy's hair. Morgan snapped the other open, which had the same style, but this was a fiery Murkrow outline; its features waved like they were made of smoke. Fierce and a little threatening.

  Morgan got off Brandy's p and had a little fun swishing them about in a rather inelegant fan dance, her tail feathers flicking up and down with excitement as she finished with one fan covering her mouth. They all cheered anyway; it was a good effort!

  "I thought you'd enjoy something stylish," Calcine said. "And a little showy."

  "I love it," Morgan smiled. "I'll practice with them. I bet I can do Gust tricks with some practice."

  They really needed to practice her wind moves more. Morgan used Gust a lot for effects; it was about time they got it upgraded to Tailwind so she could be even more showy with it. Still, it was nice to see the first gift was a hit.

  "Me next," Brandy said, "Sparky's still untangling herself. Also, I got a suspicion you spent the longest on hers."

  "I value you all," Calcine blushed. "But finding one for her was the trickiest, yes."

  "Brandy helped you," Sparky mumbled from her cloak swaddle. "I can speak your code!"

  Calcine just wordlessly handed over a soft bundled package to Brandy. A nice armful, Brandy picked apart the wrapping paper carefully as Morgan kept spinning her fans about, using the wind from them to stoke the campfire up to a nice pleasant roar of heat.

  Something gloriously soft to the touch brushed Brandy's fingers, and yet familiar. Ripping off the rest of the paper, Brandy held up an oversized winter duffle coat. A light tan, the thick cloth would have been nice enough, but it was all trimmed with soft white wool that made Brandy's fingers tingle when she touched it. Opening it a fraction, she saw the inside was yered entirely with the white wool.

  "A Wooloo wool coat? Calcine! This must have cost a fortune."

  "I asked Aniseed to tailor it; she gave me a discount when she heard it was for you."

  "A discount from a fortune," Brandy gasped. She shouldn't accept this, but something this good she couldn't not try on at least once. She slipped it on and found a warmth that only Calcine's cloak could beat. It was like a hug from a cloud mixed with the warmth of a thick duvet, and it was delicious. Brandy sank into it and pulled the hood over for total soft girl coverage.

  Okay, she was going to accept this. Calcine would just have to be in debt to Aniseed forever.

  "Morgan, you're not beating this," Brandy mumbled. "It's the best."

  "Can and will," Morgan smirked as she parted Brandy's colr and stole a quick kiss, mulled wine making her kiss a little spicy as she buried her head in the Wooloo wool and Brandy's chest, rubbing back and forth as if trying to work out which she liked more. "Feels good. Very cozy. Is their room for two? I want to cuddle."

  "No, but I can brush you with the lining," Brandy said, stoking Morgan's side. "Sparky present time! Let's keep this rolling."

  Calcine only had a little box for Sparky. Brandy knew what it was. They'd both spent an embarrassingly long time putting it all together. It didn't dampen the excitement for Sparky's reaction one bit. Sparky kissed Calcine's knuckles as her arms emerged from the cloak to grab the box, tearing into it like a feral animal. Paper going everywhere as Calcine ughed and leaned away to avoid getting any in her mouth.

  Inside was a little handheld camera, chunky yellow pstic to help it survive dents, and decorated with some blue stripes that were meant to be eyes. Brandy and Calcine weren't artists. They'd done their best. Sparky's huge grin was worth all the mess and effort they'd made picking it out.

  "You got sick of me stealing your Dex," Sparky said, raising the camera and snapping a picture of Morgan and Brandy. "Ooh, it's a way bigger picture."

  "My dex camera isn't the best. We wanted to get you a proper one."

  Sparky wasn't listening. She was pying with the settings. Calcine nudged her with an elbow. "Like it?"

  Sparky took a picture of Calcine, aiming up her nose. "Love it. Can get how stupid you all look in high definition!" She leaned up to give Calcine a peck on the cheek. "Seriously, it's really nice. Thank you for thinking about me so much."

  "Can't help myself, you're unforgettable."

  Aw. Bless.

  "This works with one of my presents, actually!" Sparky said as she kicked the cloak off, webbing her backpack and rooting around in it. "Shoot where is it. Is it on the bottom? Um... Morgan, you get yours first."

