Roselia's afterglow

	“Okay, I think that’s enough for today,” Chris told his Roselia. “Why don’t you go chill out by that pond while I pack up our stuff? I’ll be over in a minute.”
	Roselia, a little wilted after their grueling practice, perked up and gave her trainer a grateful look before walking slowly over to the pond. Chris turned and began to gather their training gear, mulling over the coming contest in his mind. Two more days.
	He knew it would be difficult. Hyper contests were on another level from the ones they were used to. But he and Roselia had been competing in super contests for a year, taking home several ribbons, and he felt confident that they were both ready to move to the next level. He paused for a moment to glance up at the pond. Roselia was wiggling her legs in the water as she lay happily on the grass. Chris smiled to himself, feeling his chest swell with pride. She’d do great.
	Chris zipped up his backpack and pulled it on, then walked over to Roselia. The park was filled with families and trainers enjoying the bright, sunny day, but the pond managed to be a little secluded by two large trees.
He shrugged off his pack again and sat down with his back against a tree trunk behind Roselia. She tilted her head at the sound, peering up at him upside down from the ground. She jumped when she saw him and then scrambled up from the pond and lay against his sprawled-out legs, giving him her best puppydog eyes.
	“You want belly rubs, huh,” Chris mumbled with a smile. He ran his hand under her front leaf and gently rubbed the soft, delicate skin underneath. Roselia relaxed with closed eyes, giving off her usual “comfortable” fragrance. It always reminded him of honeysuckle.
	Chris leaned his head against the tree and closed his eyes. He breathed in her smell. It was one of his favorites. But today, something seemed different about it.
	He cracked an eye open and looked down at Roselia. She looked normal, the same serene look on her face. A faint flush tinged her cheeks pink. Maybe it was something else in the park he was smelling?
	Movement across the pond caught his attention. His eyes widened. It was a girl. His hand stopped and he gently pushed Roselia off his leg as he stood up.
	“I’ll be back in a minute,” he told her, not taking his eyes off the girl.
	Roselia watched him go from the ground, her lower lip trembling at having their special cuddle time cut short. He had never done this to her before. She felt a sharp pain inside her as she watched him approach the girl across the pond. When she smiled back at him, Roselia couldn’t watch anymore and she buried her face in the grass next to the tree.
	Roselia was still there when Chris came back a few minutes later. He triumphantly tucked a small white piece of paper into the backpack. Roselia looked up and nudged him with a rose for more cuddles, but Chris shook his head.
	“I really can’t anymore. Sorry. I’m too excited.” He couldn’t stop grinning. The adrenaline from his success filled him with nervous energy. “I can put you in your pokeball if you’re too tired. Otherwise let’s go find something to eat.”
	Roselia shook her head and followed him despondently.

