FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

Much ado has been made about the pride of Ninetales. Their majestic form, their tendencies to hold a grudge, their proclivity to hunt for what they want... Their flaming egos... Yes, those many-tailed Foxes were really something, alright. They were justifiably proud, he thought.

Yet not enough had been made of the pride of a Lion. That physical power, that long memory, that hunting instinct. He didn't think himself so prideful as felines went, especially around here, but Ceylon couldn't help but think he rated at least a little, himself.

Not too much, of course... or at least not too much of it showing at once, anyways, since that just wouldn't be properly English of him...

Yet, As he stalked through his favoured hunting ground, a big, dark, black and blue coloured feline moving gracefully and stealthily with a powerful stride through a jungle and den of leisure and custom, the limey Luxray had to admit, he felt just a dash of it, himself.

Foxes. Not to be confused with canines; When you got to know them, you'd realise that the vulpine had something of a feline's hunter's focus. They knew the playful games; the stalk, the hunt...

Still, it didn't hurt to show them the real thing, now and then... and with big yellow on red eyes flashing faintly in the dim light of Cafe Plaisir's main bar, eyes that could literally look right through things, Ceylon was focussed to do exactly that.

For just on the other side of people and Pokemon and intervening obstacles, Ceylon's special eyes were focussed on his prize. A majestic, fluffy, if not a little scruffy, example of a Ninetales indeed. Crimson of fur and black of mane, a many-tailed scoundrel who refused to be tamed. He had a thing for rhyming, too.

October was sat in front of the main bar, itself, exchanging some quip or taunt with the Typhlosion bartender, Jack. He wasn't always in here on an evening. He tended to slink off to the roof like some stray animal, unless, on a night such as tonight, the grand southern plains were doing their worst; a hell of a squall that would make old Blighty blush. Nothing like the rain to keep a Ninetales indoors... and begging for drinks.

Ceylon had been waiting for just such a night, knowing that it would bring just such an opportunity. He watched, slinking, edging, slipping ever closer to the Fox as October twisted his features, rebuffed. Alas, it was dollars for drinks around here, as Ceylon had once told him... and October had none.

Time to make his entrance.

"...Oh, come on..!" he could hear October saying, in that distinctly northern accent of his, "Play fair! How am I meant to pay when I don't get paid..?"

"Not my problem," said Jack, the big Typhlosion leaning on the bar and grinning down at him, speaking with that broad, Irish accent of his, "Pay off yer debt then, an' it won't be your problem, neither."

"I've been here a month!" protested the Ninetales, his many crimson limbs twitching with his frustration.

"An' you keep breakin' stuff..!" said Jack, "Stop wreckin' my bar and I'll serve you drinks!"

"Pah!" spat the Ninetales, "None of that was my fault!"

Jack rolled his eyes.

Ceylon put his paw on October's warm back, sinking it into that thick crimson fluff and keeping him securely in place even when the Ninetales' quick nerves tried to jerk him out of the way. October looked around with a bit of a start, the wary vulpine unaccustomed to being sneaked up upon and even less accustomed to being handled!

Yet Ceylon was waiting for him with a smile and a pleasant tone in his voice, "Good evening..! Having a bit of trouble are we..?" he asked it rhetorically, quickly speaking again before the Ninetales could find a verbal chance to slip away, "...Why don't I help a fellow Brit in need, then, eh..?"

The emotions on October's face played quickly from shock to surprise to confusion to embarrassment. "Ahhh..." he began uncertainly, "Well..."

Ceylon smiled, then looked to the Typhlosion, "I'll cover his drink, Jack. I'll have my usual, as well..!"

Jack was looking at Ceylon suspicious, then raising an eyebrow, slowly, "Alright," he said, "If ye're sure ye wanna be drinkin' with the likes of this 'un..."

Ceylon gave October's back a little tactical ruffle. It was fun enough ruffling that thick crimson fluff, but it was more about keeping the Ninetales off balance and fostering camaraderie at the same time. "Of course..!" Ceylon declared brightly, "It's long past time he and I had a sit down, together!"

"Hmmph, alright," said Jack, eyebrow still raised, "Comin' right up, then!" He turned away to serve them, still wearing a little smirk.

October was looking at him, suspiciously. Ah, Foxes, how quickly shifty they could be. Ceylon met that suspicious look with a smile. "My treat!" he declared.

October's suspicious look melted a little as his ears went back, "Ah, thankyou... kindly..." he said, quickly and correctly.

Ceylon had yet to meet the Ninetales who didn't value their good manners - or at least the appearance of good manners, in October's case. "Not a problem!" said Ceylon, smoothly, "As I said, a fellow Brit in need..."

"Indeed," said October, quickly, then paused, as if searching for what next to say.

"...And as I also said," continued Ceylon, "Long past due."

October paused a little longer, smiled, then said, "Is it, now..?"

Ceylon smiled, meeting those green-on-black eyes, letting the silence linger briefly before speaking, "Indeed it is."

Indeed also, much ado had been made about the long memory of Ninetales, but neither did a Cat forget. Ceylon didn't forget that one month ago, when a certain Ninetales had first turned up at the Cafe as a Customer, fraudulent and mischievous as he may have been, the first Waiter to spot him and make a move had been Ceylon, himself...

An effort that had still yet to bear fruit.... but a Cat could be patient and patience, combined with opportunity presented possibilities.

"Here's yer drinks," said Jack, depositing the glasses on the bar.

Ceylon smiled and turned, wrapping the end of his agile feline tail about the glass. The electric-yellow star on the end of his tail, currently dull and inactive, clinked on the glass as he secured it. Then he smiled at the Ninetales, "You coming..?"

Another commonality was that Cats and Foxes both were curious. Often to a fault. From the growing smile on October's face, Ceylon could see that he was intrigued. "Very well," said the Ninetales, one of his own many tails slinking smoothly around his own beverage to swallow it up in fur for transit, "Let's go."

Ceylon lead on, smiling. He had already picked out a table. Now he made a point of leading the way to it, keeping ahead of the Ninetales. He kept his head high, his stalk smooth, making a show of himself as he went. Whilst not overly prideful for a cat, he was quite sure, Ceylon was also quite sure he had a hard-won physique to be proud of. He had worked hard for these muscles, after all; no sense in not letting them work for him.

