Marion's managed to turn things around against Willa's Shuckle, but the match isn't settled yet! A pharmacist like Willa has always got a drug or two stashed away, and Marion's gotta be careful. We explore the nature of pokemon pharmacology and the creation of medicine a lot in this chapter, it's a very Willa-centric chapter discussing parasitism and symbiosis, with a nice little surprise at the end as well!

KedharS: Well, her Dondozo was injured, but it looks like Serturner took a lot more damage from that last hit.

Hyphenman: Oh, the equalizer's just the tip of the iceberg. Willa's got far scarier drugs to play with, you'll see.

Pokemon Academy: Beginning of Beginnings

Chapter 1201

"Whoa, what the heck?" Marion was stunned by what had just happened. After the drugs had run their course, she'd expected Donnie's aqua tail to be an effective attack for putting more distance between him and the Shuckle, but she hadn't been expecting THAT.

His attack had sent Serturner flying. And when the Shuckle hit the ground, he didn't get back up to keep going.

"He knocked the Shuckle out in one hit!" Chloe gasped, her eyes bulging. "But that shouldn't… it shouldn't be possible, right? Shuckle's defensive stats are huge!"

"It's one of the downsides of the equalizer potion," Willa said, recalling Serturner to his pokeball. "Upon taking the potion, the subject's base stats all rise to match its highest stat. But it comes with a major downside. When the potion wears off, all their stats… they temporarily decrease to what the pokemon's lowest stat equals. In this case, Shuckle's paltry base speed of 5."

Marion's eyes widened. So after the potion had worn off, all of Serturner's stats had dropped down to 5, the level of his speed?

…Yeah, no wonder Donnie had been able to turn him into a blue and yellow smear with a single attack after that, yikes.

"I'm curious, in the lab, Serturner should be able to maintain that form for at least several hours," Willa said, stroking her chin thoughtfully. "It must be that the stress of battling causes the potion to run its course far quicker than in testing. I'll have to refine the formula to make it more effective, there's no way it has applications in a pokemon battle in its present form, it can't even last long enough to take out a single pokemon…"

Willa had lost two pokemon already, but she was more focused on her research. Marion had to admit that she was a little impressed by the girl's force of will.

"Ah, well, no sense in thinking about it now," Willa said, moving onto her next pokeball. "Bradham, WIlyou're up next."

She tossed her next pokeball into the air.

"Parasect!" The hulking mushroom pokemon hissed, raising his claws. There was something off about him, as well, Marion noticed. She normally wasn't the type to do something like this, but she was just too curious. So she tried connecting to the pokemon with her harmonia.

What she felt shocked her, and she stumbled back, mouth open.

"Your… your Parasect…" She mumbled in surprise. Willa smirked.

"Yes. Bradham is quite a unique pokemon, as far as Parasect go," Willa boasted. "And he has my potions to thank for it!"

"What does she mean?" Ian asked, confused. "That looks like any ordinary Parasect if you ask me, what's the big deal?"

Willa was happy to explain. "Paras and Parasect are a rather frightening species of pokemon," she said, reaching down and running her hand across the large mushroom growing out of her Parasect's back. "Because of the mushrooms that grow from them."

A tight frown crossed Marion's face. It may come as a surprise to most people, but she knew a thing or two about pokemon other than fish pokemon; she had to, for the career she was pursuing. So she knew what Willa was getting at.

"It's the mushrooms," Willa clarified. "From the moment Paras are born, mushrooms attach to their bodies and use them as hosts, drawing out nutrients to nourish them. Rather like your Tatsugiri and Dondozo, wouldn't you say?"

She smirked, knowing that there was quite a difference. Marion wouldn't let her get away with that comparison.

"The relationship between Paras and their mushrooms isn't symbiotic, it's parasitic," she hissed. "The mushrooms use the Paras' host body as a feeding ground, sucking up the nutrients to stunt their growth. They're practically zombies."

Giselle made a face. Chloe felt like she was going to be sick into her mask. Even Donoma looked a little queasy.

"It's not so bad," Willa said. "The Paras don't mind it at all, they're just as lively and energetic as always. But when it comes to Parasect… well, that's another matter altogether, isn't it?"

Marion nodded, her lips pressed into a thin line.

"Parasect aren't all that larger than regular Paras," Willa continued. "When Paras evolve, it's really the mushroom that undergoes the transformation, not the bug. The mushroom grows and takes over the host body completely, sucking it dry all the way down to the brain; the Parasect becomes little more than a vessel for transporting the mushroom around and feeding it nutrients through the prey it hunts down."

Oh yeah. Giselle was definitely going to be sick.

"Okay… that's super gross," Ian winced. "But what's your point? Why are you telling us all this?" He still wasn't sure what Willa was after.

