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Pokemon Mystery Dungeon Karma's Story Part 1

The sleek and graceful Ninetails watched the funeral pyre before her, on it was the body of a elderly Carracosta. She sat among board members and nobles as the flames crawled up the ornately carved logs to consume the body of the Mint leader, Lord Henrik. On either side of the pyre two bipedal pokemon, indistinguishable in heavy black funeral robes began to alternate pumping large bellows. She continued to watch passively as the pyre grew ever brighter until Henrik's form could no longer be seen through the flames.

She stayed seated long after the all the others had left. Henrik had been many things to her over the last five years of her life; a leader, a teacher, a lover, but never a friend. As she watched the flames flicker out leaving nothing behind but ash she couldn't decide whether she wanted to mourn his passing, or celebrate it.

From the very first day he had made it very clear why she had been chosen, why it had been her that was taken from a life on the streets, living from day to day, and placed instead into a life of finery. The old male wanted nothing more than a decoration, a pretty face with a closed mind and open legs. She had served that role, she had done everything and anything he had desired.

She had stood beside him as he controlled the Mint, the prestigious and powerful entity that manufactured, and therefor controlled the world's currency. She had stood as his centerpiece, something for him to show the Mint's as well as the City of Gold's betters his station and power. For nearly a year she had been nothing more than a pretty body to adorn his office and satisfy his lustful desires.

He had paid to have her fur continuously groomed and cleaned to a beautiful shine, covered her in expensive cloth and decorated her with the finest gold and jewels, he had even gone so far as to have her claws and fangs plated in gold. She ran her tongue across her front teeth and felt the soft metal edge where sharp fangs should have been, an edge to keep her dangerous implements from damaging his soft male flesh. He always had a preference for her mouth to sate his carnal needs.

He had picked her over any others for her glorious coat and her well known reputation for being promiscuous. She had lived to feel the pleasures her flesh could bring her, as well as the thrill she received from pleasuring another. She had always enjoyed the company of males, and on occasion females, but she had been at the same time been very particular about with whom she laid.

Suddenly she had found herself subject to Henrik's lecherous whims. He had kept her close, using her body to satisfy his needs whenever he had wanted, he would even send for her in the middle of the night without warning. Worse of all he would loan her services to reward board members and visiting officials.

She had hated it from the beginning, but she couldn't afford to go back to the streets. Back to living on her own, living off the charity of those around her. So she had worked hard, paying attention to everything he had said or done. Before long she took it upon herself to complete some of his tasks for him before he could get to them. She strove to show the old man that she could be more than a pretty ornament.

He had been ecstatic, he quickly trained her to take over most of his busy work freeing him to focus his time where he needed. As much of a perverted old lecher as he was, he was also very good at his job. With her help he had been able to surge forward with the Mint, to bring forth improvements in quality and consistency in the coins they produced.

He rewarded her with a place at his side as an assistant instead of just a means to pleasure himself. Henrik had given her a window to power, to a life she desired more than anything in the world. She was still at the Carracoasta's beck and call for all his lustful wants, but now she was able to work her way into the Mint, to make herself useful not only to her Lord but the Mint itself.

The board had not been pleased, they had tolerated her at first but had made it quite clear that they had no intention of taking direction from anyone other than Lord Henrik. She spent years gaining their trust, some by showing her dedication and skill, others by showing her backside. In the end when the old man had passed, they had all voted her as his successor.

She was now Lady Karma, leader of the Mint, and a figure of power in the City of Gold. She walked to the pile of ash that had been Lord Henrik and stared for several minutes. A single tear flowed down her muzzle and landed in the pile, sending a small puff of ash into the air. He had never been her friend, but he had been important to her just the same.

Turning away she walked down the gilded halls of the Mint and climbed the polished marble staircase to the upper levels. She passed various employees as she walked, mostly maids and accountants, the majority of the Mints employees worked deep below. Some in the manufactory, the rest in the forge where natural heat from volcanic activity gave them the ability to smelt and purify the gold, silver and copper they needed to mint coins.

She had spent a lot of her time in the inner workings of the Mint, following Henrik as he patrolled the catwalks above the employees. He had always watched with a scornful, judging expression. She had looked down at the pokemon who spent their lives under ground, toiling day after day in the heat of the forge and saw their hollow, angry eyes stare back up at her.

It had taken her a long time to understand why they had looked at them like that. She had discovered as she took on more and more of the Lords work that the employees in the manufactory and the forge were grossly underpaid and overworked. She was appalled to find that accidents that caused severe life altering injuries and often deaths were common place. She had even watched in horror as an employee was knocked screaming into a vat of molten gold.

She had then vowed to herself and to all the fallen workers that she would do everything in her power to fix the Mint. Lord Henrik and the board had been more preoccupied with maintaining their own wealth than spending anything on the employees safety. Not even Rowan, the burn scarred Machamp that represented the forge workers cared about the 'lesser' pokemon's plight.

Now, finally after five years of hard work, five years of lifting her tails for a greedy old lecher and a corrupt board, the power was finally hers. She passed the door to her old room, a 'gift' to her from Lord Henrik, a way to keep her close for his nightly desires, and continued on to the Lord's, no, now the Lady's room. She walked past the gilded door held open by a regal looking Lucario servant into what was now her room.

