Hi all,

It has been a long time. Too long. Lots has happened, but my goal is to finish up these stories and get them out of my head while the ideas are still there. It's going to be an even longer road ahead, I appreciate you staying with me and reading my stuff!


"Rena, can you pass me the scissors?" Clair holds out her hand across the table for them.

Putting down her paintbrush, Serena slides the scissors across the table, and then frowns at Clair's disappointed look. Their art elective is as dry as the paint on her canvas, but Clair was told she needed to find a safer outlet to curb her anger. So, of course, Serena had to join her in the endeavor to better herself.

"What?" the brunette glances around the large art room while the other kids work on their own projects.

"You didn't have to put down your brush," Clair grins in that way of hers, too wide to be innocent, but bright enough to fool others into thinking so.

Serena rolls her eyes and huffs. "No."

"Come on, the other kids love it when you do that freaky mind stuff," the blue haired girl giggles.

"Yeah, but that's because they can't do psychic movements, and there are so few others."

"It's what got you in after... Well, anyways," Clair swallows a lump in her throat, turning back to her paper project as she talks. "Are you nervous for tonight?"

Serena puckers her lips at the thoughts she knows are running through Clair's mind. Ever since they fell through the ice, the students at school had the opposite reaction they expected, and it surprised every one of them. Asher and Ryder were accepted back into their smaller circle, but the rest of the class either paid no mind to Serena, or they spoke with her daily. It was a pleasant surprise to Serena, but she took their attempts at friendship in stride.

Lance and Clair were protective of her and made sure that any attempts were made in earnest. So far, she has some 'class friends' as Clair described them. Friends that will talk to her as long as they share a class and may be in need of study buddies. Whatever the name, Serena enjoys having some others around when her two favorites aren't there.

The attention was well received, and while she knew it was because she was more like them now than she was before, Serena didn't mind the new people in her life. Now that they're older, many of the people that bullied her are often coming to her to learn about their own abilities. Blackthorn's bloodlines have traces of other powers that a few of the kids are developing. Most of it has to do with dragon types in some way. Whether it's control over them or being able to sense one nearby, it's something the Elders are proud of. If there is anything Serena has learned, it's that if it makes the Elders proud, she should do it.

"I'm not nervous. I passed the written test," Serena watches Clair slice through the paper with a careless glance.

"I remember, third in the class," she wiggles a brow at her. "Right behind Lance and me."

"Next time I'll get you."

The bell rings above them, and the girls scramble to get their things put away. The other kids in their class file out of the room, their cheery voices ringing in the hallways as the school begins to empty out. Many of the other students have already left on their journeys. Ten years old and already out on their own. Serena felt that was a little too young and decided to stay. Lance hasn't left yet, and she's not sure why.

Although his life choices are the last thing on her mind as tonight's the night she's been waiting a few months for. The big test, a dragon test, is issued every year, and only a select few students are allowed to take it. They have to be nominated by someone in the community not related to them and an Elder must approve it. Clair's mother nominated Serena and their grandfather approved it. The situation was similar for the other two, only Rowan couldn't nominate anyone as she is one of the administrators of the test. Apparently, Serena's mother has a reputation for being a tough teacher, and Serena had no idea until Lance's first ever exam from her. Can't take the University way of testing out of her, Serena had said with a laugh.

Now all she has left is the honor of a lifetime: receiving one of the clan's prized Dratini from the Elders themselves. There were tests to pass, and she studied harder than ever to do so. Her hard work paid off, and many people were not happy with her for surpassing them. But now she gets another pokemon and another way to keep the clan from being on her tail.

"What are you wearing tonight?" Clair wonders as they grab their things from their lockers.

"We have those formal clothes we have to wear, don't we?" Serena replies.

"Well, yeah, but everyone's looks different," Clair states as if it were obvious, but to Serena it wasn't.

She understands the basics of the clan of Blackthorn. A bunch of rich families come together with their own family symbols, sayings, and special skills to live in one place and become powerful dragon taming families for generations to come. What she didn't get was why they insisted on being one large clan with smaller sub categories in it.