It was part of the well-oiled routine of a Cafe Plaisir Waiter, one that was generally sure to provoke some interest out of a mark. If the Customer had ordered a big cat, you gave them a Big Cat. Then, when he had made it across the floor, deposited his drink and leapt up onto his seat, he was ready with a big, smooth smile for the Ninetales.

Curiously, the Ninetales didn't look as impressed as he might have hoped. October was still wearing that curious yet suspicious smile as he slunk up onto the opposing seat, sliding his drink on the table at the same time, then immediately leaning down to take a sip before looking up and smiling, "So..." said the Ninetales.

"You've been avoiding me," said Ceylon, directly.

October paused, mid-sip, his eyes slightly widening. That was another trick with Foxes. Keep them off balance and you stopped them from scheming. Still, October didn't pause for long, "Perhaps..." he said, quietly.

Ceylon leant forwards, putting both paws under his chin and looking at the Ninetales, curiously, "Why..?" he asked, gently, "I don't think I've given you any reason to."

"Indeed," said October, smiling at him, "If anything, the contrary. You've been very helpful..." then he stroked a paw against his glass, "and kind."

"Thankyou," said Ceylon, properly, "So... why..?"

"Well..." said October, still playing with his glass, "that's a little awkward, Ceylon, but after all you've done for me, especially after that thing with Firenze, I might as well be honest with you, at this point."

Ceylon looked at him curiously, all ears.

"You..." said October, drawing a single claw against the skin of the glass, "Are bigger than me." He pulled the claw up suddenly, flicking it over the rim in time to finish his sentence with a 'ting!'

Ceylon drew back a little, smiling an amused smile. "Bigger than you..?" he tilted his head slightly, "That's enough to put you off..?"

"Indeed," said October, with an apologetic smile in return, "You might have noticed I mainly go for Eeveelutions. You're more than a bit more male than is my preference."

"Funny," said Ceylon, thoughtfully.

"Hmm..?" prompted October, curiously.

"That you bring up Firenze before saying that," said Ceylon, "he's a mite bigger than you are. Even taller than me..."

October's ears went back, again, but not overmuch, he spoke softly, "Firenze's the exception, not the rule. I don't know what he told you, but I assure you, that was very experimental, on my part..."

"Experimental..?" said Ceylon, deciding to leave Firenze's discretion discrete, "Didn't you enjoy yourself..?"

"Yes.." said October, very quietly, "and I was limping for a week... It can't have escaped your notice that my usual place is on top."

Before the Fox could bog him down, Ceylon quickly shifted tack, again, "...and then," he said, "There are some who say you spent a night with Prometheus, of all Pokemon. He who brings the Fire of the Gods. That Arcaninetales who is perhaps the biggest and most male of the males we have here..."

October frowned, slightly, at that, "...and I wasn't the one left limping, that time." He tapped his glass with his claws, again, "Alcohol can lead to some interesting events..."

"Well," said Ceylon, smoothly, "Consider me very interested."

October paused. October smiled at him. October had liked that. Ceylon received the unspoken compliment with a broad smile.

"Another exception," said October, softly, "The truth is, Prometheus terrified me. I spent a lot of time avoiding him in this Labyrinth, so I finally decided to confront the Minotaur in his lair..."

"A strange decision," said Ceylon, taking up his glass for another sip.

"I am the kind of Fox who confront his fears," said October, then he smiled, "Some of the time..." then he went for his own drink.

Ceylon finished his own sip, "So you are," he said, "Firenze, Prometheus... and let us not mention the other. You've confronted a lot of the big names around here..."

October smiled as he finished his sip, "Thankyou..." he said, receiving a compliment as graciously as a Ninetales might.

"So," said Ceylon, "Where's mine..?"

There it was, the trap. The way to any Ninetales' heart was through their vanity and pride. October in particular had a sense of fair play, perhaps above any of his questionable morals. With patience, opportunity and cunning, Ceylon had walked him right into it. Now to see how he jumped.

October's smile grew. He cocked his head slightly. He drew back, sitting up and bringing his drink with him in his paws. His tails swirled in an animated dance behind his back.

Ceylon waited, patiently and smiled.

October took a long drink, then grinned, "I haven't given you enough credit, Ceylon," he said with a pleasant growl in his voice.

Ceylon took the compliment silently and waited for him to go on.

"...But you can't just earn your way into bed with someone so easily, as you well know..." said October, stroking his glass.

"Fair enough," said Ceylon.

"...Though we Ninetales in particular," said October, thoughtfully, staring at the surface of his drink, "we appreciate someone willing to consider us worthy to be won..."

"That I do..." muttered Ceylon, quietly.

October looked up, smiling a Foxish smile at the Luxray, "...So, how's about this..? We'll be needing a few more drinks. A little more discussion..." he let himself trail off, briefly, then lowering his muzzle to give Ceylon a coy look, "...then we'll work something out?"

Ceylon grinned at the Ninetales, "Sounds good to me!" he declared.

When he thought back, later, that was about as much as he remembered of that evening.

* * *

When he awoke, it was to the sound of distant, chirruping birds and a whole, vast soundscape of strange animal noises that he didn't recognise. Eyes still closed, Ceylon wondered for a little while if someone hadn't left the telly on. Oh, but he was feeling a bit groggy, he had to admit...

...What was wrong with this bed? He had to wonder. He must have been drunk, last night, he realised that well enough from the taste of cider in his mouth. He usually made it back to his bed, however, no matter how properly irresponsible he'd been the night before.

As the material beneath Ceylon's probing paws didn't bunch like sheets, but rather slid and hissed like grass, Ceylon really had to wonder what he had been up to, last night, because he was drawing the distinct conclusion that this wasn't his bed.

It smelled strange, too. Musty. Damp. Warm, even for Oklahoma. All those strange noises, too...

Wait a minute.

That wasn't a telly. He opened his eyes and lifted his head more suddenly than any cat ought to have to after a night on the lash. His brain immediately swirled with the sudden movement. Light flooded into his eyes like a ferocious attack, left him blinking, slowly bringing the verdant scene into focus... This wasn't Oklahoma.