She had been in this room many times before, she had even slept in the massive cushioned bed. Each time had been at the Lord's call, each time had been at the price of her body. She looked around at the gaudy decorations strewn about the room. Everywhere she looked were signs of the old Lord. Gilded statues and woven tapestries depicting the sea that he had loved and died without ever seeing. Countless plush cushions in vivid blues with cloth of gold borders and tassels lay strewn about haphazardly.

She had always hated this room, what it had meant and how it looked, but it was hers now. Tomorrow she would have it redecorated to suit her own tastes, and to get the taste of the previous inhabitant from her mouth. She again ran her tongue across the gold adorning her fangs, it was time for that to change too.

Rounding the room she quickly blew out the polished, silver backed lanterns that illuminated her quarters before looking to the massive, deep blue colored bed and its mountain of soft pillows with disgust. She hopped easily on to the bed, sinking deep into the over soft mound. Blowing out the final lantern she turned and gave the room one final look. Cast now in the silver light of the full moon the room sparkled and shone in a sea of beautiful gold and blue, just like the real sea did, or so Henrik had told her, here in this very bed, with a warm twinkle in his eye.

She caught herself sniffling and shook her head, wiping moisture from her eyes. She would not cry, not for him. He had always been cold to her and everyone else, his only love had been for a sea that he had never even been to. She refused cry for him.

She lay herself down and splayed her long tails behind her. Closing her eyes she laid her head on a soft pillow and took a deep relaxing breath. She picked up the unmistakable fresh salty scent that had belonged to Lord Henrik and burst into tears.

********************

"What do you mean we don't have the funding?" The angry psychic voice boomed across the boardroom was accented by a savage snarl. Three hours into the meeting she had called, Karma was in no mood for pleasantry, "You mean to tell me the Mint can't afford a simple rail?"

She looked down the gold topped table to each of the boards ten members, most of whom were no longer paying her any attention. Only Maverick, a hot tempered old Bibarel who was the Director of Facilities was returning her gaze. If her gleaming gold fangs and feral display was intimidating him in the slightest he was doing an impressive job of hiding it.

"What you have called for is not just a simple rail." He told her for the third time, "You're asking to put brass railing around the entire smelting pit. That kind of addition is far from cheap and quite unnecessary. I simply can't approve it."

"How is it unnecessary? Do you have any idea how many workers have been knocked from the ledges? Even the ones that miss the vats suffer injuries from the fall." She was rapidly growing tired of having to repeat herself.

Maverick stared at her with no expression on his face for several seconds before turning to the Director of Labor, "Rowan, have you heard any complaints from the workers? Is this anywhere near the problem our Lady suggests it is?"

Rowan was supporting his head with one arm while idly fidgeting with the stack of parchments sitting in from of him, "Naw, I can't fault our Lady for her concern but there is no issue with the ledges. Sure one or two workers fall every year but..."

"One or two!" The air around Karma shimmered with her anger as her psychic voice pierced into the heads of the board members, "Last year thirty-four workers were injured from falls into the smelting pit. Nine of those lost their lives. Two from broken skulls, the rest from landing in molten metal."

Karma kept the telepathic pressure long after she finished 'speaking', she had always had a preference for using her psychic power over her voice, it made it so much harder to ignore her words. Looking again at the board members she was pleased to see them each looking uncomfortable under the telepathic link.

"Workers have been falling into the vats?" asked Delphine in her voice that was always more of a hiss than actual words. The gold painted Arbok was the newest member of the board, having become the Director of Quality only three years ago. She ran her forked tongue across her large gold plated fangs while looking to the rest of the board.

"It's hardly a problem Delphine, we don't have the coin to waste on clumsy employees. I don't really care how many fall, it will just make their replacements more careful." Beatrice, the Director of Personnel replied with no emotion.

The oldest member of the board, she was a monstrously gaudy sight to behold. The old Granbull had several gold rings pierced through her ears, from these she ran chains down to her large bottom fangs which were further adorned with rings of gold. The rest of her body was covered with red silk cloth attached to gold rings on the sleeves and neck.

Karma was about to subject them to another telepathic assault when Delphine spoke again, "Forget that, what about the product? Surly pokemon falling into the vats affects the products purity. Why was this not brought to my attention sooner? If a rail can protect our vats then we need it."

"I must agree with Delphine here," The sly and deceptively quite voice of Laramie, the Director of Accounts spoke for the first time this meeting. "We have to spend far too much coin on purifying the vats after an accident. The cost of the rail will be quickly made back."

Karma had never liked Laramie, the sinister Persian had far too much love for his gold. He had been one of Henrik's favorites and had been loaned her services on many nights. She has always found his bedroom kinks far less pleasant than his greedy public face.

Karma could hear a loud growl growing in the board room, it took her several moments to realize it was hers. Rather than silencing herself she let her anger flow, bringing her fire to life for the first time in over five years, she continued to snarl and growl with a swirling fireball showing in her maw.

"I won't deny the importance of efficiency, but our employees need to be taken care of first." Karma spoke to them all but put a lot of her focus to Beatrice. The stubborn old dog simply laid her head on the gold table and ignored her.

Karma felt liquid in her mouth, running her tongue across her fangs she quickly figured out why and spit out the molten gold that had been plating her fangs. Showing clean white fangs she continued her snarls.

"Lady Karma," Francis, The Director of Process spoke, causing her full body to shudder, "I do commend you for wanting to make improvements, but I must warn you against changing a system that already works just fine."

Karma forced herself to meet his gaze, his red glowing eyes looking back to her showed nothing but kindness. Those eyes she knew where a lie, behind them was nothing but dark sadistic desire. She had spent far too much time being the focus of those desires to underestimate the Umbreon.

