I Want To Lay the Very Best!

200 – Pure Maple Syrup

Maple had always tried to be perfect.

A lot of people found that idea aspirational. To be the very best, without any flaws. Beloved by all, never a lose a fight, always immaculately dressed and dazzling. Her moms had always supported her in this, their perfect little girl. Top of the class and star of the team. She'd let it go to her head, thinking that she was just better than everyone. She hadn't meant to be nasty about it; she wasn't a bully. Maple genuinely wanted to make people smile. She'd just gotten so self-centered about it that she thought her presence alone should be enough to cheer people up. 

That the world revolved around her.

Then she'd met Brandy Joyce, a girl who genuinely brightened the day of everyone she'd met. Earnestly enthusiastic, shamelessly obsessed with Pokémon, and far too giving with her time. An accomplished athlete but far from the model student like Maple was and yet. Everyone liked her, and it didn't matter how accomplished Maple was or how frequently she beat Brandy at tests. No amount of Soccer medals could make people look at her the way they looked at Brandy.

Maple should have felt angry. Her position at the school's top was being usurped entirely by accident. For some, that'd be enough to start a spiteful campaign to knock her down a peg. Thankfully, Maple wasn't like that; she wanted to prove to Brandy that she was special. She could make the girl who was such a delight to be around smile at her in the same way.

Hadn't stopped her from turning Brandy down when she offered to hang out. It was just too dangerous. What if Brandy didn't find her cool? What if the closer she got to Maple, the less she liked about her? 

On reflection. Really stupid. Brandy had space in her heart for the whole world. 

The edge of her lips twisted into a grimace. Maple brought a foot down on the wooden pallet, cracking one of the planks. Stomping things was so much fun, and between her and Calcine, they quickly turned the wooden pallets into a big pile of firewood. A few people had begged them for bits, and they'd resolved to get the whole thing done. The stamping and tearing weren't ladylike activities, but rending apart wood was kind of meditative. Calcine was just as focused working with her, while Sparky watched them both laying on the sand, legs kicking in the air and the smugest look on her face.  

"She's thinking of a wood pun," Calcine said. "That's what the grin means."

"Wrong, I'm grinning because two gorgeous girls are showing off their muscles. I've got so many wood puns lined up. I'm just not sure which to pick."

"Knot sure?" Maple asked, "Wood you make up your mind already?"

"Oh fuck, is that what my jokes are like?" Sparky groaned. "Calcine! Tell me I'm funnier than that."

"You are an impossibly odd Bug." Calcine smiled, "One of a kind."

"Kind of an insult in there, but I know it's one of love. Love you too, Calcine." Sparky flicked sparks at Calcine, bouncing them off her dark skin as she turned her big blue eyes Maples way. "So you tell a lot of puns? Brandy hates puns. She only uses them to hurt us."

"No, not really," Maple laughed politely. "Holly tells a lot of sex jokes, but that's it for my group. Funny isn't our thing."

"Dewpider. I'm telling you. You want some absolutely filthy sex jokes for Holly. A Dewpider can't be beat. They'll make your ears burn off."

The thought of it was a little funny. Holly could be bad sometimes, especially when she was down bad for someone. Adding someone even worse to the team probably wouldn't help things, but it would lead to some jokes that could set the air on fire. 

"Got a smile!" Sparky raised her arms. "You've been in a mizzy all evening."

"Sorry," Maple said, trying to keep the smile going. Mizzy. Willow had used that word whenever Maple returned from school with a miserable attitude. She hadn't thought anyone else in the world even used it. "Just lost in thought a bit."

"I get it," Calcine took Maple's arm and guided her down to the sand. "What's bothering you?"

Where to start? Brandy's team was so ...

Maple looked over to the Wingull, all sitting on the fence eating chip cones, even offering a few to Morgan, who got the prime spot in the center. Wingull's offering up food? It was all so backward. Nothing about it made sense. But it was delightful to watch. Brandy's team was full of that. Disarming in how much of a mess they could be. Still bringing out the best in people.

Calcine's comforting smile and Sparky's eager eyes demanded stories, and Maple didn't have it in her to bottle her feelings up any more than they were. She needed a little bit of a vent. 

"I worry I'm not a good Trainer." Maple said, "And other worries, too."

"Oh," Cacline said, "That's strange. Your team adores you. Holly's more relaxed. Mahi seems a lot happier."

"She was a bit of a bitch," Sparky said, throwing her hands up when Maple raised an eyebrow her way. "Just being honest! She didn't treat Brandy very nice."