Before his disbelieving eyes, the rainforest took shape. Huge trees with grand trunks and extensive root systems bulging out of the ground, a dense, verdant canopy thick with nests and hives and hanging creepers, the distant movement and ringing calls of colourful birds and rodents and much more besides. Now that he was awake, the scents of many different creatures, none familiar, but deeply varied hid among the musty odours of the loamy woods.

He couldn't believe his eyes, but there was dirt under his paws, a dramatically cloudy sky overhead, rich scents and heavy moisture in his nose, many sounds in his ears, soft, warm wind on his whiskers and a grand, disconcerting sense of being a very, very long way from home.

Unless all of his senses were lying to him, he really, really was. He was also hung over... he started to groan until he caught sight of the REALLY strange sight.

Somehow, strangely, it brought October's voice into his head. A memory..? 'Remember, go get your cup of tea.'

There was a small wooden table, with a pristine-white teapot stood upon it, next to a jug of milk and a teacup.

Ceylon blinked. He couldn't blame himself for not seeing that sooner. It didn't make any sense. As if any of this made any sense!

Where was he? Why was he here..? Where was here and why was there a table with a teapot on it, here?

He had to admit, it was the kind of quandary that lead one to want to have a cup of tea. Groaning, groggy, he picked himself up from the forest floor and made his way over to the table. He sniffed the pot. He crinkled his brow. It smelled like ceylon tea.

The wooden table, the cup, the heat of the pot was all real. He shook his head at the absurdity of it, feeling like perhaps he might be caught up in some hypnotist's trick and that he wasn't really seeing any of this.

Ah well, if it was, then he had always been the type to play along with the act. Still the able performer, Lewis! He told himself.

So, looking around himself with an amused smirk, admiring the strange beauty of his surroundings and deciding to draw some amusement out of the surreality of it, Ceylon prepared himself a lovely cup of tea, chuckling to himself with every step of the process.

That left him with a lovely cup of tea in the middle of a beautiful rainforest with none of it making a mite of sense. Well, here was to absurdity! Playing through the joke to completion, he took a sip.

It was refreshing, as the first cup of tea on a rough morning ought to. It was VERY refreshing, that sense of hot, soothing pleasure spreading much as it ought to... and then much further..! A tingling feeling of freshness flooding through his body!

"Whuuaaat..?" Ceylon found himself muttering as he found himself becoming suddenly and inexplicably fresh and sober! Disturbingly so! Trembles of energetic tingling were running through his body!

It was about then that he had another flash of memory. Another recall of a drunken-looking October sitting across the table from him. He remembered the Ninetales explaining, "I'll put something in the cuppa to freshen you up. We'd want this to be a fair test and all..."

He vaguely remembered laughing at that, not taking things very seriously at all. Why would he, after all..? He still managed to remember something October had said after that, "Then you'll head up the mountain to face your challenge."

To face his challenge..? That was a strange thing to recall, was he remembering it, right..?

He paused and looked around, still twitching as the tea took its unusual effect. There rainforest was beautiful and varied... but there was a distinct slope to the topography... and even a few distinct animal trails. The forest canopy was very thick, so he looked right through it. There, distinctly, was a mountaintop. Apparently one of many, but he was distinctly adjacent to one.

Well, he hadn't been snapped out of anything, yet... and if he were dreaming, there was no sense in not going along with the dream, right?

Even if this dream was seeming a mite... physical. That odd tingling feeling was going right through his body. Embarrassingly and most specifically, it was especially giving him a bit of a tingle in the balls... It was just a bit distracting. Well, he was sure he could walk it off and he supposed a mountaintop did beckon...

So, uncertainly, leaving the teapot behind, he started out along the nearest trail that obviously lead upwards. He strode onwards with all the English confidence he could muster, marvelling at how fresh and hearty he felt. Almost unrealistically so, adding to the general sense of unreality that was allowing him to go along with this. He kept looking around sniffing and staring at small details... or through the trees, to see if he could see the back of whatever was making this illusion. There was no back to it, however, it was all real, nothing up anyone's sleeve as far as he could tell!

Nothing for it but to get on, then! So, rolling his elbows like the proud English cat he was, the Luxray set about conquering that mountain...!

A while later, he was glad he was feeling as fresh as he was, because this effort in this heat was after all, somewhat trying. Still, without bluster and poorly focussed determination, he was making his way! He perchanced to look over his shoulder and caught a grand view, for his efforts; That beautiful rainforest, just seen from above, forming a verdant and resplendent blanket of beautiful, deeply-layered vegetation. Life at a density you just couldn't appreciate without seeing it for yourself and under a beautiful sky, framed by gorgeous mountains.

Whether it was real or not, it was a grand sight and Ceylon was glad to take it in..!

It was invigorating enough to want to continue the climb. Indeed, even if this were all but a parlour trick, then this was an experience worth the having!

Was a trick, though..? He had consider as he walked up the trail, which was becoming less and less surrounded by vegetation and more and more rocky. He had to wonder, had to cast his mind back, because this illusion, if that's what it were, was lasting a long time... and he was getting an awful lot of exercise for a dream-state, he could swear.

That jogged more memories in his mind. He wasn't sure if they were real or not. It was just October looking into his eyes, his own glowing that garish chartreuse they went when he was worked up about something... though he was calmly grinning as he did it. Ceylon remembered something about assurances, "I'm actually slightly better at this whilst drunk, believe it or not," he heard the Ninetales saying...

Was THAT it..? Was this October's illusion? Had the Ninetales put him in this dream world? Why... he could be parading about before the main bar for all he knew...

A little part of him was astir at the potential embarrassment of such a possibility, but on the other paw... He could hardly then be accused of being anything other than the best of possible sports... and by that token, there would be a certain Ninetales owing him a certain amount of being a good sport in return.

Though perhaps he was just thinking that because his balls were still astir with tingling. What on earth had October put in that tea? Assuming it was even real. He could swear his balls were feeling heavier than when he started... Yet, there was precious little he could do about it, right now!

So, on he went, climbing up the mountain, along a now tight and steep trail. It was becoming more of a struggle, but he was determined to see this through. Even though a vision in the back of his mind was nagging him that he might be trying to climb up Captivate's stage lights.