She was saved having to respond to him by Paige, The Director of Maintenance, "Wait! Wait! Back to the rail! If we put a brass rail down there then I have to maintain it. Most of our cleaning staff has fur, they aren't allowed in the forge." The ever hyper Cinccino bounced in her chair sending massive amounts of random colored silk cloth through the air. Karma had no idea how she kept from tripping over the tangled looking mess she wore.

"I don't want the cleaning crew down there anyways. Too much gold goes missing around your lot." Lance, the Director of Security said. A battle scarred Lucario she had originally been Karma's favorite.

Lance had always been kind and gentle when she had been asked to his bed. He was also the only member of the board who refused to wear any sign of his wealth. She had liked him from their first meeting, but that first impression hadn't lasted. While he may not wear his status, he certainly owned it. He often used large amounts of the funding intended to increase security to instead improve his office and personal quarters.

"Can we just take the vote so we can leave? This meeting has gone on far longer than any I can remember." Aether, the Director of Guild Relations said with a snap to his voice. The large Talonflame, draped in gold and silver chains to the point he was unable to fly was always the least patient of the board.

"Fine with me, I vote Nay." Beatrice said without raising her head.

The remainder of the board quickly added their votes ending two for and eight against. In the end only Delphine and Laramie had voted for the railing, making it the ninth safety change she had requested this meeting to be denied.

"That's that then. I will see you all next time." Francis said with a pleasant smile before leaping from his chair and waltzing out the room humming a happy tune to himself.

"No! That's not that!" Karma's psychic voice echoed to no avail, the dark type only heard her if he so chose to. "Stop all of you, this meeting is not done. Only the Lady can conclude a meeting."

The rest of the board did not stop, but continued to leave the room. In just a few seconds only Karma and Lance remained. She looked to the bored looking Lucario, of course he would be the only one to follow protocol.

"Whatever, just leave." Lance gave her a polite nod before briskly walking away, leaving her alone in the board room. Karma looked down to the cooling splatter of gold at her feet, well at least one thing changed today. With a soundless snarl she drew on her fire again and melted the plating from her claws.

********************

Karma paced furiously in her room, which was newly decorated in shades of red, accented with small amounts of silver and gold. How was she to make changes with the board undermining her constantly? Worse than that they showed her no respect, either dismissing or flat out ignoring her orders, even when she was present.

She would just have to get a new board, if a member had to be replaced it was the Ladies job to approve the new member. All she needed now was to chase out the current board. That was a task far more difficult than it sounded.

The employees could do it, the Mint wasn't ran democratically but it had some elements of it, the employees could vote out their representative, with the Ladies approval of coarse. She just had to figure out how to get them to do that, a difficult task since her fur kept her from the work floors where majority of them were, a rule that even the board members and the Mint Lady must abide.

This was getting her nowhere, and her newly bare teeth were troubling her. As much as she hated to admit it, she would need to get them plated again, but silver this time, no more gold. Not one to waste time she took her leave from the Mint and traveled into the City of Gold.

None questioned her exit, no one escorted her through the city, but if she looked to the shadows she could see members of the security force following her. Mostly for her protection, but also to report anything she did to the board.

She ignored them for now and simply enjoyed her walk. It wasn't very far to the groomers who could be paid to keep oneself clean. They also offered alterations for those who could afford it. Gold and silver plating, colorful metallic paints and piercings were amongst the less drastic alterations one could buy.

Just before the groomers building there was a large male Pangaro, leaning on a post with both eyes closed. As she approached one eye opened slightly, "Good afternoon Karma. Well, I guess I should say Lady Karma now shouldn't I?"

"Good afternoon Aaron. Call me as you like, you've known me long enough I wont fault you if you don't use my title. I would let you get away with much more than that..." Karma's psychic voice replied with just a hint of desire.

She had known Aaron most of her life. Although a man of few words, he had been her choice of conversation partner since well before her move to the Mint. The old bear had always treated her kindly, he had even come to her rescue a few times when she had flirted with the wrong person and found herself the target of less than desirable attention.

She had tried many times to take that friendship a little farther, to give him back some of the pleasure their simple chatter had brought her, but each time she offered, he declined. He wasn't gay, she had often seen him with females, but never with another male. Perhaps it was age difference, but her experience, a younger female was desirable to most males.

Whatever the reason may be, it had created a game she liked to play with him. Walking past close, she rubbed her body across his, allowing her tails to explore and wrap around as she passed. When her tails finally pulled free she swung them smoothly to lay across her back, exposing her hindquarters to the large male.

As he always did he just smiled, took in the view for a moment before speaking, "Careful now Lady, we wouldn't want you to attract the attention of any riff raff."

Karma let out a sultry sound somewhere between a growl and a moan, "Well, that just depends on the riff raff." Half liding her eyes she looked up at him through her lashes, "But I guess I do have somewhere to be today."

"Best get along then Lady." Aaron gave her a polite nod then leaned back against his post and closed his eyes.

Karma trotted the last few steps to the groomers and walked through the beaded opening, the strings of gold and silver plated beads rattling behind her announcing her presence. The plating on the beads was a sign that you were in one of the better districts. Anywhere else they would have be stolen.

Here in the upper levels of the city, thieves were much less common, and far to smart to waste their time on little plated baubles. No, here they had a more subtle approach, relying on deception and slight of hand to trick and steal coins and jewelry.