  Sparky pulled out a small box, messily wrapped up with festive paper mainly held together by ribbons. It all fell apart almost as soon as it was out of Sparky's hands; Morgan shook her head as she opened the box and pulled out a baseball cap. Navy blue with white lettering on it.

  "Women want me. Fish also want me?" Morgan read, an eyebrow shot up and directed menacingly at Sparky.

  "You're very hot." Sparky grinned. "Go on, try it on."

  Morgan put a hand on her hat brim and sighed, then froze up. Slowly, she turned her gaze back to Sparky, narrowing her eyes. "This is a trick to get my hat off."

  "Brandy!" Sparky yelled in a sing-song voice. "She's not trying her gift on!"

  "Sparky, give her a real gift." Brandy ughed, "Don't be mean to her. It's meant to be a fun day."

  "I'm having tons of fun." Sparky grinned, "But there's a second present at the bottom, I guess. If you hate my hat so much."

  Morgan fished about in the paper inside the box and came out with a small gsses case. Sure enough, it had a pair of gsses inside. Silvered half-frames that gleamed in the firelight.

  "I'm not shortsighted?" Morgan said as she held them up. "Is this another joke?"

  "No, put them on, then show Brandy."

  Morgan was suspicious, but she slipped the gsses on, pushing them up her nose, then twisting on Brandy's p to look at her. "Well?"

  Hot dy in gsses alert! Hot dy in gsses alert! Brandy's brain just started screaming.

  "Um," Brandy cleared her throat. "Yeah, yeah, that looks good. Really uh. Suits you."

  "See," Sparky said, taking a photo, the fsh startling the two of them. "Brandy likes them,"

  "Y-yeah, sure, yes." Brandy swallowed. "Good."

  "Hrm. I don't need them," Morgan said, taking them off and biting the end of one of the temples, teasing her bottom lip down with them. "My eyesight is as perfect as the rest of me."

  Arceus weeping. Brandy was going to die. She was going to melt into a puddle and was fine with that. Because a hot dy in gsses was worth becoming part of the water cycle.

  "Sparky, exceptional gift." Morgan ughed, sliding the gsses back on and giving Brandy a kiss. Really lingering on it, the cool metal of her gsses frame teasing her nose. She could hear the click of Sparky's camera, but that was fine. Morgan had never looked better. "Let's see Calcine's. I've got high expectations now."

  "It's not as sexy," Sparky said, picking a box up and shaking it. Something rattling inside like it was packed full of nuts. She offered it out to Calcine. "Well, maybe Calcine will find it sexy."

  Calcine unwrapped the present, as much as she needed to with Sparky's terrible wrapping skills, and lifted the lid off the box. Brandy craned over Morgan's shoulder to get a peek as Calcine held something up.

  A lump of coal.

  Sparky took a picture of her face, looking so proud of herself as Calcine narrowed her eyes.

  "Lovely gift," Calcine said and bit into the coal lump. The crunch was so loud they all jumped, and the crunching that came after was genuinely horrifying. "My favorite."

  "Oh fuck," Sparky's eyes were wide. "Is it weird I find that hot?"

  "YES!" Brandy and Morgan yelled in sync.

  Sparky rubbed her cheeks and poked her tongue out at them. "There's a second present below the coal. Please don't eat the gss, or I'll have nightmares."

  Calcine swallowed to spare them more crunching, tapping her chest to clear her throat as she fished about in the coal for her actual present. It came out with a clinking, several bottles in a small wooden rack. The bels had big, excited text and pictures of fmes and chillis.

  "Don't open them near me," Sparky said, shuffling back, "But I saw them and thought of you."

  "Hot sauce?" Calcine said, not disappointed, just curious.

  "A bit more than that," Sparky said, cringing back with a hand out to shield her eyes as Calcine opened a top for a sniff. "I asked Spitfire what's the hottest sauce she could make, and she even bottled it up all nice for me. Brandy's not allowed any, and you can't kiss me after eating any until you've washed your mouth out."

  Brandy's eyes prickled from across the fire. The scent of it was so strong she could taste the burn already. Her mouth watered. "I want some."

  "Absolutely not!" Sparky yelped, "Not safe for Humans."

  "I can handle it." Brandy grinned. "Calcine share ter."

  Calcine poured a few drops on a piece of coal and bit into it. Her eyes widened, her jaw set as the spice hit, and then the smoke came. She exhaled it through her teeth, and the air above the fire turned bck. "It's a little hot. Sparky, you shouldn't have."