Her family, the Lockwoods, are known for being the peacekeeping family. For generations, they became the liaisons between dragon tamers and non dragon tamers that had hunted dragons for years. They're a well known family that had such a good place in the clan. Her mother has been preparing for this ceremony for years since they moved back, and if there were ever a time to repair the damage done it was now. Her appearance was critical as it would be seen by all the Elders and other families. Everything she does is nitpicked, and Serena hates it.

One good award could barely negate one mistake. The incident with Asher was a lucky break, and only because it saved two of the head elder's grandkids. If it were anyone else, she would have only been thanked and shunned once more by the other families. She didn't get it before, but as she grew older, she finally understood. Appearance is everything to the Blackthorn Clan, and her display was a show of power to the Elders.

"I'm not sure, my mom has been working on an outfit for me," Serena finally replies, putting her combination into her locker. She lets the slim door swing open and grabs her books to bring home and replaces them with her art stuff.

The hallway is swarming with kids, all of them talking about the latest gossip and none of them talking about her. She likes it that way. She was sick of their stares, jostling her on purpose as she tried to get to class. Now, she only has to deal with Asher or Ryder making snide comments under their breath and occasionally snickering at her at lunch. Thinking of them seems to summon them. Ever since that day at the lake, Serena always knows when they're near.

"Hey, Chubs. Ready for the ceremony tonight?" Asher starts, and Serena forces herself to bite her tongue.

"Leave her alone, Asher," Clair sneers at him, stomping one foot towards him.

He glances at Clair and rolls his eyes at her before stepping to Serena's right where Clair can't get to him as easily. His body looms over Serena as she does her best to ignore him while fixing her backpack. Despite what happened, Asher was easily welcomed back into his friend group aside from Lance. He's star of the basketball team and aims to be Pokemon Champion one day. His bigger size intimidates Serena only because she can't protect herself physically. In other areas, such as intelligence, she's fine.

"Don't think you're so special because you have clan blood. Your parents dirtied it and you will do the same," he threatens.

Serena can't help but snort. "I'd be treated the same way I am now. It's not so bad. The biggest downside is seeing you more often than I want."

Despite the laugh she gets from Clair, Serena regrets saying those words when she feels Asher grab her collar to lift her up and push her into her locker. The sides of the narrow opening dig into her skin, she doesn't fit and it makes her cheeks burn. He knows this and smiles at her.

"What's wrong, Chubs? Shouldn't have eaten that cake today, huh?" he mutters, inches from her face.

"No, but you should have eaten that mint," she coughs back.

He grunts in frustration and rears his hand up to punch her. Her heart begins to race as the fury in his eyes flares. He's going to do it. Clair leaps into action only to be held back by Ryder and some other boy Serena doesn't recognize. By now, some of the kids in the hallway have stopped and are watching the situation escalate.

"Asher!" a male voice shouts. Serena flinches as a tall and dark haired boy shoves Asher away. "Get out of here."

Asher doesn't look scared, only disappointed to be interrupted. He beckons to his friends to release Clair. With one last glare at Serena, the trio disappear into the hallway as the other students resume their departure, leaving now that the drama is done. Serena slides to her knees and begins to pick up her things, wiping at the tears on her face.

"Don't listen to him," Jax kneels down and helps her grab her books. "Lance says he'll meet you guys at the Den later."

Serena nods her head, zipping up her bag, and takes a deep breath. "Thanks, Jax."

"It's no problem," the olive skinned boy grins at her. He's becoming handsome, she can see with his tan skin, dark hair, and light colored eyes. All the girls are swooning over him and Lance whenever the two are walking down the halls together. She can see why, but she doesn't really seem to be that affected by their looks. Maybe it's because she knows them so well. "Congrats on passing your exams."

"Thanks, you too," she smiles and waves goodbye as he moves on.