"We've been working on it," Maple shuffled in the sand, trying to get comfy. Calcine offered an arm and a bit of her warm cape, and Maple wasn't so proud she'd pass up that gift. The heat made her skin prickle from the oncoming sweats, but it was still lovely. Like the warmth of the sun had come back. "I promise under there is a lot of love. She wants to impress her partners so badly it hurts. She gets wounded when it doesn't happen. Felt like Brandy had insulted her."

"Must be tough to handle," Calcine said diplomatically. Maple could feel the tension in her body. You insulted a Rock Types Trainer at your own risk, and that she could put it aside to empathize was just more of the strangeness that was Brandy's team. Maple wouldn't have minded a little yelling, Mahi and her deserved it. 

She'd have to settle for at least owning it. "Good intentions don't excuse bad behavior." 

"It doesn't?" Sparky gasped. "Oh fuck, I was really banking on that."

"You love the punishment too much," Calcine said as she squeezed Maple. "And you are going to get a slap if you don't cheer up.'"

"What?" Maple blushed. The sudden turn in mood made her head spin. "You can't do that!"

"Oh, she totally can; Calcine smacks are awesome." Sparky grinned.

"Brandy's been aching to meet you for ages; all these bad vibes won't work." Calcine patted Maple's rear. "If I have to bend you over my knee, I will."

"Please, please, Maple. Please," Sparky put her hands together, begging as she lowered her face into the sand. "Pretty please."

"No!" Maple laughed. She just looked so pathetic. "Absolutely not! I am the one who spanks. You cannot take me."

"Bet you I could," Calcine licked her lips. "Try me."

Maple headbutted a boob instead, Calcine sucking in a breath as Maple mashed her head into it. Firm but soft, it was more than enough to play with, and no matter how tough a front a Pokémon had, a good boob squish made them all melt. Marina had been so politely shy until Maple had just got in there and given that wonderful Lapras bust the squeezing it deserved. Calcine hadn't really had a chance to get used to Maple's wiles yet. She had no chance, pawing at the edge of Maple's swimsuit. 

"No unwrapping Brandy's present," Maple clicked her tongue. "So unruly. Brandy is letting you all run wild. Maybe a firm hand is what you all need."

"Yeah," Sparky said, low and breathy. "Smack my ass, you sexy blonde."

Maple threw some sand at her instead, Sparky cackling in victory. "She's grinning! We won, we won."

"Okay! Okay, no more cheering me up and no more spanking threats!" Maple huffed, somehow both amused and angry at the same time. The ridicule was light but prickled her pride and made her heart thump harder. She let it out with a smile that wouldn't leave her face. She couldn't be mad at these idiots, even if she wanted to be. "Brandy's good. I'm trying to be better for her. She's special, you know?"

"We're aware," Calcine said as she tucked Maple back into her cloak. "She loves you to bits. She'll forgive a lot."

"Maybe too much," Maple mumbled, that scratchy feeling of guilt starting to claw its way back into her.

"Well, that's not for you to decide," Calcine said, "You think Brandy would want you to be miserable?"

"No," Maple groaned. "She'd hate it."

"Well, there's your punishment," Calcine tightened the cape up and began a massage along Maple's shoulder. Her touch was firm, but mixed with the warmth of her cloak, it just made Maple's muscles melt, her head slumping forward. "You want to be miserable. You're not getting what you want today. Be better. Enjoy yourself. Brandy believes in you, so we believe in you."

"Seriously." Sparky snorted, "Brandy's a lot, we get it; she's a treasure, and we're not worthy, blah blah. That's my thing, get your own fucking thing. You do a lot of good stuff. You don't have a team full of Pokémon with problems because you love the drama. You're trying."

"I am that obvious?" Maple mumbled. Warm Carkol fingers. Good. She wiggled her shoulders back into them, encouraging Calcine to get more handsy. 

"You wear your heart on your sleeve," Morgan said as she walked back into the middle of the group, scaling the wood pile with just a few light steps. Chip cone in hand as she posed, hand raised to the heavens. "But it is your solemn duty to fuck Brandy so hard tonight that she sees a second set of stars. Failure is not an option. Misery will not help you in this noble task."

"You sound ridiculous," Sparky snorted. "Trying so hard to impress."

"You've all had your chance to charm her out of that swimsuit, and it's still very much on," Morgan said as she gave Maple a swooping bow. She was so graceful; even with greasy feathers, she made it look good. "I want a threesome with the humans. I believe they want what I have to offer. Charm. Poise. Wind-given orgasms. Claw marks they'll treasure."