Then there were those like Aaron, who worked with a much more valuable commodity; choice information. Often gaining their knowledge through either intimidation or trickery they made a living selling secrets to those who could benefit from the knowledge. A dangerous and quite lucrative game in this town.

Karma walked lightly on to the floor, taking a seat on one of the large cushioned platforms for quadrupeds. The room itself was a simple plain square with platforms and seats spaced around the walls for customers. A beaded curtain served as a door to the street while another obscured the view to the darkened room in the back where major alterations were done.

The decor however was far from mundane, silver and gold wove tapestries and gem encrusted trinkets lined the walls and shelves, silk curtains hanging from a massive chandelier in the center of the room were pinned and draped across the ceilings.

"Ah! Lady Karma!" A soft voice that dripped with wealth and class called from the back room. The curtain rattled softly as an extremely overdressed Furfrou made her way to into the room. "Is it time for your grooming session already? I thought we had a couple more days!"

Mabella, the owner of the groomers. Karma had no real like or dislike for the snobbish dog. She did however find her usual manner of dress far too over the top for her taste. She always had her fur cut into outrageous shapes and dyed ridiculous colors.

She also had a habit of wearing large silk cloths that one could probably call a dress, if a dress had to have internal supports to maintain the oversize wings, fins, flares or whatever else Mabella was trying to look like she had at the time.

Her current attire didn't deviate from her usual style of matching her appearance to the happenings in the city. Her fur was cut and styled into what were admittedly good imitations of flames. Whatever wasn't a flame had been dyed cream. Her flowing silk covers were clearly made to imitate a fox, a rather specific fox judging by the eight artificial tails on either side of her one real one.

"Good day Mabella. As it happens I'm not scheduled for a few days but I seem to have run across a slight problem." Karma broadcasted in a friendly cheery tone, knowing what was coming next and wishing there was a way around it.

Mabella placed both her fore paws on Karma's shoulders and leaned in, placing her nose against Karma's she rubbed her muzzle along Karma's own until they were cheek to cheek, then repeated the process on the other side. Having finished she returned her paws the the floor.

As it had been explained to Karma, it warm greeting amongst friends from Mabella's home town far in the north. Warm and friendly as it may have been meant to be it always seemed to disturb her. Considering the acts she had performed for various others the fact that something so simple bothered her only served to disturb her more.

It was the touching of noses she though, it always seemed more personal than it should. She had tried it herself with some of those that Henrik had loaned her to and found that while it outright disgusted her, it did seem to have a major effect on them.

"It would seem I let my anger get the best of me," Karma gave a large tooth smile, revealing her bare fangs, "It seems I'm in need of more plantings."

"Oh my!" Mabella placed a paw over her mouth in horror, "That is quite unbecoming of a Lady! We must control our tempers now!" Mabella lived with the belief that females should be quite, well mannered decorations for their males. Another reason Karma wasn't overly fond of the entirely too prissy dog.

Knowing better than to get in a debate with the groomer Karma kept her smile, "I will will have to remember that." Closing her lips while keeping her smile she continued, "Let's do silver this time please."

"Ah! Of course, Henrik was foolish to have them done gold the first time, silver is a much better match your fur." Mabella shouted loudly to the back, "Coal! Get your filthy self out here!"

A black painted Charmeleon with gold accents poked his head out through the curtain, "What do you require." Coal said with a slight hiss.

"The Lady Karma would like to have her fangs plated silver, please take your disgusting self to the back to melt some for us." Mabella said without looking back, she did give him a dismissive wave with one paw.

"For you no, but for a real Lady I will get right on it." He said with a sneer for Mabella and a wink for Karma. Disappearing back through the curtains.

"Disgusting furless snake! If I didn't need him for working the metals..." Mabella ranted towards the now vacant curtain before returning her attention to Karma, "Do you want it the same as last time?"

"No, I wont be needing the lip this time," Karma said with a dismissive wave of her own paw. Looking at her appendage she wiggled her toes and added, "Might as well change the claws over as well."

"Very good Lady. We will get it done for you promptly. Please make yourself comfortable while Coal prepares." Mabella walked daintily through the curtain, with nine tails flowing behind her.

Shortly after she left Karma could hear her scolding Coal in the back. The reprimanding voice of the Furfrou was cut off by a growl from Coal, a flash of red orange light and a yelp from the back room. A second later Mabella could be heard lecturing the painted lizard with renewed intensity.

Karma had been coming to this groomer once a week for the last three years. In that time she had grown quite accustomed to the constant quarreling of the owner and her adopted son. While most customers wouldn't notice it, Karma had quickly realized that the two cared very deeply for each other, their bickering was simply their own strange way of showing it.

Family was something Karma knew both very little, and much about. Her own parents, Lord and Lady of one of the city sections had abandoned her emidiatly, not wanting to waste their precious time on an unwanted child. Karma had grown up instead in one the cities many run down orphanages.

There she had her own family, not related by blood but bonded together all the more for their shared lives. They had all worked so hard together, learning trades and doing whatever odd work they could around the city for a few meager coins to buy their food and maintain the orphanage.

Most of her fellow orphans had ran away as soon as they could, leaving the city behind when they were old enough to make it on their own. Only a handful had been unfortunate enough to have no other option but to stay, Karma had been one of those.

While most of them had learned trades that were useful all around, Karma had needed to fill a niche that was more local. Serving as an assistant to the elderly Serpeirior that ran the orphanage. When she came of age, there was nowhere for the little Vulpix to go.