  "I want some!" Brandy gasped, "That's awesome."

  "Sparky, distract our trainer with her present before she destroys her guts." Morgan said, "That's our job."

  "Gross but funny." Sparky cackled as she took out the st box and put it in her p. "Come get your present, Brandy. I can't hand it to you. For reasons."

  Brandy narrowed her eyes as Morgan let her up, wafting away the smoke billowing from Calcine's lips. She coughed. That hot sauce really was something. Calcine looked in heaven with it. She walked right up to Sparky, towering over her and looking down, eyes narrowing.

  "If your dick is in that box, you're going to ruin Promise."

  "Might be worth it," Sparky smirked. "I got a good dick."

  Brandy shook her head and ruffled the rascal's hair before flicking the box lid off. It wasn't Sparky's dick, which she weirdly was a little disappointed by. It was a thick book stuffed so full it bulged against its bindings. Some photos were pstered on the front, stuck on completely haphazardly. Pictures of Brandy asleep on a train lying across Calcine and Morgan's p. Pictures of her blushing as Fenny smushes her cheeks. A mid-fight picture, fire framing her as she kissed a wide-eyed Trainer, her legs gone weak. All sorts.

  Brandy took it out gingerly, not wanting to get her fingerprints on it, and sat crosslegged in front of Sparky, the campfire at her back as she leafed through it. It was their journey, as shot through the lens of a sneaky Dex-stealing bug. Her and Maple, holding hands on the beach. Morgan and Brandy flying up so high they were almost specks in the sky. All of them in their maid dresses eating burgers, Sparky's blurry face filling half the frame as she tried and failed to do a selfie.

  "Sparky!" Brandy said, "This is so cute."

  "You're naked ter on, but I thought a scrapbook was a great idea. It's a great idea right?"

  "It's amazing," Brandy said as she flipped to the back to check the naked cims. Her eyes settling on a picture of her and Mercury mud wrestling, Brandy half-hilted and her mouth opened in what looked like the start of an orgasm. Sparky wasn't kidding and it got a lot racier than that.

  "I barely remember even doing half this stuff. Oh there's Lenna and Lizzy! Piled on top of me. With you taking a picture of me begging to be let out."

  "Art sometimes needs suffering," Sparky grinned. "I'm just happy with all we've done. I wanted to remind you of it."

  She ruffled Sparky's hair again. "You're a treasure. Use the camera to make a better one next year."

  "Don't give me permission! That ruins the fun of taking photos. I can cut a hole in the bottom of the box if you really want to show you love me." Sparky grinned. Brandy pinched her nose and kissed her forehead madly until she colpsed into giggles.

  "Doofus." Brandy huffed, hugging the scrapbook to her chest. "Going to make me cry."

  "That'd mean I win! I want to beat Morgan." Sparky grinned and squealed with delight as Brandy turned and sat right down, bowling her over onto her back. Brandy shuffled her butt to get comfy, squishing her, clutching the scrapbook protectively as Sparky's arms filed.

  "Is that her gift?" Calcine said, setting down her box of hot rocks. "It's a good one."

  "She gets two, I guess," Brandy ughed as Morgan handed her backpack over. "So I had a real struggle with you all. You barely wear clothes."

  "I very famously do," Morgan said, fluttering one of her new fans at Brandy.

  "Barely means you do wear some! Calcine is the only one I can trust to wear them, and Sparky looks good in shorts and a choker." Brandy reached back and snapped the choker with her finger. Sparky burbled happily and tried to get her face entirely under Brandy's butt. She'd get squished right into a mortifying Poké-center trip someday.

  "Poffins seemed zy, and I didn't want to buy you something that you'd use for battle as that felt like a gift for me. So! I had to be creative." Brandy said as she fished out three envelopes and waved them. "I got you all a date. With me. On your own."

  "Oh, I like that," Morgan said, "Me first, I want to know what you consider a date with a Murkrow."

  Brandy handed the envelope with the Murkrow stickers over to Morgan, who cut it open with a swish of her finger. Fishing out two tickets.

  "Respiro di freschezza aria Meloetta," Morgan said, pushing up her gsses with a finger and putting on a posh voice that really did something for Brandy. "I am but a scruffy Unovian Murkrow. What the heck does that mean?"