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	“…And then I fucked her.” Chris picked up a rock and tested its weight before throwing it into the ocean. “Farther than yours.”
	“Was not. You can’t even tell anyway ‘cause the waves keep moving.” Josh kicked another rock into the water. “I can’t believe it man, that’s legendary. So you were hanging out last night and she asked you back to her place just like that? I don’t get it. Why would anyone sleep with you? You sure you didn’t slip her something?”
	“No, dude.” Chris shot him a glare. “We weren’t even drinking.”
	“Now I know you’re full of shit,” Josh grinned back. “How’d you even get her number? I don’t think I’ve ever seen you pick up a girl.”
	“I dunno,” shrugged Chris. He glanced over at Roselia. She was flopped on her back staring at the stars. Josh’s Electrike jumped around her playfully nudging her with his nose, but she didn’t respond.
	“Well was she that hot?” Josh pushed.
	“I mean, kinda? Not really hot or anything. She was pretty average. I just really felt like I had to have her. It was just instant. And it was all I could think about for the rest of the day. It was weird. And the weirdest part was that when I woke up this morning, I didn’t feel anything at all. Like I don’t regret it or anything but I don’t really wanna see her again either.”
	“Can’t say I relate,” Josh shook his head with his hands shoved in his pockets. “But I’ve never been good at the pickup thing either. Man, after you compete tomorrow you need to show me how you did it. We’ll hit some bars or something.”
	“I’m not 21 yet.”
	“Oh yeah. Well we’ll figure something out. Maybe have some kind of victory party.” He grinned at Chris.
	“Sure man, that sounds like fun,” Chris nodded. “I think we should be getting back soon though. Early morning.” He turned back to get Roselia. She was still laying on the rocks, but Electrike seemed to have been mysteriously paralyzed mid-pester. “What happened to Electrike? Roselia?” He stood over her frowning.
	“Rose?” Roselia asked, peering at him innocently.
	“Sorry,” Chris told Josh, shaking his head. “Change him back, you.” He ordered Roselia accusingly. He thought he could detect a hint of an eyeroll as Roselia emitted a healing fragrance. Electrike stood and shook himself, crackling with static. “See you tomorrow, Josh.”
	Chris walked with Roselia next to the water. Although it was a clear, warm night, there were only a few people left by the shore. Roselia seemed more energetic now, hopping playfully from rock to rock. “Listen,” Chris started. “We’ve been working so hard for this contest, and I know you’re excited but you seem a little moody. Are you feeling nervous? Something bothering you? Do you feel sick?” His eyesbrows knitted in concern.
	Roselia looked away, shrugging a little. Chris stopped and stepped in front of her. She looked at the ground, but he tilted her chin with his finger so their eyes met. Her cheeks flushed a tiny bit, and as the warm breeze blew towards him he caught a whiff of something strange. It was the same smell he had sensed before, but stronger this time. “Roselia…” he started, trailing off. Behind her he caught sight of a figure close by. With a cloudy feeling in his mind, he stood and walked towards it in a daze.
Roselia watched him go with her roses crossed in annoyance. The figure seemed to be a woman, probably middle-aged. Roselia kicked at the ground, waiting for him to return. She couldn’t believe it was happening again. He better not be making a habit of it, or she would have to think of some way to get back at him…
	“Hey, Roselia,” Chris whispered. She jumped and looked up. She hadn’t heard him walk up to her. “Can I put you in your pokeball for a little while? Maybe until tomorrow morning? I’ll be sure we won’t be late for the contest, don’t worry.” His words were rushed, and he looked over his shoulder as he spoke.
	Roselia huffed as a response.
	“Thanks, I owe you one,” Chris told her, snapping her up quickly before walking away with the stranger.

-----------------------

	“I can’t believe you did that,” Chris yelled. He paced backstage, fuming. “I’ve never been more embarrassed in my life. If you didn’t want to compete you should have just told me!”
	Roselia sat sulking with her arms and legs crossed. She refused to look at him.
	“But this? After everything we’ve been through? After training for months? I don’t fucking understand!” Chris stopped in front of her and ran his fingers through his hair, pulling it in frustration. “Don’t you have anything to say?”
	Roselia turned her head further away with a little “hmph.”
	“Fine. Tell me when you’re ready to talk,” Chris snapped, pulling Roselia into her pokeball.

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	Josh and Miriam laughed for about as long as it took Chris to down two beers.
	As he was starting his third, Miriam finally managed a breathy “I can’t believe it,” and then burst into more peals of laughter.
	“God I wish I had been there to see it,” Josh choked out. “The one time a contest isn’t utterly boring I had to miss it.”
	“I’m glad you two find it funny,” muttered Chris, taking another swig of beer. “I don’t think I can ever go back there. I’m done with contests.”
	“Oh, don’t be ridiculous,” Miriam said, laying back on the grass. The stars shone brightly overhead. All around, the sound of nighttime in the forest filtered through the trees. A small campfire crackled in front of them.
	“They’ll definitely remember you, that’s for sure,” Josh said. He leaned forward, catching his breath. “Did you have any idea she was gonna do that?”
	“No!” Chris shouted. He rested his head on one hand. “It’s basically 3 years of work down the drain. I have no idea what we’re gonna do now.”
	“You’re being dramatic,” Miriam told him, shoving his shoulder. She reached for her own bottle and took a swig. “It’ll blow over. I’m more interested in why she did it.”
	“I have no clue,” Chris muttered.
	“Absolutely no idea?” Miriam pressed.
	“No.” Chris shook his head. “We haven’t actually, you know, communicated much in the past couple days. I’ve been… busy. We’ve had some interruptions I guess.”
	“And nothing happened before the contest?”
	“Weeell,” Chris said, drawing out the word. “We were a little late getting ready.”
	“Why?” Miriam asked.
	“I don’t wanna talk about it. I don’t even wanna think about it.” Chris rubbed his hand over his face. “The past two nights I’ve had these bizarre experiences. It’s like I’m in a trance.”
	“Oh dude. It happened again?” Josh jumped in.
	“What happened again?”
	“Guys, I don’t wanna talk about it!” Chris yelled.
	“Yeesh, fine, have it your way,” Josh shook his head.
	“Lighten up, Chris. You’re being really grumpy. It’s really not that big a deal,” Miriam told him.
	Chris stood up abruptly and finished off his bottle. “I’m gonna walk back into town and turn in.” He threw the bottle on the ground and snatched his backpack up.
	“Have it your way,” Josh said, putting his hands up.
	Chris had only walked a few paces before Miriam’s voice piped up behind him.
	“Hey, when you cool off a little, I think you should have a talk with Roselia. Alone. No interruptions.”