She had secretly hoped her parents would one day return for her. That they would come to reclaim their cast off daughter, that she would be able to live happily with her family of birth. Which of course, never happened. Her birth mother had passed away just a few months before her coming of age. Died of an illness the healers couldn't cure.

Her father was notable around town, she had often seen his regal form traversing the city while she was out and about. She had no doubt he had seen her as well, and knew who she was, yet he never gave her more than a passing glance. He had always made painfully obvious, she was no daughter of his.

"We are ready Lady Karma," Coal's voice brought her attention back to the present. "Mabella has gone to get supplies, I will do platings alone, fangs first please."

Coal was standing beside her, holding a smoldering ceramic crucible in his claws and a heavy cloth rag over one fore arm. Having been through the process once before Karma rolled onto her back and opened her jaw wide for the lizard to work.

Using the rag to both apply the molten metal as well as protect her from any spills, not that she needed any protecting being a fire type herself, he quickly worked to finish up her fangs.

"Beautiful equipment you have Lady," Coal said, with admiration on his voice, "Henrik was a fool to put guards on such wonderful fangs as these."

"Henrik was just afraid of getting bitten," Karma was quite good at using her psychic to hold a conversation when her mouth was otherwise occupied. A skill that she had plenty of practice in. "Can you really blame him for that."

"Yes, I can." Coal growled, "You are a dangerous beast, that only adds to your beauty. He was a fool to mask such a creature, to try and make you something you are not."

Coal released her head and moved down to her fore paws, griping the first and gently spreading her toes to get her claws one at a time. Karma fought back the urge to kick her feet to rid herself of the Charmeleon's tickling grip. Knowing what the fierce claws that held her still looked like helped her endure the feeling.

Karma ran her tongue across the fresh silver on her fangs, and thought about what Coal had said. The danger his claws possessed, the sight of his flame tipped tail waiving gently in the air beside her. These things showed how dangerous of a beast this lizard was, and that only added to the beauty he possessed. She would never allow herself to be anything less than what she was, this was a lesson she would have to repay him for.

Coal finished up and moved to her hind legs. He was about to begin when Karma stopped him, "You had to hold me down last time, it tickled too much."

Coal looked at her for a moment, clearly deep in though. He looked around the room quickly, "Don't tell Mabella this but... Last time I was just an innocent little Charmander. I felt nothing holding you down. But now, I don't think I could control myself, having an attractive female pinned like that. I fear I would get... exited."

Karma chuckled at his concern, "Coal, I have been pinned by many males. None of which were half the gentleman you are," She fluttered her eyelids at him, "If you get exited, I will only take it as a complement."

Coal looked apprehensive for a moment, scanning the room once more. He nervously approached her hindquarters, his eyes glancing to her sex before trying to look everywhere else at once. He straddled her slowly, placing one of her legs between his he pressed down to hold her still.

He was much heavier than he was last time, warmer too. He took her foot in his clawed hand and began plating her claws. His skill had clearly improved since her initial platings, it hardly tickled at all. Still Karma couldn't resist the urge to squirm with the male atop her, to feel his groin pressed into hers. He was in fact getting quite exited.

By the time he had finished the first hind paw, his shaft was prominently on display. With his breeding tool laying along side her thigh she could feel it's intense heat every time she moved. The glossed over look of pleasure in his eyes as he struggled to focus on his work only spurred the promiscuous fox along.

He moved quickly to pin her other leg, trying in vain as he did to keep his cock hidden from her view. He eventually gave up and laid it along her other thigh as he finished up the final paw. He worked quickly, trying to finish before further embarrassing himself in front of such a high class client, but by the time the last claw was plated he was breathing hard.

He stepped back from her when he had finished. She raised her head to look down between her splayed legs at him. She could clearly see the internal struggle going on in his mind.

"I am done with the plating... wait here and I will bring the polish to shine them." He coughed once and walked quickly to the back.

Karma however was not one to dally, she knew what she wanted and followed behind making hardly a sound, not even when she passed through the beaded curtain to the back. She passed though the alterations room, along the soft padded racks that did nothing to hide the heavy leather restraints to hold the clients still while work was done.

She followed the distracted lizard all the way to the store room in the rear of the building unnoticed. This was farther into the shop than customers were meant to be, but Karma didn't care. She owed Coal for his lesson, and intended to make good on her flirting.

Coal went straight for the polish and rag sitting on a counter. He paused for a moment when he reached it however, "Calm your self Coal. She doesn't want that."

Karma wasn't sure if he was talking to himself, or his still erect member, either way it didn't matter to her, "Hrm, actually Coal, that's exactly what I want." Her voice broadcasted in a seductive tone while she made a sexy growl.

Coal spun around and fell back against the counter, "Lady Karma! I... this is not appropriate! Customers cannot be in the back."

Karma placed her head on his heaving chest and wrapped one fore paw around his waist, just above his tail, "I'm not a customer right now. I'm just your friend, and I'm going to give you a nice tip for a job well done."

She had her open maw nearly engulfing his member while being ever so careful not to actually touch him yet. She could smell his maleness, as well as his excitement. She had always liked to pleasure others this way, something Henrik and all his lecherous ways had never quite managed to destroy.

"Lady Karma! Please, if Mabella returns." Coal said at a near panic.