"Bradham was actually one of my first pokemon," Willa confessed, actually smiling a little. It looked odd on her tired face. "Technically, Serturner was my first, though. I come from an island town called Cianwood City, have you ever heard of it?"

Marion brightened up. "Oh! I love going fishing in Cianwood City! The waters there are so pure, as long as you're not there during that tropical storm that hits every 75 years."

She paused. "Actually, that should be coming up pretty soon, right?"

Willa cleared her throat. "Yes, well, my family comes from a long line of pharmacists, going back to the original settling of the Johto Region. We raise Shuckle. Cultivate entire farms of them, in fact, to use their shells in the creation of berry juice."

Giselle's eyes widened. As a Blackthorn native, she'd heard the stories of a renowned family of pharmacists and apothecaries that lived in seclusion off the coast of Johto. It was said that they were masters of their craft, so skilled they could even manufacture a "secret potion" capable of curing pokemon of any ailment, even those beyond the capability of modern medicine.

Willa was a descendent of that family?

"I was given a Shuckle of my own to raise since I was a little girl," Willa said, holding her head up proudly. Normally, she would have kept her family secret, maybe tell a lie about her backstory, but due to Samarra's influence she was feeling rather boastful. Plus, she felt an odd affinity for Marion.

"I've done things with Serturner that my family could only dream of!" She continued. "But perhaps one of my greatest works is what I accomplished with Bradham."

"Oh? And what's that?" Marion asked.

"Paras and Parasect have been a favorite pokemon of pharmacists since the ancient era," Willa said, petting her Parasect again. "The spores from their mushrooms are used in the cultivation of many drugs and medicines, after all. But there's always been something rather… unsavory about the breeding of Paras, even in this field."

"I understand that," Chloe mumbled. The idea of breeding a pokemon to use them as fodder for a parasitic fungus, all for the sake of harvesting their spores for medicine, it was rather sickening. She glanced around at the others, seeing that her sentiment was a shared consensus.

With one surprising exception.

"Ridiculous," Ange scoffed. Her eyes were filled with venom. "There's nothing wrong with breeding Paras and Parasect. The medicines from their mushrooms are actually very useful, so long as they're cultivated without bringing harm to the pokemon itself."

Alden's eyes practically bulged out of his skull. During their entire fight Ange had been going on tirade after tirade about the evils of man and how they exploit pokemon for their own benefit, and now even she was coming to the defense of using pokemon for plant food?!

"…I'm surprised to hear that coming from you of all people," Willa said, raising her eyebrow. "Aren't you going to condemn me for allowing sentient pokemon to be leeched upon by these mushrooms? I thought you were an advocate for pokemon?"

"The relationship between Paras and their mushrooms is a natural part of their growth," Ange replied simply. "Is it a parasitic relationship? Certainly. But it's part of the natural order. I have no intention of forcing my own morality on the reproductive habits of wild pokemon, thank you very much."

She crossed her arms in an indignant display of her displeasure.

Willa shrugged. "I suppose… that's a position," she said. Not at all one that she found common. Most people were either completely unaware of the parasitic nature of Paras and Parasect, or became disgusted and/or sad for the species when they learned about its fate.

This was the first time she'd heard the "Paras should be used as fertilizer because that's their role in the ecosystem" argument before.

"Natural selection isn't nice and pretty," Ange said, narrowing her eyes and pursing her lips. "That's just the way of things."

Also, fuck Paras. Those little buggers had attacked her at every opportunity back in the Hisui Region, she wasn't exactly going to shed any tears about it.

"…Right. Well, that brings me back to my main point," Willa said, turning her attention back to Marion. "You sensed it, right? With your harmonia I mean."

Marion nodded slowly. "Like you said, once Paras evolve into Parasect, the mushroom leeches into every corner of their body and mind, practically turning them into zombies," she said. "But your Parasect… I can feel a connection to it that's so much stronger than a pokemon that's practically a husk. Normally a Parasect's mind should feel like the mushroom asserting its will over the body, but this is… it's like the Paras somehow managed to retain its sense of self!"

A chorus of gasps rose up from the others. Ange's jaw dropped.

Willa's eyes twinkled. "Exactly! Yes, that's exactly it!" She crowed. "When I was a little girl, I received a Shuckle and a Paras from my parents, two pokemon whose abilities were necessary to begin my studies as a pharmacist! But when they told me what would happen to my little Bradham, that eventually his mind would be taken over by the mushroom, I couldn't just sit by and let that happen! But… not evolving him was out of the question as well. We need those spores, you see, and Paras can't produce the right blends. The mushrooms need to grow to maturity before they're useful. So you see… for the sake of my pokemon, I cured it."

It took a moment for that to set in.

"You… cured it?" Marion asked incredulously. "What does that mean?"

