I Want To Lay the Very Best!

228 – Monster Mom

Brandy had met a Professor when she was young at a Sweetheart Celebration. She was so overawed that she hadn't been able to ask the woman with hair like rainbow glass and a cloak of shimmering snowflakes anything. Cherry had eventually rescued her from her awkward moment, and they'd spent the rest of the day blowing bubbles, eating fancy little chocolates, and spying on the Professor to see if she'd do anything cool.

She hadn't flexed her power, but she didn't need to. The way all the other adults treated her like she was a Legendary walking among them was enough to make it a sight to behold. It had been so much fun to see all these imposing adults acting like excitable schoolgirls around her, all while she just calmly spoke to important people until they went as quiet with awe as Brandy had.

Professor Joan inspired awe but for a completely different reason. She just exuded so much shameless confidence, hips cocked and grinning wide after she'd shocked them all to silence with her long tongue display.

"You all look like you think you're in trouble," Professor Joan said, water splashing around her feet as she paced across the shower to them. She got amongst the group, running a hand along the back of Morgan's wings and a hand down Sparky's spine, the Joltik's fur crackling as her body shivered. "Maybe you all are; Shay had some nice things to say about you, Brandy. But that girl is usually up to some scheme; you haven't been a bad influence, have you?"

The question was just so unfair. Shay was the one who was a menace!

"Her Morpeko was stealing berries, but we spoke with her, and she promised to make it up to the owner." Brandy said, "She never mentioned her mom was a Professor."

"She finds me embarrassing," Professor Joan laughed, "Determined to make a name for herself without my help, the little scamp."

"That's one way of describing her," Sparky said warily.

"It is!" Joan booped Sparky on the nose with a finger, then swiveled to look up at Calcine, taking her in with her head tilted. I hear you did a lot more than have a word with her. She's very eager for a rematch. After watching you today, I can see why. You're a very unusual Trainer, Brandy."

"I just love my Partners and want the best for them," Brandy said, "Shay included. I didn't want her to get in trouble, and we left as friends."

"Friends, is it? She seemed lovestruck to me. You a heartbreaker, Brandy?" Professor Joan laughed, and then a swarm of black feathers descended on her. She darted back, her hand stabbing out to get under Morgan's chin as she reformed in front of her, arms outstretched, ready to slash. She tilted Morgan's head up, fingers striking the front of her throat as Morgan stared daggers at her.

"Rude." Joan tutted.

"You're the one playing games," Morgan said in a sharp voice that could have cut steel. "I know when a woman is just preening her feathers."

Messing with a Professor was a terrible idea, but pissing off one of her partners? That was even worse in Brandy's eyes. She stepped in, placing a hand on Joan's tattooed bicep. "If you're going to ruin the mood, you're going to have to go."

Calcine cracked her knuckles, and Sparky blew an electric kiss Joan's way, grinning madly.

Professor Joan raised her hands in placation and stepped back from Morgan. "That was rude of me, sorry. I'm being overprotective. Shay often complains I scare away her girlfriends."

"Do you?" Morgan said, straightening out her hat as Brandy smoothed her feathers with water.

"Well, sometimes. Shay is attracted to troublemakers like a Ribombee to honey," Professor Joan said with a dirty laugh. "The idea that she might have set her sights on a good influence shows that she never fails to surprise."

"I'm an angel," Sparky nodded, "Never done a thing wrong in my life."

The sheer size of that lie made Joan laugh. "I know what Bug Types are like. Nice try. But I am sorry. I've made a terrible first impression being a cheeky bitch. Can I go again?"

Brandy was tempted to say no, but Joan seemed genuinely sorry, and she was incredibly easy on the eyes. The tattoos were so fascinating to look at in the water, and she had a body Brandy desperately wanted for herself. She understood Wren a little better as body envy crept in. Moms should not be allowed to look this good. It was unfair.

"Sure," Brandy said, "All Moms get to be a little weird."

"You've no idea," Joan said, then looked thoughtfully at Brandy. "Actually, maybe you do. You are Fenny's kid."

She'd met Fenny! Oh no, no wonder she was suspicious of Joyces. Brandy felt Calcine take up position behind her, hands on Brandy's shoulders to give her some support.

"What do you want?" Calcine asked bluntly, "Not to be rude, but we want to celebrate."

"Of course!" Joan dipped her head. "I like to take my time with the ladies, but I'll speed this up just for you. I have a good reason to be here. I'm the reason you found Morgan."

"You?" Morgan raised an eyebrow. "I've never met you. I have met your daughter, but it was a rather terse meeting. She played the fool. I sent her on her way."