That Ninetales is putting you through the wringer, Lewis, he thought, but he can put you through the paces as much as he liked and he could just bloody well be surprised when you came out on top..! It was becoming a matter of determination, now..!

The trail levelled off. He had reached a plateau.

"...And at the plateau," he remembered October saying, "There you shall find it."

Find what..? Ceylon had a look around. There was an even grander view from up here, a beautiful poster-worthy vista of beautiful rainforest spread gloriously below him. He was in a nook halfway up a mountain, where the air at least was cool and crisp compared to the balminess down below.

He was also alone, from what he could tell. Whatever he was meant to find, he seemed to be up here, by himself.

Until he saw the dot, against the treetops. It was a fast moving dot... and somehow, he got the sense that it was aware of him. He wasn't sure how. At this distance, he couldn't have been more than a blue and black dot, himself, it would have to have good eyes and be looking in the right place.

It was coming closer, too... then it moved upwards, quickly, disappearing into some low-hanging clouds.

Well, that was a mite worrying, thought Ceylon.

There was a lingering pause, a moment of tension... an increased awareness of the many distant sounds of the rainforest, below and the whooshing of the winds up above. His eyes were alert for any movement, but the veil of clouds gave no sign.

Until there it was, suddenly, gliding silently overhead in grand profile, lit from above and casting the dark shadow of its broad, majestic wingspan over him. It looked not unlike a Murkrow, with grand, jagged, dark feathers and a sharp, dark beak... if a crow were at least as big as he were in the body, that was! It was one of those sights that made one pause and swallow, looking not unlike the shadow of death as it did!

That was before the cry, too. A deep, throaty sound somewhere between a bird's shriek and a roar, which resounded and echoed over the plateau with a commanding, rippling force that trembled the heart.

Ceylon had a sense then of once again being a kitten, a little Shinx cub chasing the Swanna only to find that it was in fact much bigger than he was. A sobering moment in any young cat's life.

To be stood here as an adult didn't feel much better. As a cub, he'd have been readier to just turn tail and run, whereas now, he felt some fool notion of standing his ground thanks to all his age and experience. Wonderful, he thought, as the large, sharp grim shadow banked, turned in and began to circle.

He followed the grand flying bird as it flew, now in clear view. It was big alright... and dark, with truly raven-black feathers... but that wasn't all, he realised as it began to brake itself and gradually descend, those grand wings gently flaring against the whistling wind... Grey fur, splotches of brown-in-black rosettes, sharp ears...

It was a grand dark bird, alright, but it was also a big cat, kind of like a Liepard. Again, October's voice came to mind, "...Where you'll face the Gryphon..." in his mind's eye, he could see the Ninetales wearing a wicked grin under his brightly glowing eyes...

"You have got to be bloody kidding," said Ceylon, disbelievingly, to himself.

The Gryphon descended to a few feet off the ground not more than twenty paces from him, swooping in and then rearing up, with a flare of those grand wings that beat against the air with an audible force as they muscled the air into a smooth landing that sent out gusts which brushed over Ceylon's fur. It made for an impressive show, alright!

There it was, large as life, a sharp raven head on a powerful cat's body, looking far too big and powerful and present to be any kind of illusion, with the light gleaming from its dark feathers and the power exuded by its form.

Ceylon stood there tall with a careful English neutrality, neither aggressive nor cowed, taking a good look and measure of the one he was encountering whilst making a good, proud show of himself. All within moderation, of course.

The Gryphon stared back, looking from its deep blackthorn-blue eyes the image of a wild beast meeting a challenge, questioning the presence of an interloper.

Hmm. Perhaps this wasn't off to the best start. No sense in not being polite, whatever was really going on, here. "Good afternoon," he said politely, "Ah, impressive view and lovely weather we're having, isn't it..?"

The Gryphon regarded him inscrutably at first, staring.

Feeling the tension grow and with itchy balls to boot, Ceylon spoke as conversationally as he could, "Say, you wouldn't happen to know where I am, would you..? Because I have to admit, I'm a bit turned around, here," said the Luxray, "You see, the last thing I remember, I was in the Cafe, drinking some very fine beverages and the next thing I know..."

The Gryphon gave him an inquisitive look. Cocked its head slightly.

Oh dear, perhaps it didn't understand him. Ceylon thusly resorted to the bizarre English practise of responding to difficulties in communication by speaking words in a slower and more difficult to understand manner, "Loooooook, heeeeerrrre, doooooo yoooouu speeeaak Engliiiish..?"

The Gryphon blinked, then glared at him, looking if anything, somewhat miffed.

Hmm. Probably didn't understand him, then. It was possible, even increasingly likely that it either didn't speak at all or it was just some kind of illusion, after all, created by a mischievous Ninetales he obviously hadn't given enough credit. He broke eye contact to sigh and shake his head, "You have no idea what I'm saying, do you..? ...I'm probably just supposed to challenge you, right..?" he wondered, aloud.

"Challenge me..?" said the Gryphon, sounding alarmed and angry.

Ceylon's eyes widened in surprise, "Oh. You can understand me?" he blurted out, before really thinking about it. He was mainly embarrassed because now he thought he might look like he was being rude.

The mighty beast before him certainly looked rightly indignant, "I am Faunoiphilia and this is my territory!" declared the Gryphon, boldly, "Who are you who comes before me and speaks of challenging me..?"

"Your territory?" said Ceylon, speaking quickly, "Oh, it looks rather impressive, doesn't it..? Yes, very nice territory you have, here," he smiled with his intended compliment as the Gryphon's frown grew.

"It is impressive... and it is my territory," said the Gryphon, with grave warning in his voice, "I am father to many within it, and there are few with the gall to challenge me for it!"

Ceylon winced a bit, sensing he might be getting off to a bit of a bad start, here. Still, he frowned. Father to many..? Honestly this Gryphon was starting to remind him of Firenze. A big proud alpha with a thing for fatherhood, eh? That sounded like something October might have made up. This could be an illusion, after all. He could indeed even be standing, facing Firenze on Captivate's stage under October's spell. He dearly hoped not. More likely it was October, himself, playing the part. If that were the case, anyway.

"Have you nothing more to say for yourself," said the Gryphon, irritably, "Strange blue and black cat..?"