"You and I both know it will take her half the day to return. But if you really want me to stop." Karma slowly pulled her mouth away, allowing her tongue to gently run the length of his shaft, enjoying his taste as she did.

"I..." Coal swallowed once hard and shuddered, "You don't owe me this. I didn't ask for this."

"No, I don't, and you didn't. That's precisely why I'm doing it." She locked her eyes onto his, "But if you really want me to stop I will."

Coal swallowed hard again and shook his head no. Karma smiled as she bent her head back down to give his member another long lick. A spurt of pre across her nose gave her all the indication she needed that he was quite ready to proceed. Dipping her head down she took his entire length in one go.

She closed her lips and pressed him to the roof of her mouth with her tongue, rolling him up in its long, wet and warm embrace. He hissed sharply and dug his claws into both the counter and the floor. With a satisfied moan she went to work, sucking on the impressively large piece of flesh in her mouth.

Her teasing had obviously worked well, as it was only a minute before he was gasping and groaning all while pumping his hips into her maw. She slid her paw down his back, pulling him by the rump into her while giving his cock a long hard pull with her nimble tongue.

With a final groan he erupted, sending a massive amount of his fluid into her mouth. She rolled it around and savored his flavor while he continued to spill everything he had into her greedy maw. No longer able to stay standing he collapsed gasping for air in front of her, a final jet of his hot seed splashing across the side of Karma's muzzle.

He looked at her with wide eyes, taking in the view of the smiling fox with a face splattered with his spunk. She opened her mouth wide and stuck out her tongue so he could watch his fluid flow thickly down and puddle at the tip. Closing her mouth she swallowed his load, then licked the side of her muzzle clean, never taking her eyes off his.

"There now, wasn't that a good tip?" Karma continued to smile at the still incapacitated lizard, "And judging by the volume I'd say it was quite overdue. Do you not have a pretty girl to help you out?"

After several long seconds Coal finally stopped breathing hard and spoke "That was... only the second time... I've done that, and you were much more skilled than she. As far as a girl goes, I do not have one at the moment."

"That's too bad. I will have to put in a good word for you with the girls in town then." Karma grinned wide, showing off her newly silver fangs, "After all, a treat as tasty as you should have someone to enjoy it."

"Thank you Lady." Coal stood back up and picked up the polish and rag he had come back for, "As much as I have enjoyed this, we really must finish what you came for."

"Of course. Lead the way." She gestured with a paw.

"Ladies first." He said with a toothy grin, she turned and started walking back to the front, "Besides, I would hate to miss the view."

She looked back to see him staring at her hindquarters. Flaring out her tails she walked smoothly back to her cushioned seat in the front of the building, enjoying his hungry gaze the whole way. Perhaps today wasn't such a bad day after all.

********************

A healthy, although thin young Nidorina walked along the halls of the Mint, pushing along a loaded metal serving cart. Walking along she she kept glancing between the name plates on the doors and the list she had pinned under a plate of food. Stopping occasionally to deliver a plate covered in a silver dome.

She smiled brightly as she delivered each meal. She could hardly believe her luck, a job in the Mint itself. She had been working in the kitchens for just a few days and it still seemed like a dream. Finally, her days fighting for work in the dingy inns out on the edge of the city was over. Sure things here weren't perfect. Practically everyone spent their days complaining about the board, or the policies or something like that, but it was still better than anywhere she had worked before.

She continued along down the hall, lost in her thoughts. Snapping out of her daydream she stopped the cart in front of the last door on her List. Adjusting her apron she knocked lightly on the door and waited patiently until an elderly Sentret opened it.

"Hello sir! I have your evening meal here." She said with her best smile and curtsy.

"Oh! A new girl. A pretty one at that." The old pokemon said, swinging the door wide for her to enter. "Put it on the table would you dear."

She blushed slightly, "Yes sir." taking the last plate from the cart she walked through the door.

Immediately her feet sank deep into the soft padded carpet. The soft flooring was a new sensation that she was still trying to get used to. She had never been on any flooring that wasn't hard wood planks or stone pavers. The feel of the woven material between her toes was amazing.

Bending over slightly she set the tray down on a low ornate table dominating the center of the room. She started to stand up when she felt a pat on her rump.

"Thank you kindly dear. I do hope to see you again, but if you would excuse me I'm rather famished." The Sentret reached around and dropped something heavy in her apron pocket.

Blushing brightly the Nidorina stood up and walked quickly from the room, "Your welcome sir! Enjoy your meal."

She pushed her now empty cart along towards the kitchens as quickly as she could without running. What was that? None of the others had paid her any mind, and what did he put in her pocket? She pushed the cart through the swinging doors that lead to the kitchen, as soon as the heavy wood doors had swung back shut she took a deep breath.

She reached tentatively in to her pocket and pulled out whatever it was that had been placed. Bracing herself for the worst she could imagine she opened her paw and looked. Her eyes went wide with what she saw, a single gold coin.

"Oh, a gold one eh?" the voice was quite and soft but the Nidorina nearly jumped out of her skin anyways. "Roulof must really like you, he usually only gives a silver coin."

Spinning around the Nidorina found herself face to face with an ancient looking Wigglytuff. She let out a sigh of relief, it was the head cook, Elena.

"Sorry for startling you dear." Elena walked passed her to counter where meals awaiting delivery sat. Taking more covered plates she quickly filled up the cart again, "And I'm really sorry for this. I know you were supposed to be done but the other girls aren't back yet and this meal must not be late."