"Do you like him?" Clair doesn't waste a second to ask, closing her own bag and locker.

Serena slams her locker shut and shrugs. "Not really. I think he's cute, but… I have zero chance even if I did."

"Why would you say that? You're so smart!"

"Right, thanks," Serena turns on her heel and heads towards her mother's classroom on the other side of the building.

Clair comes up on her left. "Is it because of what Asher says all the time?"

"No," Serena stumbles in her footing, and Clair knows she's right.

"Listen, you're not fat…"

"Don't patronize me. I am fat."

"Okay, fine. But that doesn't mean you're a bad person. Besides, a lot of people still have their baby fat."

Serena pouts and glances at her stomach. "Mine seems more like forever fat."

"Stop it," Clair smacks her shoulder. "If you don't like it, how about you and I work it off?"

"I'll think about it," the darker haired girl replies. She doesn't like talking about her appearance when so many others can hear and judge her.

The two come up to her mother's room and are about to separate when Clair grabs Serena's arm and takes her aside. Her blue eyes are cold as she stares into Serena's darker eyes. "Listen, I see how you are eating less and less, and that's not right. Not eating doesn't help anything. If you want to make changes, then I'll help you. But if you don't start eating, I'll tell your mother."

"I'm not a child," Serena snaps, taking back her arm. She sighs and glances at Clair before turning around. "I'll see you soon…"

The other girl leaves with a muttered goodbye. Serena takes a deep breath and plasters a smile on her face before entering her mother's classroom. Younger kids run past Serena on their way out, not really paying attention to her as she makes her way over to her mother.

Rowan's light hair is pulled back into a ponytail and she's wearing a floral dress with black pumps and a dark blue cardigan. Her slim body looks perfect, and it makes Serena grimace at the image of both of them standing next to each other.

"What happened?" Rowan interrupts her thoughts, catching Serena's grimace and tear stained face.

"Oh, it was Asher, but Jax took care of it," Serena flushes at being caught so fast. "I'm fine, I promise."

"Are you sure?" Rowan swings her book bag over her shoulder and grabs the house keys.

"I promise, Mom," Serena rolls her eyes as the two make their way out of the school among the crowd of students.

The walk home is short and Serena doesn't speak the entire way back. Once they enter the house, Rowan gets dinner started and Serena scurries to her room. With the door shut, she finds herself feeling empty. There's not a single emotion she can find within herself to gauge her situation. She drops her bag on the floor and changes into some sweats and a t-shirt.

Soon enough the aroma of food cooking in the kitchen fills Serena's room and she clutches her growling stomach. The thought of eating, after skipping lunch, is overpowering. Her mouth waters at the smells coming from downstairs. She should eat. She has to. It's as Clair said, not eating doesn't help anything.

Serena stands and shuffles across the room, she passes a mirror on the way and stops to stare at her reflection. Her build is an awkward cross between lanky and stubby, like she attempted to stretch got caught halfway and is trying to morph back into her original shape. For being 15, she reminds herself that she's growing and should get over this stage. At least that's what her mother told her. So far, Serena isn't believing it. With her luck, she'll be like this forever. An outcast in her own clan, fat, and freakish.

Being fat doesn't make you a bad person.

It's true. Serena doesn't think that the older, bigger woman on the end of the street is a bad person. She's incredibly sweet, and always gives Serena a flower when she walks by. Apparently she used to watch her mother when she was younger, and the woman encouraged Rowan to follow her heart. What Serena can't seem to get past is why is it okay for other people to be big but it's not for her.

"Sweetie! Time to eat!" Rowan calls from downstairs.

Serena tears her gaze away from the mirror and holds in a deep breath as she exits her room. Beyond the food, Serena can hear the chatter of her parents in the kitchen, by way of their muttering, she knows not to turn that way. Instead, she scurries forward and left to the dining room. The murmurs don't stop as her parents make their way in behind her. She watches them gesture and mutter at each other, her mother's movements are more open while her father's are more short cut and firm.