Ceylon grinned, suddenly. He was forgetting himself. If the odds were that this were some sort of game, he didn't want to make a bad play of it. He was a former performer, after all! He gave a chuckle, "Sorry, sorry," said Ceylon, "I'm forgetting my cues! Perhaps I'm just a little rusty."

The Gryphon made a confused noise and cocked its head.

"I am a little turned around," admitted Ceylon, "but I remember now. I'm not here to challenge you for your territory, believe it or not I think I'm here to challenge you because a nine-tailed Fox gave me the quest to best you to win the right to bed him."

The Gryphon scowled, "A nine-tailed Fox? They are notorious tricksters. You have fallen afoul of mischief, foolish blue Lion." The proud beast drew themselves up, looking down its beak at him, "Submit to me now and you'll be forgiven." The warning was delivered with a raised poise of the wings...

Ceylon smiled. What was it with these mythic creatures and their pride? Well, if he was getting into the game, so to speak, he might as well have some fun with it. He knew this game well, after all, from another life. He drew himself up, making himself look impressive, "Submit? Get out of here, Gryphon. I'm not submitting myself to anything. If there's a fight, I'm not backing down..!"

The Gryphon drew back, beak opening slightly in surprise in Ceylon's suddenly aggressive looking posture.

Still feeling a bit of that Arcwild gusto, after all (which perhaps could be blamed by a tingle in the nethers,) Ceylon couldn't help himself from going on, getting caught up in the moment, the very tone of his accent dropping back into that rougher character, "Faun, you may call yourself a father to all around here, but you don't tell me what to do!" He grinned, getting right into it as the old roar entered his voice, "Submit? I'll have you in submission before the end of the round, pal!"

The Gryphon drew itself up, taking a deep breath and looking very angry. Ceylon held his pose and made sure not to wince. Part of him realised how this might look, if it were all real, but whether it was a trick or a game or actual fact, he was committed, now!

"You... DARE speak to me like that?" roared the Gryphon.

"I DARE, pal!" confirmed Ceylon, "You might think you're the best of the best around these parts," he pointed his paw at his own chest, "but here's a challenger who can show you who the daddy REALLY is, Faun..!"

Wings beating, the Gryphon drew themselves up further, gasping in shock at the Luxray's manners only to erupt it in an angry, roaring shriek that was neither quite cat nor bird, but distinctly terrifying.

Still, Ceylon was on a run, speaking even as he watched the Gryphon rise into the air on angry wingbeats, showing tremendous strength in the breast. "What, nothing to say to me..?" said Ceylon, showing a sneer, "Got nothing to address what's coming to you..? You're in for it!"

"YOU are the one who is... IN for IT!" declared Faunoiphilia, angrily, before suddenly nosing forwards and swooping in!

Ceylon was nearly taken by surprise as the large creature accelerated with surprising speed, catching only the lift needed in its surprise dive to surge forwards and skim right at him, beak-first!

Ceylon leapt aside with not a fraction of a second to spare! The grand wings swept by him, dragging enough air to blow his mane aside and see the very size of the creature that had just blown by! That would have hurt!

Controlling his landing, Ceylon turned quickly address his opponent as Faun rose into the air on powerful beats and turned, hard, almost right over himself before diving right back in!

If Ceylon hadn't been any less firm with his footwork, he might never have been able to bunch his paws and roll as talon-like cat-claws swung at him from above! By the time he had rolled back onto his feet, Ceylon was watching the already-retreating form of the fast-moving Gryphon and feeling like he was in something serious, after all...

He started breathing quickly, getting ahold of himself, his nerves and fear rising despite his insistence that all of this was a game. At the same time though, there was excitement! It had been quite a while since he had put on a performance like this one! Still, you never forgot the knack, he told himself! You just had to have the balls for it and today, his were so heavy they were swinging!

The Gryphon came whistling back in on his next attack; another low pass, rushing at the Luxray with his beak. Never one to miss his timing, Ceylon bunched up low, waiting for exactly the right moment before leaping up into the air and tumbling forwards, executing a spectacular forwards somersault over the racing Gryphon before landing in a powerful pose!

Oh yes, Lewis, you've still got it, Ceylon told himself as he looked cheekily over his shoulder at the Gryphon, who for his part seemed suitably impressed by his acrobatic performance. Though not so impressed he wasn't coming around for another pass.

Ceylon set himself up, ready, deciding he had just about enough of this divebombing business. It looked like Faun was coming back in for another slash with the talons, well, he had something for him when he did!

The moment the Gryphon came in, Ceylon reared back and looked like he was trying to backflip out of the way, only to slip and fall spectacularly onto his back! It looked painful! He lay there, groaning!

Seizing a chance, Faunoiphilia braked and came around, hovering above him and preparing a sudden strike. He had no idea at all that Ceylon simply knew very well how to sell a fall, nor to set a heel's trap!

Ceylon's tail lashed upwards, pointing at the slowed Gryphon. The Luxray grinned as it glittered into life, arcs crackling between his limbs as he pointed all four of his paws, too.

The only question was how much juice to give the Gryphon, but Ceylon also knew this business well. Glittering arcs of electricity flew off of him, curling the short distance to the hovering Gryphon in just the right quantity and intensity to hurt but not to harm. It was all about selling it, after all.

Crying out, clearly surprised, Faunoiphilia fell back, twisting and trying to fly away..!

Ceylon was up like a shot and pouncing into the air before the Gryphon had the chance to accelerate! Shoulder first, he landed on Faun's back and drove the mighty predator heavily to the ground. It was another showy move, meant to knock someone around, look really impressive without really hurting them and he finished it up by launching himself off of the Gryphon to stand in front of the prone creature with a grin...

Ceylon couldn't resist the cue to quip, "It's not too clever flying around me, Faun! I've got the lightning to lash you right to the bloody ground..!"

"Gaaah...!" the Gryphon cried in indignation, getting over its surprise to come surging to its feet, rearing up and readying its claws...

...Ceylon was ready for that, too. He leapt in with a headbutt to the chest, knocking the wind out of them! He followed up with a few pummels to the belly, rather inefficiently punching, for a Pokemon who actually had claws, then leapt back to clear some space!

Angrily, the Gryphon came on again, bearing down on the plucky Luxray. This time, Ceylon met the monster, paws-to-paws, claws barely passing each other as he got to grips with his opponent. Faun screeched at him as the pair began to truly wrestle!