"I don't mind. What rooms am I delivering these to?" She said, breathing deeply to calm herself.

"Only one room. These go to Lady Karma herself. She just returned from the groomers and needs her evening meal." Elena said with a calm that the Nidorina didn't feel.

"I can't deliver food to the Lady! What do I say, what do I do?" She felt her heart begin to race.

"The same thing you say and do with everyone else. If you've drawn Roulof's eye your doing just fine." Now take this quickly. Straight down the hall, up the serving ramp to the top floor, big gold embossed doors at the end of the hall when you get to the top." The Nidorina found herself quickly shoved out of the kitchen.

"But I..." A paw on her muzzle stopped any further comment.

"You will do fine dear. Now off with you, don't let the Lady's meal get cold. I'll be gone when you get back, put the cart away and go home." Elena started through the kitchen doors then stopped, "And don't worry about Roulof, his paws wander from time to time but he will stop if you ask."

With that the Nidorina found herself alone in the hallway. Taking another deep breath she straightened her apron and head off, pushing her yet again loaded cart along.

********************

Lady Karma sat before the large silver backed mirror in her quarters. She was alternating between large grins and snarls, while turning her head this way and that to admire Coal's work. The new silver plating on her fangs and claws were polished to a mirror shine.

She ran her tongue across her front teeth slowly, first the top, then the bottom. It had been some time since she actually had sharp fangs in her mouth, she was already liking the change. Turing her body to quarter the mirror she flipped her tails over her back and gave the mirror her best seductive gaze with just a hint of a smile, just enough to show the silver gleam. It was perfect.

Coal had done a wonderful job, she would have to reward him again. He had wasted no time polishing his work and sending her on her way. It's was too bad he had more clients coming in to attend to, she really would have liked a more thorough session with the painted Charmeleon.

A knock on her door drew her attention away from the mirror, "Yes, who is it?"

The door opened slowly, "Sorry to bother you Lady, but I have your evening meal for you." A rather thin Nidorina in a white apron said shyly from the doorway.

At the mention of food Karma's stomach growled loudly, "Ah, well. Thank you for that. Just in time it would seem. Please bring it in."

The Nidorina fully opened the door and pushed in a small cart covered in a white cloth that was laden with covered plates.

"There you are Lady Karma. Unless you need something else I will be going home now." she said, fidgeting with the her apron.

Karma looked at her for a few seconds, noting her obvious nervousness, "I haven't seen you before. Are you new to the Mint."

"Oh! Yes ma'am, I was just hired a few days ago." she replied with a polite bow.

"What is your name?" Karma gave her a slight smile, trying to calm the poor girls nerves.

"Selene." The Nidorina was now twisting her apron quite firmly, while looking down and shuffling her feet.

"There is nothing to be nervous about Selene. I don't bite." Karma noticed Selene's ribs were visible when she turned, "Well, maybe a nibble here and there but nothing bad. If you're done with work for the evening, why don't you help me eat some of this. I certainly can't do it by myself.

Selene watched as Karma pulled off one of the covers to reveal heaping piles of roasted meats and berries. She looked at the food for a long second before shacking her head clear, "No thank you ma'am, that wouldn't be proper."

"Oh, well if you don't want to share I'll just make it an order then. Selene, you will help me eat this before you head home tonight. That better?" Karma walked around behind the nervous pokemon and pushed her to the cart. "Go ahead, eat whatever you want."

Selene looked back and forth from Karma and the contents of the cart for a moment, then picked up a single oran berry and took a small bite, "Thank you, Lady Karma."

"That's better. I like to get to know the people who work for me. I'm no one to be afraid of." Karma took a seat opposite of Selene and began eating a large piece of roasted meat, enjoying being able to properly bite off pieces of her food for the first time in years.

They continued to eat in silence. Selene kept trying to eat slowly at first, so Karma would push other items across for her to try. It wasn't long before the young girl was putting away her share of the food at an alarming pace.

Karma had seen her share of starving young pokemon in the city. She wasn't about to have one working for her, and if she could get a little information on the side at the same time that would be all the better.

"So tell me Selene, how have you liked your first few days with the Mint?" Karma asked in her friendliest tone.

Selene looked at her with wide eyes for a moment, "Um... It's... It's great." She managed to stuttered out.

Karma tapped her claws on the floor for a minute, watching as the Nidorina squirmed under her gaze. She sighed then spoke again, "Selene. The Mint is in bad shape. Everywhere I look I see things are not what they should be. You don't have to pretend everything is good. You may have only been here a few days, but I'm sure we both know that's not true."

"Uhm..." Selene said, beginning to fidget with her apron again, "I guess. Everyone seems to hate the board and... Erm..."

Karma had a good idea what was coming next, "It's okay, just say it."

"Well, you." She flinched as soon as the words were out of her mouth. Timidly looking back to Karma she continued, "They say you're the boards whore. That you care only about pleasing the board and collecting gold."

"I've never really cared about collecting gold." Karma said with a chuckle, "As far as being the boards whore, well, I was pretty much Henrik's whore. The board was given their turn from time to time, but that was then. Henrik is gone and I'm in charge now. Things are going to change."

Selene was sitting perfectly still, with her eyes wide. Karma realized she had gotten quite intense toward the end, to the point her hackles were raised and she was showing her fangs. "Sorry sweetheart. I didn't mean to get carried away there. I do mean what I said though, I'm going to fix the Mint, and I want your help doing it."

"Me?" Selene squeaked.