Finally they decide on something and face their daughter with a mix of emotions. Open, calm, sad, and firm.

"What?" Serena breaks the silence.

"We want to talk with you, Sweetie," Rowan starts, taking a spot across the table with her husband right beside her.

Serena swallows a lump in her throat as the back of her mind tickles, but scratching it meant invading her parents' privacy.

"We understand that you haven't been eating much lately," Aaron dives right in and Serena flinches.

"Honey, it's okay. You're not in trouble," Rowan reaches out to her daughter, past the plates to grasp her hand. "We just want to help."

Serena takes a deep exhale and glances between the two of them. She feels a small sense of relief as well as a bit of fear. Her hands begin to tremble in her mother's hand.

"We understand that there has been bullying from Asher and his friends. what they say to you is terrible. But Serena, not eating isn't going to help. You're a growing girl, and you deserve to eat food as much as anyone else," Rowan tightens her grip. "I'm going to change the foods I make. You'll eat healthier, and have some more filling snacks. No more not eating."

"We're here for you," Aaron agrees, smiling at his daughter. "What do you say?"

Serena watches them and knows that, technically, she has no choice in the matter. They're her parents, and they've never gone back on their word before. Whether she says yes or no, she'll be eating better. But then again, there's nothing wrong with what they want because it's exactly what she wants. She just felt too embarrassed to ask them about it before.

"I'm okay with that," she finally decides with a slight smile on her face. Her shoulders droop in relief, and her parents grin.

"Good, now eat up," Rowan pulls away and uncovers the platters filled with bright colored veggies, fluffy rice, and meat. "You have a big night tonight."

Serena wants to ask about what she's going to wear, but her mind is too preoccupied by the food to really care. Instead, she fills her plate with food and munches away. Her parents watch her as they talk amongst each other. She pays them no mind and completes her meal with a satisfied smile.

"What am I wearing tonight?" she speaks up while putting the dishes away in the dishwasher.

"The same dress I wore when I passed the Dragon Test," Rowan grins.

The thought unnerved Serena as well as warmed her. She wasn't sure if her mom was completely serious. Is it the exact same one? Wasn't that a long time ago? Or one like it made to fit her? Either way, Serena knows that her mother would have worn something beautiful, and that's what she wants to be tonight: beautiful in the face of the clan.

OoOoO

The Dragon's Den sits at the base of a steep, rocky incline. Serena was told long ago that it was carved into the small mountain it resides within. Carved by the ancient people that lived amongst others in Johto. They made it along with their dragon companions as a symbol of their peace to one another. These people's resilience in carving into the mountain is what set them apart from the rest of those in Johto. This is what makes the Blackthorn Clans so well respected.

The story is long and has many different versions. Serena isn't sure if it's true or not, but it sounds cool to her either way.

All the families in the city have gathered for this occasion. Well, the main branch of families, the ones who are direct descendants of the first clans to settle here. Everyone is dressed in their best, showing off their money, style, and pokemon. The sprawling lake between the city and the den is filled with water types and dragon types to ferry families across. A few flying types soar overhead, their wings creating a gentle beat in the late afternoon.

Serena touches the hem of her dress beneath the black coat her mother bought for her. Behind her, her parents watch the enclosing families with tight smiles and calculating eyes. This is the first major event that the main branch of families will be present for, and they want to appear well put together. Tonight is the night they will prove to everyone that they deserve to be there and are part of the inner clan as well as the entire Blackthorn clan.

Aaron releases his Salamence and the family soars above the dark water with the others towards the den entrance.

Flames light up the pathway up to the cave, there's a rumbling murmur as families greet each other and comment on their outfits. As the Lockwood family lands, the murmur dulls and eyes turn to them. Serena keeps her eyes on her mother as the three walk forward. No one in the outside crowd moves to greet them except for three families; the Wataru's, the Ibuki's, and Jax's family.

"Glad you could make it!" Wesley booms, shattering the careful silence.