"Trying way too hard," Maple grinned. "I like it though. Don't stop."

"I can take you flying before I shatter your mind," Morgan said, waving a hand to the sky. "I'm the only one who can give you the skies."

"What? Oh, it's a competition?" Sparky stuck her tongue between her fingers, letting a spark crackle along the wet muscle. "I've seen Holly fuck, I can do it better."

"No, you can't," Maple said, pride in her heart for her team. Brandy might be the better person, but her team had skills. She wasn't going to just give this fight up like that. "Not a chance."

"Pff. Fair, she's a terrifying machine." Sparky sighed, legs kicking the sand. Then, a slow, terrible grin spread over her face. "I'd tag her in, make it a foursome. We could do things to you both that you didn't even know were possible."

"Tempting! Calcine, what's your offer?"

Calcine pressed down with her fingers, sinking into Maple's muscle like butter. She shuddered in the grip, and the Carkol leaned to whisper in her ear. "I'll take care of you both. I'll take you apart with pleasure. Then I'll hold you all night and keep you warm. I'll let you rest on my body, safe and loved. I will drown you in the affection you both deserve."

"Well shit, now I'm hard," Sparky groaned. "Can't compete with you two sexpots."

Maple tried to clear her throat, though Calcine had gummed it up pretty thoroughly with her whispers. 

"Doing okay, Maple?" Calcine asked the smile in her voice not matching the burning hunger in those red eyes.

"Fine. I'm fine," Maple lied. "All cheered up. Thanks for doing this."

"You are part of the team," Morgan tipped her hat. "Brandy has a huge crush on you. I think you're hot. It all works for me."

"Absolutely." Sparky nodded, "And I want some Brandy stories. Brandy gossip. Brandy tales. I want them."

"We've been teasing a lot," Calcine said as her cape shifted, a big hand pressing against Maple's tummy, holding her firmly in Calcine's grip. "But, and this is serious. If you're not in the mood or want some time alone to think, just ask. We'll make it happen. We want you to enjoy tonight. Not just for Brandy's sake."

"Thanks," Maple smiled, "Seriously. My team has my back, but it's nice to know you do too."

"I mean, I'll try," Sparky shrugged. "But Marina's got more back then I have ... me. Not sure I match up."

"Really?" Maple grinned. "Holly's told me stories. You might."

"Well, maybe you'll find out," Sparky said, bobbing on her front in the sand. "You know..."

Morgan covered her eyes with a wing. "Oh fuck, this is going to be a pun. I can hear the tone in her voice." 

"You've got a great figure," Sparky said, ignoring Morgan's pain. "Curly and Blonde. Gorgeous eyes. Great tan. You truly are the ultimate Maple Plank."

Sparky kicked her legs, her grin so wide the top half of her head was in danger of falling off. Maple couldn't help a snort of a laugh get away from herself. She shouldn't encourage it; she really shouldn't, but it was so dumb she couldn't help herself. 

"How does she even know that much about woodworking?" Morgan sighed.

"How do you know that much?" Maple giggled. "A Carpenter Bird, that's got to be a story."

"Yeah, not quite." Morgan offered Maple a hand. "You really want to hear about it? Or do you want to go flying before we get this fire going?"

Maple wanted both, but she took the flying. She could always worm the story out of Morgan while she was up there. 

---

"I like her," Sparky said as she got up, dusting the sand from her fur. "She's trying. I like a trier."

"I hope she doesn't feel like she isn't good enough," Calcine said as she held out her arms for Sparky to pile wood into. "I don't think Brandy could handle a breakup."

"I trust in Brandy's ability to make her cum hard enough that she stops worrying about it; you should too," Sparky said as she dropped a few broken planks of pallet into Calcine's arms. "Doubter."

"Some things can't be fixed that easily. But, sometimes, they can."

"Oh, very wise," Sparky rolled her eyes. "Good job cheering her up. Maybe she'll make Mahi chill out tonight."

"I hope not. I was hoping to put Mahi in her place myself," Calcine rumbled, "I can think of at least one way you could keep her quiet."

"Don't feed my dick to the crazy fish lady," Sparky huffed, then paused, tossing a piece of wood in her palm. "Although, it would be fun to be a living choking hazard..."

Calcine shook her head as Sparky embellished her disastrous scenario. Looking after Maple hadn't been so bad. Her idiotic yellow bug took a bit more effort. 

Worth it, though. The smiles were always worth it.