"That does sound like Shay. She knew where to look because I asked her to check in on you," Professor Joan said, getting under her own shower head and letting the water run through her black hair with the white tips. Annoyingly, it stayed immaculately styled, as if her hair was stronger than the water. Could you inherit good hair? Brandy wanted to inherit that. Hers took ages to get right if the spikes collapsed. "We were worried you'd been afflicted with something nasty."

"It was just a bad experience," Morgan said. “Brandy helped me work through it. If that was your work, then I am thankful for that. Not a lot. It seems it was mostly accidental."

Wow, Morgan really did not like this lady. It made sense that Morgan felt a little raw right now. Joan had really picked the wrong time to mess with them. Maybe she'd been expecting the mood to be lighter? Still, she could read between the lines.

"You're not here to talk about the match we just had, are you?" Brandy said, "You were worried about Morgan leaving suddenly. You've been speaking to Fenny. This is about the bond troubles Mardi and the rest are having."

Professor Joan nodded. "I wanted to lighten the mood before talking about it, fucked that one up. That one's on me."

"Ah, forget about it," Sparky shrugged. "Sometimes jokes don't land. You worry about that, and you'll never stop worrying."

"A Joltik spitting facts," Joan clucked her tongue. “And you were a thunderbolt in that fight, too. That really impressed me. Even Mercury had to give you a little grudging respect. Brandy, your team is really fascinating."

"Sparky's an exceptional Joltik," Calcine said, "Brandy just drew out what was already there."

"Oh, oh, so Brandy can't be bullied, but you're all going to tease the shit out of me!" Sparky huffed, burying her face in Calcine's thigh. "Stop saying nice things about me, you evil bitches."

Calcine patted the bug's head as Joan grinned. "See? That's what I mean! Strange but sweet. You've got a knack for understanding Pokémon that reminds me a little of myself."

That puffed up Brandy's ego a bit. A Professor saying you got talent wasn't a small thing at all. They were some of the most talented people on earth. She couldn't stop a smile, and Joan noticed it, clicking a finger gun at her.

"Not saying it to butter you up, mean it. I've met your Wooloo Fanclub."

"Her what?" Morgan snorted. "Tell me more."

"You'll find out." Joan grinned. "I have to keep this quick, with a competition to judge."

Brandy doubted that; she just wanted Brandy to find out first-hand. She really was Shay's mother with her love for mischief.

"Back to business," Professor Joan clapped. "We thought Morgan was afflicted by this problem, but we were clearly wrong there. Good job on all that, by the way, Brandy. I hope Morgan's happy."

"I've been keeping myself amused," Morgan smirked. "You got to see some of that in the arena."

"I saw things I won't unsee. No wonder Shay couldn't handle you. Never seen a Ghost Pokémon tap out before."

A compliment was precisely what Morgan needed to warm up to Joan a little. She preened her feathers as the Professor continued.

"I've been speaking to Fenny about her research into Mardi, Gilly, and Zipper's broken bonds. When she's available."

Right, Fenny and Scoria were trying to have a kid. They were probably busy. Fenny never let sex stop her from answering calls, but with how worked up Scoria had been, it was likely Fenny wasn't able to talk coherently even if she could prop a phone up against the pillow.

"We said we'd keep an eye out for trouble but haven't seen any yet," Brandy said. "Nothing drastic anyway. It's just the usual relationship drama."

"It is blessedly rare," Professor Joan said. "But I bring it up because I have Shay chasing down some leads in Spikemuth for me, and I'd like you to find her when you get there."

"Why?" Calcine asked, "Is she in trouble?"

"Not yet, but it's a town of punk rockers and goth girls. She will get into trouble, which keeps me up at night. I'll owe you if you can collar her and make her report in." Professor Joan said, "If you can actually rub off some of your good behavior on Shay, I'll let you marry her."

"Pass," Brandy laughed. “But we can do the check up if nobody minds?"

"I will make a thousand goth girls mad at me if that's what it takes," Sparky said, rubbing her cheek against Brandy's leg. "They can all line up to sit on me, and it won't stop me from my task."

"She couldn't even handle one goth witch bird," Morgan snorted. "I doubt Shay can get in that much trouble."

"Shay and trouble are the same word." Joan laughed. "She takes after me far too much."

"I'm all for watching Morgan and goth girls battle it out," Calcine shrugged. "I'm up for it."

"Sweet, I'll owe you. Nothing to do with the tournament, but I'll make it worth your time some other way." Joan clapped, "So! While I'm here, do you want to hear your battle review and scoring? I can wait until you're dressed if you prefer."

"No, your naked ass is a lot better than your personality." Morgan said, "Let's hear it."

"My ass is fantastic, that's true. Try to keep up while I shake it."

Brandy doubted Morgan would, but that's all part of being good partners. The ones who weren't taken in by the view could fill in the ones who were. Teamwork!

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