His voice knocks Serena out of her fear and breaks a smile across her face. He winks at her before patting her father on the back. The adults merge together, and the kids take their place ahead of them, leading the way inside. Clair and Lance take up their normal spots on either side of Serena with Jax on Lance's right.

"Nervous?" Clair nudges Serena with a mischievous grin.

"Of course," Serena mutters back. "Aren't you guys?"

"Not at all," Lance smiles, lifting his chin a bit.

It occurs to Serena that it makes sense for them to take pleasure on this night. This isn't their moment of truth. The moment where the clan will either accept them into their ranks or still alienate them because they're already accepted within it. This night is drastically different for the three of them. For them, it's a reward for their hard work. For her, it's an initiation.

Torches light the wide entryway as they enter the den, the smell of water hits Serena's nostrils before she hears the sound of water churning. She hasn't been inside the den before, another reason for her to be nervous, and is shocked to see lake inside. The whooshing sound is a large whirlpool in the middle of the lake, in front of a large shrine facing them on the other side. The group of families have stopped and wait while staring at seemingly nothing.

"What are we staring at?" Serena whispers to Clair who points forward and upwards.

Squinting, Serena follows her finger to see a Dragonite floating above the whirlpool as if waiting for something. Her gaze drops a fraction and she sees an elderly man standing at the shrine. For a second, she swears he's staring right at her, but the distance is too great to be sure. She keeps up her gaze, taking in his pristine white beard and navy blue clothing. Everything else is too blurred for her to see correctly.

The crowd silences, drawing her gaze back to her parents.

Her mother winks at her and turns her attention back towards the front.

"Look!" Clair gasps, grasping Serena's arm as there was a sudden shout lost over the sound of the whirlpool.

The dragonite lets out a roar and swoops towards the whirlpool, its wings begin to glow blue as it swoops around and begins to fly in a furious circle. Above the water, a whirlpool takes form before falling beneath the surface. The two whirlpools clash, creating a plume of water before the second whirlpool manages to dissipate the first. Serena watches in awe as the waters go from furious thrashing to a calm and gentle rhythm.

"You may cross!" the elderly man calls from across the lake and families begin their ascent.

One by one they manage to cross the lake in a more orderly fashion than outside. Ten families, from which ten children are chosen from across the school to participate in tonight's activity. Suddenly it feels like so many more.

The wooden shrine stands strong on a large plot of land in the middle of the lake. It easily supports the weight of the families and their pokemon as they are gathered at the long walkway leading up to the main entrance. The shrine was made hundreds of years ago, and every few years it gets renovated so that it doesn't deteriorate. This time, the statues of old dragon types sit outside the main doors. They look like dragonites, like a drawing of a dragonite seen by an outsider.

Torches light either side of the walkway and entrance as Serena follows the other families in with her own. The inside is dim and crowded with a large square center. Not big enough for a battle field, but enough to fit the five Elders and their pokemon. Along the upper part of the shrine sit stands big enough for the ten families to take a seat. Serena takes a seat on the inside of her parents and next to Clair's mom.

Silence settles over the small crowd as the elders come into view below, all of them wearing long dark robes. They stand in a triangle formation in the middle of the square. In their hands they hold small square boxes. The flames around the square flicker in their presence and those too seem to settle down. In the corner of her eye, Serena spots the dragonite from earlier come in and stand at the entrance.

"Welcome all," the elder at the bottom right of the triangle speaks first. His voice fills the inside of the shrine well, Serena feels as if she's standing right next to him. "Congratulations to all the children in Blackthorn as well."

There's a quiet round of applause from everyone. Serena tries to smile, but it comes out strained from nerves. Next to her, Clair's mother nudges her arm and winks, her grin helping Serena take a deep breath. She deserves to be here just as much as the other kids. She got there on her own.