  "I've no idea," Brandy said. "But it's a fancy musical in Circhester Theater. We'll get dressed up for it, dresses or tuxes, that's your pick. You'll fly us out there. There's a masked ball after with a murder mystery. A meal and a murder to solve! I thought you might enjoy that. Where we end the night is up to you. I hear the view from the roofs is lovely."

  "Detective Morgan and her lovely Assistant Brandy, now that does sound fun. And I get you to myself the whole time?"

  "Well, I can't stop the other two trying to sneak in." Brandy wiggled her butt and leaned to pat Calcines' thigh. The extra weight on Sparky was making her really burble back there. "But it's a masked ball. We wouldn't know who they are."

  "I think I'd know who Sparky is if she turns up," Morgan smiled. "But this does sound good. Excellent even. I've wanted some time with you alone for a while now."

  Brandy was gd she's sprung for the window box because she was pretty sure she wouldn't get to see much of the musical. At least she'd hear it. Morgan's gsses were unfair, they gave her red eyes a brilliant intensity, and she just looked so fucking gorgeous Brandy's heart skipped when she bowed and snipped an envelope out of Brandy's hands, then grabbed one of Calcine's knees and handed it to her.

  "Hey there, warm, tall and gorgeous." Morgan purred. "What did she get you? Rock climbing? A secret cave hideaway?"

  Calcine took the envelope and stole Morgan's gsses, putting them on as she opened it.

  Another hot girl in gsses. Gosh gosh gosh. Brandy pulled on her colr as Calcine slowly read it over.

  "These are the rules for a game," Calcine said, ughing as Morgan immediately stuck her head in to read along. "The Glimwood Tangle Royale. A Trainer and her Partner get a basic survival pack and a starting position. When the timer begins, you can't leave the Tangle and have to survive a week. There are challenges along the way, announced through your Pokédex. It says the rest becomes clear as we go."

  "The Tangles huge," Sparky said, voice all dreamy. "How'd you even find each other?"

  "I think that's the point," Brandy said, "We have to survive for a while, then it'll have events that force us closer together. Have to think on our feet a lot. I want to do it with Calcine to work as a team and strategize. Everyone else will be Trainer and Pokémon. I think we're better than that; you can think on your feet as well as I can. We'll shore each other up. I will teach you how to campfire cook while we do it, too."

  "Thank Arceus," Morgan sighed. "I remember that bacon."

  "We don't talk about the bacon." Sparky groaned. "That bacon iss still in me. It will always be with me."

  "I liked it," Calcine said, nibbling on a piece of coal. "But I can learn. This sounds fun, brutal even. I love a challenge. The Tangles is a pretty scary pce, even without a fight in it. Is there a prize?"

  "There is!" Brandy smiled. "Win it, and you can find out what it is."

  "You better win," Morgan said, stealing back her gsses. "If I find out you two lost a game while I wasn't there, I'm going to be furious."

  Calcine chuckled and squeezed Morgan's waist. "Want to swap? I'd look good in a mask."

  "What and miss a murder mystery? Good luck sleeping in a tent. I'm going to take Sparky to a beach."

  Speaking of the bug, Brandy turned around on Sparky, sitting on her belly and squeezing her thighs until Sparky bounced her head up with a gasp. She shoved her st envelope into Sparky's mouth as she bit down and fell back.

  "Very funny," Sparky mumbled and spat the envelope out. Picking at the seal, she opened it carefully, trying to smooth out her bite marks. Two tokens fell out, thick, chunky gold ones made of cheap pstic. There was a Mr. Mime embossed on them, finger over her lips for silence. "I got creepy Mime money. I mean cool, but also what?"

  "I've seen those in Nimbasa," Morgan says, "That's Carnival money."

  Sparky shot up, or tried to. The Brandy on her chest made it difficult so she just buried her face in the wooloo fur of her new coat. "Carnival?" Sparky muffled. "Sweet treats, rides, enough cotton candy to make me sick?"

  "I'd rather you weren't sick, but it's your date." Brandy smiled. "You can throw up if you want to. I'll hold your hair. There's a traveling Carnival; when we catch up with it, it'll be you and me. Any ride you like, any game you like, and as much cotton candy as you can eat. I am all yours."