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	When Roselia came out of her pokeball, she found herself in a cool, shaded spot in the woods. Filtered light streamed through the leaves and formed patchy pools on the ground. Nearby, a small clear stream snaked between the tree trunks. Taillows flew far overhead.
Chris cleared his throat behind her. He was sitting cross-legged on the grass so that his face was nearly level with hers. Roselia crossed her little arms and tilted her head skeptically.
	“I tried to find a place we’d have some privacy,” Chris told her with a small smile. “I want to apologize.” He looked into her eyes. “What you did was unfair, but I overreacted. Will you forgive me?” He raised his eyebrows earnestly.
Roselia stared at him with a frown for a few moments, her eyes flicking down to his crotch, before impulsively pressing a rose between his legs.
	Chris jumped up, completely taken aback. He stared down at Roselia in shock. His mouth hung open.
	When Roselia realized what she had done, her entire body turned a deep scarlet shade. She covered her face with her roses, but she couldn’t control her body’s reaction.
	The smell hit Chris like a freight train. It was deep and earthy like moss, with a lighter floral notes mingled in. His mind became immediately fuzzy and he sat down unsteadily, leaning his back against a tree. He felt warm all over. And even with her face covered, Roselia couldn’t help peeking at the sudden tightness in his pants.
	“So… this was you all along,” Chris put together slowly. He shook his head. Roselia still stood before him peering through her roses, waiting tensely for his reaction. “Give me a minute to think,” he told her, rubbing his temple. Roselia wilted at his words and turned to run away, but Chris quickly reached forward and grabbed her little waist, turning her around to face him. “No, wait. Just let me process this. Are you sure this is what you want?”
	Roselia nodded enthusiastically, holding her roses in front of him. Now it was Chris’s turn to blush. “You want me to… pollinate you?” Roselia smiled broadly and nodded again. She prodded at his pants, delighted, and gave him an expectant look.
	Slowly, Chris unzipped his jeans and pulled them off, tossing them aside. Roselia jumped from foot to foot, glancing between his face and his boxers as if to ask what he was waiting for. “Are you sure?” he asked again. Roselia leapt to his crotch herself and grasped the waistband with her teeth, trying in vain to pull them down. “Okay, okay,” Chris chuckled. His member sprung free and Roselia regarded it with a lustful fascination. She noticed a bead of precum at the tip and licked it off experimentally, shivering in ecstasy when she tasted it. Being careful not to prick him with her thorns, Roselia climbed onto his lap and tucked his cock between her leaf and her belly. She looked up at Chris and motioned to her sides.
	“You want me to…” Chris asked hesitantly, gripping her around the waist. Roselia nodded again, smiling. Keeping the leaf taut around his cock, Chris began rubbing her up and down his shaft. Her skin was so smooth and waxy that his dribbles of precum were enough for her to slide effortlessly up and down his dick. “Oh my God,” Chris mumbled. Between Roselia’s pheromones making him lightheaded and using her tiny, plump body to pleasure himself, he could barely keep himself together. He watched with hooded lids as Roselia’s head lolled back in pleasure. “I wonder if she’s absorbing something in the precum,” Chris thought absently as he thrust against her.
	It didn’t take long for Chris to reach his climax. “Roselia… I’m going to…” he gasped out between thrusts.
	Roselia’s head snapped up and she motioned wildly to her roses. “Oh yeah,” Chris said, pulling her off his dick and pointing it towards her.
	He had the strongest orgasm of his life.
	Roselia cupped a rose around his tip and sighed in delight as it filled with Chris’s cum. After a few spurts in that one, she quickly switched to the other, being sure to collect every last drop.
	Roselia carefully sat in her trainer’s lap and leaned against his stomach. She stared down at her roses brimming with cum and hummed contentedly.
	Chris, already dozing off, stroked her belly absentmindedly. Right before he drifted to sleep he smelled something he’d never smelled before. A rare, beautiful, indescribable scent – Roselia’s afterglow.