"This ceremony has been done for generations. It is important to us as a clan and our culture," another elder, more towards the point, turns his head left and right to address all the families. "That is why we test our children to see if they are ready. This ceremony is centuries old, and is at the very core of our clan's existence. It cannot just be given to anyone who wants it, it must be worked towards, so that they can be trusted," he pauses for a quick moment in his speech to signal to the other elders to open their boxes. There's a whoosh from the crowd as pokeballs shine the fiery light back to the kids. Serena's heart races at the sight of them and she feels her heart take a leap. "Trusted with our clan's finest dragons."

One by one for the next hour and half, the kids are called up and are given a speech by an elder as to why they were chosen and what their family stands for. Serena loses track of time until it comes time for Clair to go. The young woman keeps her chin held high as she sheds her cloak and saunters to the front as if it were her right and not a privilege. Serena remembers Clair talking about these rituals. She despises them. 'We're not buried in the past,' she'd always say. When she becomes a gym leader and a more respected member of the clan, she wants to move to revoke these traditions and come up with more modern ones.

Until then, she's stuck in that beautiful teal dress her mother bought for her in Goldenrod. It's stunning on Clair's body. She's always been athletic and thick, so the dress hugs her curves just right. Clair's chin length hair fall pin straight with her bangs pulled back to reveal her face. On her feet are black flats that are soundless as she glides up to her great-grandfather.

The old man's booming voice welcomes his own blood to the circle. The words exchanged are kind, he's proud of his great-granddaughter for all that she has done and hopes to see her excel as a trainer. Serena watches with pride as Clair bows her head and accepts the pokeball. The smile on her face is fierce, and it's clear that she has many plans for herself and her new pokemon.

As soon as Clair takes her place beside Serena, she fastens her cloak back on and clutches the pokeball for dear life. Her hands tremble from excitement, and Serena fights back her own smile as Lance is called up next.

His cloak stays fastened, only it opens up as he steps into the aisle of the seats to reveal a dark red and black suit. He walks down with an air of arrogance, his head held high, his chest thrust out, his arms swinging and his lips set into an overly wide smile. Unlike his cousin, Lance looks as though it's a privilege to watch him get his pokemon. It comes as no surprise to the girls. Clair hides her snicker with a cough while Serena is too scared to make a sound and just cracks a small smile.

Once again, their Elder remarks on his pride for his grandchildren, and his hopes for their future. When Lance gets his pokemon, his bow is short, and he is quick to take the pokeball. Behind them, Serena feels his mother shift in her seat, and she forces herself to stay looking towards the front.

As Lance comes back to his seat, he flashes the girls a big smile with his pokeball in hand. Serena's stomach churns as he watches the two marvel at their pokemon. She nearly misses her name being called. The audience grows deathly silent, she can hear the water churning right outside the shrine.

Her heart has been drumming, her eyes flying all over the place, and her palms sweaty beyond belief. Beside her, her parents seem unaffected on the outside. But within, they're gauging everyone's reactions when it is Lance and Clair's grandfather that calls out Serena's name.

The elders choose what pokemon to give to a specific child. All thought that Rowan's father would give Serena her pokemon, but he had given both his pokeballs to other children in the clan. Not a strange occurrence, but unexpected.

At the sound of his voice, Serena starts, almost falling out of her seat. Her mother reaches over to steady her and helps her stand. Rowan tugs the robe off her daughter to reveal a beautiful navy blue dress that falls to her ankles. The neckline reaches up, covering her chest and wrapping around her neck and down her back, hiding her scars while looking mysterious and stylish. Around her middle sits a silver belt with a design like flames sewed onto the dress. From the belt to the bottom of the skirt are sequins looking like falling sparks.

Clair's small gasp of adoration fuels Serena to lift her chin and begin her descent to the square. All eyes in the room are on her as she makes her way towards her acceptance into the clan. Each child got a Dratini with a different attribute. Lance's is stubborn as his family is known for their strength, Clair's is tempermental as her family is about understanding and Jax's is clever as his family aims to see the simple side of life. What will hers be? Her family's aim to be kind to all, not everyone's story is easy going and simple.