Faun pressed down with a grand power and weight behind him and Ceylon met that force with his own determination! His mighty feline formed strained in competition, trained muscles, working together. He wouldn't budge. Faun tried to twist his grip but Ceylon was more than ready for it, more than knowing his way around a matching of muscles!

Through the struggle of the strain, as both of the powerful opponents struggled against each other, matching strength to strength, determination to determination, had them both grunting, growling... and before long, in Ceylon's case, grinning.

He had to admit, some part of him had missed this, the feel of two strong bodies matched against one another, the strain, the sweat, the smell of two males closely matched in contest... Oh and what male smells they were, a fan of the man couldn't help but notice the sheer size of the Gryphon's balls. Perhaps his claims of paternal supremacy were true, after all... Well, his own were feeling heavy and swollen enough at the moment! In fact, he was itching to match big balls with big balls, today!

The mighty Gryphon was truly strong, with a great deal of power and the fantastic balance his wings gave him, beats of which were even adding force into the contest, but neither was Ceylon weak and he was possessed of a feline's quickness. Not to mention a good deal of practise. Deftly, he pulled the Gryphon's grip to one side, twisting and pulling with the powerful and flexible muscles built up in the feline's back as he gradually got the grunting, resisting Gryphon off-balance...

Faun growled and pulled right back, adjusted his footing, just as Ceylon hoped he would, beating a wing to keep his balance, but it wouldn't be enough! Ceylon suddenly reversed the pressure, ripping his opponent from the ground before they could re-plant themselves! Suddenly without any anchorage, the Luxray grabbed a foreleg and leapt up around his opponent! Before Faun knew it, that Gryphon had a foreleg pulled around behind their back and a Luxray driving them onto the ground to pin it there!

The look of surprise on the the mighty beast's face was priceless, especially in the lingering second before they hit the ground and the breath was knocked out of their body. Scrambling quickly, Ceylon secured his position on the Gryphon's back, pridefully pinning his opponent with a victorious grin.

"Didn't I tell you, Faun..?" said Ceylon, unable to help the old character slipping out, again, "That I'd show you who the daddy was?"

"Gaaaah..!" protested Faunoiphilia, looking more surprised than angry.

"Settle down, Faun," instructed Ceylon, cockily, giving the foreleg pulled up the Gryphon's back a push, just enough to hurt a little, "I told you was going to get you in submission and here we are..!"

"You... you..!" gasped the Gryphon, struggling slightly, but not overmuch, for each movement only increased the pressure the submission hold was putting on his shoulder! Yet still he wouldn't yield!

"Yes, me!" said Ceylon, "I'm the big business around here and don't you forget it..!" In fact, all Ceylon needed to do at that point was increase the pressure just a little bit more...

"Aaah..!" cried Faun, "I won't..."

Stubborn one. "Won't..?" said Ceylon, with a grin, before his tail lit up.

Arcs of lightning, just enough to sting a little, rolled off of his body

and into the mighty beast beneath him!

There was struggling, there was writhing, there was gasping... and eventually, after an admirably determined resistance there was; "Gaaah..! I submit, I submit..!" cried the Gryphon, still gasping and squirming beneath him!

"There's a good Gryphon," said Ceylon, cheerily, lessening the pressure and letting off the lightning, "That wasn't so hard, now, was it?"

The Gryphon looked up at him with what looked like new respect. Great respect, in fact! In fact, they were looking up at him with outright awe... "You are very strong," said the Gryphon, new respect pouring from their voice.

Ceylon smiled down at the Gryphon, feeling confident in his supremacy at this moment. He had put on a good performance, he could feel it!

Faun was practically cooing up at him, "Such a powerful male..! Truly, you have made me submit! A task few have accomplished!"

"That's what you get for underestimating a Brit Kitt," the arrogance of his old character pouring through, along with a strong sense of 'what the hell,' since there were probably none of the usual crowd around to hear him bring it up, "Now I'm on top and you're learning what it means to mess with a former Pokemon Contest Battle Champion!"

The Gryphon made an odd purring noise, odd, because it seemed to turn to a bird's coo before it was through, with a fair blend inbetween. The powerful beast beneath him bucked, but not in any attempt to escape... No... The Gryphon was grinding his rump against Ceylon's crotch...

Now that had Ceylon looking surprised.

"This breeder Gryphon is honoured to have such a magnificent male on top," purred the mighty monster, coyly, "am honoured to serve such a Champion..!"

Ceylon was almost besides himself with disbelief, but not so much that he wasn't grinning as he asked, "Say what, now..?"

"Show me..." cooed the Gryphon, "Show me, as you said, who is the Daddy around here..!"

Ceylon smiled. He smiled a large, feline smile. The kind that feels accomplished and about to appreciate a well-deserved prize. He had to admit a little pride at that moment and a great deal of satisfaction with the course of events, so far.

He'd had a good exercise, a grand old tussle, it had really gotten the blood going and gotten a few cobwebs out of the figure of a fighter he'd once been! Now, with the muscular and formidable rump of a legendary monster of a male rubbing against his crotch, the blood was going somewhere else, in turn.

Slowly, surely, ground against that fine feline fur, Ceylon's bright blue cock, barbs and all, was flaring to life, pushing from its sheath to poke through that jungle of jaguar fuzz and press against the rubbing rear of a beautiful masterpiece of a male.

Right now, if this was real or a dream or if he was wrestling October on a stage, Ceylon didn't much mind either way, because whatever the truth was, the fact was that this was happening now.

The stirring of the Luxray's sheath only provoked the Gryphon into more determined grinding, pushing back over that swelling sheath, against that growing member, pushing right back into Ceylon's currently extra-hefty ballsack. The Gryphon purred, "Oooh, the Champion's balls feel very full..."

Ceylon had to admit, he was getting quite excited. His balls did in fact feel unusually large and full. He had been admittedly saving up for his surprise on October before all this... and now, with the apparent effects of that strange tea and after that blood-pumping contest, in this pile of grinding feral male that he was in, with these powerful masculine scents of sweat and sex, of mounting arousal, well... "You know what..?" he purred, growlishly, down at the Gryphon, "I think you might be right..." and he began to grind his hips, with the nimbleness of a big cat, against that bucking rear.