"I developed a special treatment that allows Paras to evolve into Parasect while reducing the drain the mushroom puts on their cognitive faculties," Willa explained. "A special drug. As long as it's consumed daily, Parasect will retain their awareness and consciousness even while the mushroom continues to leech out their energy. It's not a perfect cure, but… it's a step in the right direction. The day might even come when we find a way for the mushrooms to grow separate from the Paras altogether, and thus we won't have any more need for such a parasitic relationship."

Marion was impressed. It was a rather noble goal, all things considered. It even made her forget for a moment that she was locked in a pokemon battle with a girl who was brainwashed by her own type of parasitic mushroom, one that looked like an escapee from a slasher film.

"What gives you the right?!"

Everyone turned to see Ange, her face red with outrage.

Willa raised her eyebrow. "…What?"

"The relationship between Paras and the mushrooms that grow from them may be parasitic, but it's part of the natural order!" Ange exploded. "You can't just alter that because you think you know what's best! There are laws that must be obeyed, don't you understand that!? If you mess with the natural development of pokemon, that's just… that's…"

She felt uneasy and she didn't know why. Maybe it was because what Willa was saying was so antithetical to everything Ange believed. She found the idea of altering the fundamental nature of a pokemon so severely was sickening. Of course someone like Willa, a scientist, wouldn't see anything wrong with it. Could she even claim she really cared about pokemon?

The natural lifecycle of a Paras was tragic, Ange wasn't about to debate that. But it was natural. It was the way of things.

And who was Willa to say it was wrong? Who was anyone?!

…So why did Ange feel so strange?

She clutched her chest. Was she… doubting herself? Did a part of her… did she… did she agree with what Willa was suggesting?

Sure, in theory, improving life for Paras and Parasect using her research was good. Ange couldn't think of anything wrong about wanting the species to maintain their cognitive abilities per se.

But… it was the principle of the thing! If humans began imposing their own sense of morality on the natural order of the world, where would it end?! Pokemon were pokemon and people were people, and they shouldn't interfere with one another any more than was necessary! It always ended badly, always, she'd seen too many atrocities to think otherwise.

And yet the notion remained lodged in her brain, like the spores from Paras' mushrooms, and refused to come out no matter how hard she tried not to think about it.

Willa stared at Ange for a moment and sighed, before turning her attention back to Marion. "…Well. I suppose we don't have anything further to talk about."

Marion shrugged. "Guess not."

"I'll have you know," the pharmacist added, "that Bradham is my last pokemon. I only have four. My specialty is in the cultivation of medicine for pokemon, not in battling."

She tapped her chin thoughtfully. "…Though, given what happened with the equalizer drug, I suppose I should try my hand at battling more often… it turns out that my medicines have different effects when tested in the lab vs. what they can do in the field."

Marion shrugged again.

"…Ah, well. No use bothering with it. Bradham! Use spore!"

"Parasect!" Bradham scuttled forward with a speed that seemed absurd to Marion.

"What the hell?!" She gasped as the Parasect sent a wave of spores from the mushroom on his back. They swirled towards the Dondozo.

"With his mental faculties intact, Bradham is capable of moving much more dynamically," Willa boasted. "And while his speed isn't necessarily increased… he can certainly think much sharper!"

The cloud of spores flew towards the Dondozo, and the fish pokemon was far too massive to be able to dodge them all.

"Your Dondozo is quite the menace," Willa said. "But even a powerful pokemon like him will be vulnerable when he's put to sleep!"

"Don… Dondozo…" Donnie's yawn made the river ripple, and before long, he was fast asleep. Maree was safe from the spores inside Donnie's mouth, but she couldn't get out now- her host was snoozing.

"That's not good," Alden winced. "All that power won't mean a whole lot if her Dondozo can't use it because he's asleep."

"I'm quite proud of Bradham's spores," Willa boasted. "I've cultivated them personally, making sure that they're extra potent. Your Dondozo won't be waking up for a long, long time."

She narrowed her eyes. "And when he does… his trainer will be my friend. What do you think of that, Marion Rivers?"

Marion didn't know what to think. She was struggling to keep her eyes open. She yawned, her eyelids heavy from the effects of the spore, and tried to stay standing. It was a losing battle.

"It's okay, Marion!" Ian called. "She still has to actually knock out your Dondozo! And Donnie's so tough, he can last for a while!"

Marion heard her friend's encouragement, but she wasn't so sure. She guessed that Willa had something up her sleeve.

She would be surprised by how literally that was true.

"I've made a great many medicines in my time," Willa said, digging into her lab coat. "I can't stop myself, usually. Most of them I give to Flemming, for him to test in the field. But not all. Some I keep on my person because they're too serious to allow a pokemon to administrate."