As she approaches him, the elder begins his speech with a smile on his face and in his voice.

"You are the most patient one here," the elder speaks. "This clan has shown nothing but resentment towards you. Every day has been a struggle. Our rules are strict and verdicts even more so, but our forgiveness is easy to come by, not at first and not all at once. But here, today, you have passed your test surpassing most of your classmates and peers. Today, you have shown that your family is worthy of redemption, and if that does not align with your family's ideals, then none of us would be here."

Serena holds her breath as he steps closer and offers the pokeball to her. She bows her head, a slow and gentle bow, and accepts it. Clutching the little device in her hand so tight she's sure it'll break.

"To you, I give the runt of the litter," he speaks with a grin. She feels a bit of warmth touch her cheeks as snorts are heard from the crowd. The elder glances around before speaking again. "Why? Because no one expects much from the runt except failure, and so they alienate it. Just as you have been treated so by the clan. But you have risen far beyond the expectations placed upon you and done more than ever thought possible. And like you, your little runt will rise above our expectations and become a powerful pokemon."

Her vision blurs with tears, but she manages to hide them as she nods and makes her way back to her seat. Her hands trembling while clutching the pokeball, wondering if what he said was true and if she could really make it happen. Clair tugs on one of her curls, and holds up her own little ball. They knock them together in a toast and share calm smiles.

The closing ceremony is quick. They chant an old song that the ancestor's used to welcome new members into the clan. At the end, the flames lighting the hall turn a radiant blue. There's a round of 'ooh's and 'ahh's as the crowd watches the lighting change with wonder. There's a clang of a bell and everyone is dismissed.

After the ceremony, Lance's and Clair's families come over for a celebratory midnight dinner and drinks. The adults are jovial and laughter blooms within the house, adding to the warm glow of the chandelier in the main room. Music plays softly in the background, allowing for pauses in talk without any awkward moments ensuing. Some smaller pokemon sit idly around the house, examining its contents or merely sleeping while their owners talk amongst each other.

Outside, on the back patio, Serena sits with Lance and Clair as the two examine their dratini. Dratini are long, large pokemon, reaching lengths exceeding five feet most times. But these ones are small, maybe no more than two or three. This is because they are newly hatched and have yet to be trained in this world. Looking at them now, Serena is nervous to see how small her dratini is if it's considered the runt.

"You're gonna be so strong one day," Lance mutters to his pokemon, rubbing the top of his head with a smile. "You and I are gonna take on the world."

The dragon type hums in response as if challenging Lance to go back on his word, or maybe encouraging him to be the best he can be.

Clair's arms are crossed and she's got a frown on her face as she gauges her pokemon. She looks back at her trainer before turning away with a 'humph' and going off to relax by the garden. Rather than go after her, Clair waves off her pokemon before turning back to Lance and Serena.

She looks at Serena with a grin, "So, let's see yours."

Serena swallows a lump in her throat and glances down at the ball in her hand. It suddenly feels warm and ready to explode. She looks at her friends and, at their nods of encouragement, she pushes the button on the side of the pokeball and watches as it enlarges in her hand. She nearly drops it with how quickly it grew and tries to cover her embarrassment with a laugh. Lance and Clair snicker at her.

"Shhh," Serena glares at them before tossing the ball into the air.

It pops open, releasing a bright light that splashes onto the ground before her. The pokeball glides back into her hand. It closes around the device on habit as her eyes stay glued to the light. Slowly, it takes the form of a serpentine-like animal before fading to the colors of a dratini just barely two feet long and much smaller than the others.

Serena gauges the pokemon, taking in her pale scales, dark eyes, and white fins on her head. Dratini looks back at her and the two have a moment of connection, of understanding as Serena sees just why the elder's would give this one to her. She is much too small to be able to fight anything bigger than Ty, just like Serena was too young to take on the clan on her own, but she did.

And Dratini will learn to fight. Staring into her eyes right now, Serena knows that she will be a powerful partner.