  "Oh, we are going to do everything. Twice." Sparky bounced beneath Brandy, her breasts bouncing off Brandy's thighs. Soft, bouncy, yeah, this was Sparky to a tee. It was good to see her so eager. "And then I will do you at least three times."

  "With cotton candy breath."

  "With sexy, sexy cotton candy breath." Sparky nodded. "You're the best."

  "I am the best," Brandy nodded. "But, I think Morgan wants to try to be better. So you all hold onto those, and let's see what she's got."

  Morgan snapped her fan open, shuffling it as she went to her bag and took three round boxes. She handed the first off to Calcine with a flourish. "You're all going to love this."

  Calcine took the present and undid the bow on it, taking the lid off and taking out a ft cap made of thick, fluffy wool. It's not Wooloo wool, but it did look really soft. It was a dark grey, with a brown leather belt and burnished buckles slung across the short brim up front. Calcine gave it one look and then slid it on, tweaking it to set it at a slightly jaunty angle.

  Sparky took a photo, the fsh gleaming off Calcine's skin.

  It suited her. It suited her really nicely. A proper country girl look, the sort who'd drink sherry, keep goats, and wear big wellies.

  "I should get suspenders," Calcine said.

  Brandy nodded madly. She should do that. She absolutely should.

  "Hot," Brandy said, walking over to her. She grabbed the brim and tipped it back to get it out of the way as she went in for a kiss, ying it thick on Calcine's lips. Her tongue slid over the Carkol's teeth, tasting the smoke still clinging to her from her spicy meal.

  "I've got two more," Morgan said, breaking them apart. "No eating the coal until we're done."

  "For now," Calcine said, tipping her hat back and grabbing Brandy by the ass. "Maybe the coal will eat you ter,"

  Brandy snorted as she was hauled away, but she was smiling, rubbing the taste of ash off her lips as Morgan leaned past her to hand Sparky her gift. Sparky flipped the lid off and threw it so hard it flew right over the campfire and bounced away on the other side. She yanked her gift out, another hat. This one was a fuzzy Trapper, the sort of hat with the long floppy ears that hung down to keep you warm, which some Lumberjacks like to wear to keep the cold off. It was the exact same color as Sparky's fur, so much so Brandy could have believed it was made of actual Joltik fur. It was a bit weird, but it was probably just a good imitation.

  Sparky immediately yanked it down over her head, and Brandy could only ugh as she put it on sideways, one of the fps hanging down over her face.

  "Bit of a bad fit," Sparky said, blowing on the ear in front of her. "Morgan doesn't know her hats."

  "Impossible bug," Morgan huffed, gripping the hat brim and tugging it the right way. "You're lucky you're cute."

  "A lot cuter with a good hat, " Sparky grinned, pulling Morgan down into a hug, making her get a face full of furry hat. "It's really warm, I'm appreciating that right now. Give Brandy her dumb hat, you obsessed idiot."

  "Hats are the best," Morgan said, muffled by the fur. She burst apart in a burst of bck feathers to escape Sparky's grasp. She rematerialized beside Brandy, scooping up the st hat box and handing it off.

  Brandy took it graciously. She doubted a hat would win any made-up competition, but Morgan had a good taste in them. Maybe she could pull it off. She peeked in the box and gasped, trying to widen her eyes as far as possible. "Morgan! You shouldn't have!"

  "Oh, it was nothing," Morgan ughed, "Just a little gift from me."

  Brandy fished out the baseball cap Sparky had given Morgan earlier, "Women want me. Fish also want me. So witty. It's perfect."

  "You regifting flying rat!" Sparky squeaked, "I'm going to eat your fucking hat!"

  "You'll choke on it," Morgan said smugly.

  "You'll choke on something a lot harder to swallow when I'm done with you," Sparky shook her fist. She was grinning. They were just pying. Still, it was funny how worked up she sounded.

  Brandy put on the Navy Blue baseball cap, tugging it tight, and reached into the box to get the other thing in there. A slim memory card for her Poké-dex. Morgan handed her the slightly battered family relic. Brandy fitted it in as Morgan pulled her down to a seat so everyone could watch, and a video immediately started pying.

  "Brandy!" someone called out through the speaker. Was that Mahi? Brandy knew that slightly sultry evil tyrant anyway. "You better appreciate this, I am jealous as fuck."