She withdrew her hand. In it was a syringe carrying a light pink liquid. Willa walked over to her Slowbro, who glanced back at her and nodded.

"Marion, you noted something else unique about my pokemon, didn't you?" Willa asked. "About Pelletier in particular."

Marion nodded cautiously. "It's… his eyes…" She yawned. "They aren't as unfocused as a normal Slowbro's… more of your work, I'm guessing?"

"Correct again," Willa nodded. "It seems you know me very well. It's almost a pity we aren't friends. Well, not yet, anyway. But you're right. Slowpoke are very slow and sluggish pokemon. Did you know it takes them 5 seconds for their brain to register that they're in pain? A sensation like that can be good for experimentation, but at the same time, it's often vital to get results quickly. And that's why I've given Pelletier several brain-enhancing supplements. Not to increase his special attack or special defense, but to make him a more effective thinker. You're a Water type user, Marion, so I'm CERTAIN you must know of the relationship between Shellder and Slowpoke, yes?"

"Of course I do," Marion said. The excitement from discussing the topic had caused the sleepiness to be wiped from her system immediately. "Shellder aren't Poison type pokemon, but they still carry a special toxin in their shells. This toxin has no effect on most pokemon, but it reacts strongly with Slowpoke! When a Shellder bites down on a Slowpoke's tail, the toxin releases into their body and causes them to evolve into Slowbro!"

"Exactly, and when they bite down on a Slowpoke's head, the toxins stimulate their brain, sharply raising their intellect and causing them to evolve into a Slowking instead," Willa nodded. "It's another form of symbiosis, unlike the parasitic relationship between Paras and their mushrooms. The Shellder provide a boost to the Slowpoke's natural capabilities, and in return they get to leech some nutrients from their host, whose capabilities they've enhanced."

"Just like Dondozo and Tatsugiri," Marion murmured.

"Or like myself and Samarra," Willa replied. "Two people working to support one another and fulfill their goals together."

Marion wasn't sure she'd put it like THAT. She opened her mouth to reply but was cut off.

"I heard somewhere that if you remove a Shellder from a Slowbro's tail, it would go back to being a Slowpoke," Raizer chimed in.

"Oh, yeah, I heard about that, too!" Alden nodded.

Marion and Willa stared at the two brothers.

"…Yeah, no," Marion shook her head.

"That would never happen," Willa replied. "The transformation is quite permanent."

"…Oh." Raizer and Alden were slightly deflated at that thought.

"So let me ask you a question, Marion," Willa said, tapping her syringe lightly. "What do you think would happen if a Slowbro were to be injected with Shellder's venom into their head when they were already receiving it from their tail?"

Marion's eyes widened.

"It's a fascinating thought, isn't it?" Willa asked, her eyes shining. "Normally, you get one or the other. But if you could somehow get both, well…"

"More experimenting on pokemon," Ange muttered, disgusted. This girl truly had no respect for the natural order of things.

"Is that what's in that syringe, then?" Marion asked, narrowing her eyes.

Willa blinked. "…What, this? No, no! Actually, Pelletier already receives regular injections of Shellder venom into his brain, that's why he's so focused. I did that this morning in fact."

Marion frowned. If that was the case, then what was in the syringe?

"This is… a stimulant, of sorts," Willa explained. "It's my greatest concoction; the pinnacle of my medical expertise."

She took the syringe and injected it into the shell biting down on Pelletier's tail. The shell started to glow and expand, increasing in size. It was so blinding everyone had to shield their eyes. The pocket of Willa's lab coat was shining as well, though that was due to the pendant she kept tucked away inside, for good luck. A gift from her family.

"What the heck's that thing?!" Donoma exclaimed.

When the light died down, Pelletier had undergone a transformation. It wasn't like Flemming and the berserker potion, or Serturner and equalizer. That had just made them grow bigger.

What had grown bigger for Pelletier wasn't his main body; the shell on his tail had grown instead. It covered his entire body, leaving tiny holes for just his arms to poke out. His head stuck out of the top, surrounded by a rim of sharp teeth. And somehow, the growth of the shell caused the tip of his tail to be exposed to the air again, and he balanced unnaturally on the tip of it, his feet tucked away inside the shell's slippery surface.

No one knew what to make of this new transformation. Willa smirked.

"Take a look," she said proudly. "This is my ultimate- no, my mega potion, the pinnacle of pokemon pharmacology!"

Well, that's quite an interesting drug you've got there, Willa. Wonder what other applications it could be used for? As for Marion, she's in quite the sticky situation! She was really tearing it up with her Dondozo, but now that Willa's put the big fish to sleep she's in for a tough time! Meanwhile, Willa's Slowbro has undergone a rather interesting transformation himself- will Marion be able to fight her way out of this one?