Faun purred appreciatively, feeling the feline grow and grind and grow... Soon a mighty big cat's cock was revealed in all its splendour, long and blue and bristling with small blue spines... Ceylon presented it over the Gryphon's rear as if flourishing and looking over his shoulder, the breeder Gryphon had a look in his eyes like he was just waiting to be bred.

Well, you build up the anticipation in the audience, thought Ceylon, then when it's time, you don't keep them waiting.

He adjusted himself enough to bring the point of his pointed cock right to the Gryphon's waiting hole. There was nothing but pre between him and the flesh but that wasn't going to stop him at all. Pressing to that hole, he pushed in!

There was a soft, gasping, "Skree..!" out of Faun and an arching of the Gryphon's back as the tip of that plentiful blue member pushed its way inside, the tight ring of the exotic creature's hole stretching with its passage!

Ahhh, but it was a good feeling to get his cock inside something after all of that... and he was feeling more than ready to go! Just about holding back his enthusiasm, Ceylon began softly, sawing himself into that hole with a steady pace, using the techniques he'd trained at Plaisir for always getting the best out of a partner...

It didn't seem enough for Faunoiphilia, who bucked greedily against his gentle thrusts. "Gah! Please, Champion!" plead the proud Gryphon, "I can take it, don't go easy on me!"

Ceylon smiled down at the Gryphon, a confident, feline smile, still working his hips at exactly the pace he wanted and no more, "Oh Faun, don't be so impatient..." he chose that moment to start pushing deeper inside, "I wouldn't want to wear you out before I'm done with you..."

"Oh... Ohhhh..!" groaned the Gryphon, gasping then opening his beak wide in a quiet screech.

"...Because I'm not going to be done with you for quite some time," promised the Luxray.

"..Eeek..!" was about all the Gryphon could manage to answer, in a gasp.

He began pushing just a little bit more quickly, a little more forcefully a tiny bit at a time. Ceylon's pace was slow, unhurried, making his own time, making sure to get the most out of himself and his mount. He might have mastered show-fighting as Arcwild, but it was as Ceylon that he had mastered the art of show-fucking. He had enjoyed his performances for special clients in the Special Lounge back at Cafe Plaisir every bit as much and perhaps a little more than his time as a Contest Battler. He had trained these skills every bit as much.

Skills he put to work on the grunting Gryphon as his agile feline hips projected the power of his body into his partner's, thrusting that barbed feline cock in just hard enough to make Faun's cock twitch with the incredible stimulation of all those barbs running over his prostate and yet never so hard as to tear...

Those smooth, rolling movements of his powerful Lion's hips every time delivering a little more force, a little more lust, every time the Gryphon adjusted to him a little better.

Deeper and deeper... harder and harder... until the Gryphon's raised tail was bumping his belly and Ceylon's extra-big Lion balls were batting gently against the Gryphon's rear, making Faun groan and coo as the heavy things slapped into his rear, "Oh please... let me serve... let those fill me...!"

Ceylon silently promised him that he would... and started pounding just a little harder, battering into that rear, pushing harder and harder against the magnificent male he was claiming..!

He needed this, he had to have it. A day's worth of horn for a lusty Lion who could go dozens of times in a day was like a week for most creatures, he was sure. Now, with that strange tea affecting him, who knew how much he truly had saved up..? He had been planning on visiting this lust upon a Ninetales but this mighty beast of legend was no less worthy of his readied vigour!

He began to thrust harder and more urgently, overcoming his usual, professional pace. The scents of lust in the air, the gasping, cawing cries of the beast below him, only added to his growing need! He had to breed this breeder Gryphon!

Ceylon gritted his teeth, clinging tightly, domineeringly to the beast that he'd brought low, electricity beginning to crackle from his body quite unconsciously as this unaccustomed fever-pitch of dominance, above even his usual occasional standards of rough-play really started to take hold.

Literally crackling with power and pleasure and positively roaring with lust, the electric Lion thrust more and more forcefully into the proud Gryphon's body, pounding and pound until...!

Ceylon growled and let out a roar as he came! His heavy balls drew up as he shot into the gasping, mewling Gryphon beneath him. His cock swelling, his barbs flaring with each thick pulse of ready seed that was bursting into the Gryphon's rear!

"Ah, yes..!" cried Faun, the Gryphon's own heavy balls rising beneath him as he came, his voice wobbling as crackles of Ceylon's uncontrolled voltage made him twitch and splatter on the ground, "Breed me, Champion..!"

Pressing down on the needy Gryphon, Ceylon growled, regaining his composure, slowing his lightning... then slowing his thrusts... but though the lightning stopped, the thrusting did not.

"Ooooh... ooooh..." moaned Faunoiphilia.

"You enjoyed that..?" asked Ceylon, his voice a pleasant growl.

Faunoiphilia nodded, "Yes... you honour me..." He continued to moan with the unceasing thrusts...

"Good," said Ceylon, grinning, "Because we're only just getting started..."

"Oh..." moaned Faun, then, "Ooooh...!" as Ceylon's pace increased again!

Ceylon wouldn't go easy on him, wouldn't let up. They had both earned a really, right royal fucking, after all! He would be sure to give the Gryphon all of it!

So soon he was thrusting with liberated lust all over, rutting in this proud male with an unceasing pace and growing pleasure...!

He didn't stop, not at the first then not at the second! This time, as his thrusting became briefly hurried and his balls rose again, seed was pulled back with each continuing thrust to splatter over the Gryphon's own big balls! Nor was he done! That thrusting continued...

After a while, he got the big beast onto his back, thrusting into the big breeder face to face, looking deep into those big, blue eyes as he pounded him, then having a little fun with the Gryphon's own cock. As dominant as he was feeling, as dominant as he was continuing to be, thrusting ceaselessly into that well-used, dripping hole, Ceylon did enjoy a mighty male's mighty male goods and Faun had that to spare!