"That's right." Karma smiled as she walked around to sit beside the Nidorina, leaning against her and placing a paw on her shoulder, "I want you to report to me whenever you can. Tell me what you hear about the board. I want to know what they do and how the employees feel."

"But, I'm a servant, not a spy. I wouldn't know the first thing about this." She protested.

"That's precisely why this will work. I don't want you to pry, I just want you to tell me what is said. I'm not asking for a spy, just for a set of ears among the employees. I can't fix anything if I don't know what's been broke." Karma removed her paw and walked towards her window to look over the city. "You can take the cart back to the kitchen and go home for the day. Don't forget to keep those ears open for me, and don't tell anyone about this."

"Yes... Yes ma'am..." Selene wasted no time in getting the cart and herself out of the room.

Karma thought hard as she watched the sun setting over the city. Get the employees on her side. That had to be her first step. How she was going to do that when even she couldn't go to the places the majority of them worked she didn't know, but she did know that she would find a way to do it.

********************

Selene pushed the now empty cart to the back of the kitchen, storing it with the many other serving carts already there. Things were finally starting to look up for her. She had a job that paid enough to get her out of the miserable little room she called home and into some decent quarters. Lady Karma wasn't as bad as they all said either, actually, she was quite nice. She even gave her a secret job!

Feeling good with her place in life she smiled as she turned around, only to find herself face to face with a large pair of red glowing eyes. Selene let out a sound that was something between a squeak and a scream as she fell backwards.

"I guess that's an appropriate reaction to me." Director Francis said, looking down to one raised paw as he inspected his claws. "Isn't it now boys?"

The two large Primapes behind him chuckled deeply, drawing Selene's attention to them for the first time. The three had her trapped in the corner of the kitchen, she had no way out, and no one was around to call for help.

Selene managed to overcome her sudden fear at being trapped enough to speak, "What do you want?"

"Oh, nothing much. You were in with the Lady for quite some time. I was just wondering what kept you so long." Francis' slightly glowing eye starred straight into her.

"The Lady shared some of her food with me, that's all!" Something was very wrong. There was no need for the director to be here, especially with guards. Perhaps it was just instinct from being a species that was preyed on in the wild, but she couldn't shake down the primal fear she felt looking into those eyes.

"Well, that's good that you're getting along with the Lady, since it is now your job to bring her meals." The Umbreon voice was smooth, but did little to hide the malice behind it. "I was curious to see if you were who I needed. Seems I had the right idea. We will of course need to keep you thin so the Lady keeps feeding you out of pity."

"What? I..." Selene found herself suddenly tackled and restrained by the directors guards. Up close she could smell their fur; alcohol, sex and blood. Her terror doubled as they quickly restrained her.

"Easy there boys. We mustn't bruise her now." Francis laughed as she futility struggled against the brutes that held her fast. "You see girl, I need you too keep me informed on what Karma is doing. You will listen well to what she says and repeat it to me. Every last part. You will accept all the food she offers graciously, just don't get too attached to it. We will be taking it back."

Selene opened her mouth to speak and found it instead held wide by a pair of dirty hands. The Primapes forced her to look straight at the floor. Out of the corner of her eye she saw one of them grab a wood spoon of the nearby counter shortly before she felt it forced down her throat. Tears came to her eyes as her stomach emptied its contents across the floor.

As quickly as the attack started she was released. She lay sobbing on the floor in a pool of her own vomit. Behind her she could her Francis's claws clicking on the floor as he walked away.

"Clean up that mess, then go home. You will do as I asked tomorrow." Francis paused at the door, "Oh, and don't you even think about disobeying, or telling our Lady about this. If you do, well, people disappear in the streets all the time now don't they."

Selene continued to sob as she pushed herself up and reached for a rag. Maybe things weren't so different here.

Information on the Mint

The Mint Board of Directors Labor - Rowan, Machamp, Male Quality - Delphine, Arbok, Female Process - Francis, Umbreon, Male Accounts - Laramie, Persian, Male Relations - Aether, Talonflame, Male Archive - Tallow, Raticate, Male Security - Lance, Lucario, Male Personnel - Beatrice, Granbull, Female Facilities - Maverick, Bibarel, Male Maintenance - Paige, Cinccino, Female

The board essentially run all aspects of the Mint. They fall under the Lord or Lady whos job it is to overlook the board and insure they are following all procedures. The board elects a new Lord or Lady when the previous either passes away or steps down. The Lord or Lady cannot be removed from their position.

Individual board member can be removed by process. The employees they represent must take a vote. Each employees vote is voluntary and the outcome is based off the total number of employees, not just the ones who elect to vote. If the majority votes against their representing board member, the Lord or Lady may choose to remove that member. As such, a majority vote does not necessarily remove the member in question. The decision must be made within three days of the vote.

The Mint itself was built on an active, although mild, volcano. This allows the facility to smelt copper and silver ore(gold is naturaly found in its final form), as well as melt and purify copper, silver and gold. They also recycle any usable metals found in human ruins.

The facility also has the only functioning blast furnace in any pokemon city. By putting ore into the top of the furnace and blasting air in from bellows in the bottom they can use charcoal to produce mild steel. The Mint is the only facitlity that can make steel. They cannot however make it in large enough quantities to serve as a building material. So its main use is in special 'guild mark' coins. These coins are made only when ordered and have a value and guild symbol stamped on them. They can be turned into that guild for the amount shown. These are used when large amounts of currency must be paid within a guild.