Expanded Pokédex Volume II: Starters

by Zocarik

An extensive Pokédex containing information about lines of League accepted Starters. Lore, Combat Potential, Breeding, Bonding, Warnings, and more are found within. No character tags due to too many tags needed. This is a fanfiction to inspire thought. Not for profit.

14. Slowpoke Line

Slowpoke

Water/Psychic

1 male/1 female

Slowbro

Water/Psychic

1 male/1 female

Slowking

Water/Psychic

1 male/1 female

A line of slow, steady Water/Psychics that are unjustly derided as worthless.

Description

Slowpoke is a pink, lizard-like monster with a white muzzle. Its stance is low to the ground. Without the tail, they are half as long as a human is tall. The skin is not, as some suggest, slimy, and instead feels a bit like velvet. Slowbro and Slowking both have the same phenotype, being a Slowpoke standing on its hind legs. The difference is the Shellder that bit onto them and merged. Slowbro has a Shellder biting its tail. The Shellder transforms into a cone shell rather than a bivalve, a set of spikes that look like teeth imbed themselves permanently into Slowbro's tail bone deep. Shellder's eyes migrate to the outer rim of the shell. It grows spikes along the various rings on the cone shell. Slowking has Shelder biting its head, its teeth merging into the skull. A crown of spikes cover the top segment, while a pair of horns emerge from the sides. A gleaming red gem shines from the front. The resemblance to a crown is where the name Slowking came from. A collar grows around the neck.

Slowpoke, Slowbro, and Slowking mostly become Oblivious to moves that force a certain emotional state, or possess their Own Tempo, their thought processes blocking out all attempts to Confuse them. A rarer subspecies directs psychic energy through the body to gain advanced Regeneration.

Mega Slowbro has most of its body engulfed by the armored Shellder, with the exception of holes for the forelimbs, half the tail, and the head. The Shellder's eyes face the back, leaving few blind spots. This Shell Armor protects all venerable pressure points, major blood vessels, and other vulnerabilities, preventing any critical damage.

Battle Characteristics

First: the myth that Slowpoke takes five seconds to react to pain is false. Slowpoke has multiple nerve clusters throughout its body that start directing reactions moments after a blow lands. These take care of evading damage while Slowpoke's brain focuses on Psychic activity.

All morphs are slow. All morphs learn Curse, a Ghost move that, when used by non-Ghosts, decreases Speed in exchange for boosted Strength and Toughness. Since this line will be slow anyway, why not boost Strength and Toughness?

Slowbro mostly learns Water and Psychic moves naturally. TMs offer a diverse mix, including Ground, Fire, Ghost, and Electric moves.

Slowbro has moderate-high and moderate Resistance and Strength respectively. Constitution is good, and Toughness and Power are both excellent.

Mega Slowbro increases Toughness and power even further.

Slowking has moderate Strength and moderate-high Toughness. Constitution is good, while Power and Resistance are excellent.

Slowking has a similar move pool to Slowbro, but includes a few differences like Power Gem.

Legends/Folklore

Slowpoke does not yawn to bring rain. Rather, the move Rain Dance takes different forms. The battle version is a weaker version. Slowpoke is one of the lines that can use a true Rain Dance to change the weather. The version of the dance done is more of a song. The 'yawn' is actually a song in the ears of Pokémon.

Shellder's venom interacts with Slowpoke's neurochemistry in interesting ways. Generally, it activates passive psychic defenses. Both versions also gain an enhancement to their brains, thinking faster and with incredible clarity.

Slowking is extremely intelligent. There have been cases of Slowking challenging humans to games of wit or problem solving and winning.

Slowpoke tails are utterly without nutritional value.

Dracaena Note: there is no fossil evidence that Slowpoke ever had a shell. This myth is purely fictional. Once, long ago, Shuckle wanted a shell. It noticed Slowpoke's shell and wanted it. Bargaining, it asked to borrow the shell and return it some day. Six days later, Slowpoke concluded that Shuckle would never give the shell back. Slowpoke started searching for a new shell. Slowpoke asked Torterra, but the grassy tortoise could not help. Torkoal's shell was far too hot for Slowpoke. Wartortle was too busy swimming to listen to Slowpoke. Finally, depressed, Slowpoke collapsed by the side of a bay, its tail hanging in the water. For two days, Slowpoke moped, when something happened. A fish bit Slowpoke's tail. Raising its tail out of the water, Slowpoke beheld Shellder. Realizing that it now had a shell, even if the shell was on the tail instead of the torso, Slowpoke was overjoyed. It hugged its new shell with enough joy to change the form of Shellder into a shell heavy enough to balance Slowpoke on its hind legs. And that is how Slowpoke and Shellder became partners.

Life Cycle/Evolution Conditions

Slowpoke is independent in three weeks. It can live for over two centuries, less if extensive regeneration of limbs occurs. Slowpoke only evolves if bitten by Shellder. The pair actually stick together if the tail of Slowbro is severed, and Shellder takes the first opportunity to bite back on.

Diet

Frugivores and Piscivores. They fish with their tails and eat any fruit they find.

Breeding

Monster and Water 1 Groups. Eggs are laid in late winter, in hard-shelled clutches numbering around forty. Eggs sell for 23,000P, unless they are specialis bred for Psychic study and partnership, which drives the price up by 9,000P.

Wild Behavior/Threat Level

Non-theat. The most they will do to a human that does not attack is stare.

Bonding and Care

Slowpoke is a simple-minded creature and will be happy with gestures of affection and treats. Its evolved forms might want more cerebrally involved interaction.

Human/Pokémon Relations

They can be affectionate pets as Slowpoke/Slowbro and intelligent companions as Slowking. The human just has to initiate the friendship.

With Family

Slowpoke and Slowbro are passive and relaxed enough that children standing on them during play will barely faze them. Slowking can be a skillful child minder and 'voice' of intelligent interaction for a spouse.

Team Compatibility

Aside from eating some fish, unlikely to initiate hostilities. Might be eaten by bigger predators, in part or whole.

Warning

Do not try to get two Shellder to bite one Slowpoke. The results are always fatal.

Summary

A calm, sedate, yet gently affectionate starter that introduces a trainer to both Psychic and Water.