Sitting over a huge hybrid ballsack rose sixteen inches of pink Gryphon meat, long and curled and barbed, much like his own cock. It was throbbing with the beast's obvious pleasure at being taken, looking more that a little delicious and it was more than ready for a skilled Lion's suckling maw... Still pounding into that hole, still ramming that big blue lion-cock into the Gryphon's hole, the victorious Luxray made some sport of his prize, teasing the pronounced head, rubbing that bulging shaft with his paws and then... with a precisely timed electric shock, a jolt right on the beast's prostate, the bucking, cawing monster cried out as he was forced to cum on command!

All whilst the beast was in turn being bred over and over again by Ceylon's supercharged balls... Indeed, still-heavy Luxray balls were pulling up against that now-soaked rear again and again, adding to the flood as big, big breeder balls were being electrically induced to pump powerful loads into the maw of a hungry Lion!

Still driven by unaccountable energy, Ceylon went on and on with this until the Gryphon could give no more. He made sure to extract the very least drop of Faun's seed for himself with a few last choice sparks before he pushed the well-used and cum-stained Gryphon back over onto his front and clambered roughly on to start the whole process again. Lustily, he grabbed the beast by the hips and began thrusting back in again with lightning crackling about him, in his lusty glee...

He seemed unstoppable, he had never been so horny before, with heavy balls that seemed to be constantly refilling themselves, no matter how much he pumped into that Gryphon. He had to wonder again what the hell was in that tea..? Because no matter how much he came, no matter how full that Gryphon seemed to get - and his belly was swelling and swelling - there was always more to give!

Yet, that Gryphon never quavered, nor complained! Ceylon in turn made sure to use him just as hard as that Gryphon could take... and perhaps a little harder. Then harder and harder. Over and over again, using that proud male like an eager Lioness in heat, breeding that Gryphon over and over until all his perception was a haze of lust and thrusting and he was pounding his cock, hours later, his lust finally becoming sated, into a slush of seed in what was a puddle of worn-out Gryphon..!

He came the last time into that Gryphon with a profoundly relieved sigh, much like a man having his first cup of tea of the day, in fact. That was about when he realised it had gotten dark. The forest had fallen into night, becoming a soft, bluish sprawl amidst the cup of the shadows of grand, sharp mountains, bathed in the pale light of the crescent moon in a deeply inky sky. It was as beautiful as it seemed sudden. He blinked in surprise.

His belly swollen, his rear leaking seed, Faunoiphilia sagged happily underneath him, looking just as satisfied and perhaps a little more, from the way he seemed to be drifting into a snooze.

Ceylon smiled happily at a job well done. Took a deep breath, enjoyed the crisp mountain air and the piled-on smells of a thoroughly good fuck!

"Well, well," said the softer voice of a Fox, "Colour me impressed. I didn't think you would actually do it... let alone do it for an entire day!"

Ceylon looked around and he was actually surprised to see October. The Ninetales was slinking out from behind some rocks, looking like he had literally just crawled out of a hiding place by his tousled fur.

The sight of the Ninetales gave Ceylon a moment of clarity... or perhaps a moment of reality. He looked back around at the mythical creature he had just spent the last goodness-knows-how-many hours boinking senseless with new eyes.

"Yes, this is real," confirmed October, as if reading his mind, the Ninetales wearing a slow smile, "The plan did in fact work. I was able to lodge a few instructions in your head, leave you out a pot of tea spiked with a regeneration potion and I've been watching your progress ever since you woke up."

Ceylon blinked, "So... this actually happened..?"

October nodded, smirking at him.

"So..." began Ceylon, for some reason not wanting to sound stupid, here, despite the ridiculousness of the situation, "This is a real Gryphon..?" said Ceylon, cocking his head.

"Which you actually beat, yes," said October with a little snicker, "Well done! I honestly thought I was going to be patching you up and laughing! I honestly didn't expect that you would win... even with the potion's unusual effect upon Luxray biology! You actually knew what you were doing out there..." The Ninetales cocked his own head, giving Ceylon a curious look, "It seems there's a lot I don't know about you, Ceylon."

Ah yes, he had seen all of that. Probably heard it, too. Ceylon winced a bit. He might have to have a word about how he generally preferred to have his Contest Battling past remain in his past, later. For now... "Well..." said Ceylon with a sigh and a smile, "perhaps you're a little better acquainted, with me, today, perhaps more than most," said the Luxray, "Ummm..." he frowned, "So, ahhh... oh, hang on..."

Ceylon pulled himself gently out of the Gryphon, at last. He came out carefully but he left a practical waterfall of seed in his wake, anyways. "Sorry..." he said to the sleeping Gryphon softly, stroking reassuringly as he did, getting a happy purr in response.

October was waiting for him with a smile.

Ceylon, feeling a bit stiff legged after all of that exercise, but at least a bit lighter in the balls, walked over to the Ninetales with a bit of an odd gait. "So... ahh... where ARE we..?"

October smiled one of those vulpine smiles, "Another world entirely."

Ceylon blinked at him. "Come again..?"

"That's your speciality, apparently," said October, with a snicker.

Ceylon smiled at the compliment, then frowned, "...But seriously, come again..?"

"We're on another world entirely," said October, as if explaining this bored him, "Where I took you to complete your quest and where you unfortunately proved that, potion notwithstanding, you're DEFINITELY too much male for me..."

Ceylon paused. Ceylon thought for a second, then Ceylon frowned, "No, you can't just brush things off that easily! How can we be in another world entirely?"

"Because I took you there," said October, rolling his eyes, "Pay attention."

"How!?" said Ceylon, then he put a paw to his head... then paused again, then frowned. "...And don't think you're getting out of this..! ...I'm beginning to suspect my actual life was in danger, here, October. The least you can do is play fair and live up to your word!"

"Bah..!" said the Ninetales waving away the accusation with one of his tails, "You were just fine. I was standing by in any case. Although..." he gave the Luxray a sly grin, "if you're truly so determined, I suppose I'll just have to let you try the other two labours!"

Ceylon was about to speak when the words caught in his throat, "Other two..?"

"Anyways..!" said October, quickly, smiling broadly, as might a Fox who was playing to keep a Lion off balance, "I travel between worlds with a piece of arcano-technological machinery in a planar void space which uses micro-wormhole displacement and voice activation!"

"October-" began Ceylon.

"Like this!" said October, putting a paw on Ceylon's frowning brow before saying the magic words...

...and then they were gone. Leaving the Gryphon and many, many questions for another day.