  The bck screen burst with color as Mahi lifted the Poké-dex from a coffee table covered in wrapping paper and pointed it forward. Brandy choked when she saw what was there, her breath trying to rush out of her throat at the same time as a sudden lump of thick panic swelled up in there. Calcine patted her back as Brandy's eyes watered, and she tried to focus on the screen.

  It was Maple, wearing some lovely red velvet cy lingerie bra that hugged her curves perfectly. Holly was by her side, the mouse girl clinging onto her arm affectionately with a delighted smile on her face as she nuzzled at Maple's long blonde hair. Maple was smiling too, a grin that only got wider when Mahi waved the Poké-dex up and down. She was sitting on a couch, and she spread her spread legs to show off a red thong with some loopy straps running along the top.

  "Hey beautiful, hopefully, Morgan got this to you. You thought your fourth Partner wouldn't get you a gift?" she smiled. "Don't worry about not getting me one; Morgan's sorted that out already."

  Brandy was dying. She was pretty sure her heart had just been punched and shattered into a million pieces. Maple in a thong. It was super effective.

  "Holy shit," Sparky whistled. "That's a look."

  "I'll keep this quick because I have a date with Mahi and Holly I pn to keep. But do you want to see what Morgan got you? Mahi, could you pass it over, please?"

  "You're gonna love it, you spiky-haired hottie," the Mahi behind the Poké-dex said, her voice sultry. "I helped pick it out. You deserve something nice from me for all the shit I gave you,"

  Something soared past the camera, out of focus, until Maple grabbed it off Mahi and held it up proudly. "Ta-da!"

  Brandy was dead. She was just dead. She tried to slide into a pile on the ground, but Calcine had her back and propped her up.

  Maple was holding one of the prettiest dildos Brandy had ever seen, a long blue, red, and bck-colored shaft patterned like a Milotic's tail with a soft round tip and base with some weird nodules. The whole thing was covered in a series of gentle ridges that Brandy would bet her st Pokédolr would feel really nice inside her.

  "I think you can agree I'm a bit of a Milotic girl myself." Maple grinned as she hooked the dildo onto what was not just a thong, but a harness, the weird nodules actually fitting snugly in the straps. Maple stroked her hand along the colored rubber, and a shiver went through her smile, turning a bit darker, more seductive.

  ”Morgan thought you'd like this, and I'm pretty sure you will. It's a group gift, but when I next see you, Brandy.“ Maple leaned in and kissed the camera, leaving a smear of blue lipstick. "You're all mine."

  The video cut off, and Brandy started wheezing, her cheeks burning as her gaze darted over her partners. They'd understand her getting all hot over this, right? Wasn't it rude?

  "Fucking hell." Calcine sighed, "Maple is so fucking hot. Brandy, she is going to destroy you."

  "Mhm!" Brandy nodded. Words were hard right now. She was just happy Calcine understood.

  "She's not going to fuck you like a Milotic," Sparky said, "They're all exceptional skill. You're getting a Gyrados-sized pounding. We're going to need to put you back together like a jigsaw."

  "Mhm! Mhm!" Brandy nodded faster. She was feeling faint.

  "Mahi said she's willing to film it," Morgan whispered in Brandy's ear. "You're going to make some amateur porn for us. That's my real gift to everybody. Did I win?"

  "I fucking love competitive Murkrow," Sparky cackled. "Okay, you win this one. This is the best."

  "I'll wait for the video before I judge," Calcine smiled, tipping her cap. "And I like this hat. I'm keeping it."

  "I'm a fucking superstar," Morgan crowed. "I know you all. I knew exactly what you wanted, and I was right. I am the winner of Promise."

  Brandy didn't have the heart to correct her about that, because her heart was currently in her throat. She just stared at the video, her mouth hanging open as she saw Maple lean in, kiss the camera again, and then once more for good measure.

  Maple was going to ruin her.

  "Hey," Brandy said as she began undoing her shirt buttons. "You know? I think I got one more present to give. You all deserve it."

  "Oh really," Calcine said, "Are the three of us going to be giving you a present too?"

  "Well, I'm in the receiving mood." Brandy blushed. "How much holiday spirit are you all feeling?"

  It turned out to be an awful lot. Brandy was absolutely filled with holiday spirit by the time everyone was done being generous.

  She couldn't wait for it to be Maple's turn.

  Premier