A Poisoning of the Heart

OK, guys, chapter 2 is here. We'll be getting this really going in a few chapters, so get ready for it guys. Now enjoy the chapter guys, and please; R&R!

XOXOXOXOXO

"Speech"=Talking
Speech=Translated Poketalk
Speech=Telepathy
*Speech*=Thoughts

Morgan was laying on the floor, his backpack beside him, head resting against Serena's coils. She had curled up shortly after Nurse Joy left, content to stay in the sun for a while as Morgan rested and finished his sketch of the treeline. Putting his notebook back in the backpack, he stretched his arms and reached up to the coil beside him.

He stroked Serena's back, the feel of her scales beneath his fingers a familiar pattern; smooth scale, with a slightly rough edge as it ended at an overlap. She hissed slightly, before nuzzling his arm. Morgan smiled, before glancing down into his backpack. Two notebooks, a small pocket in the lining holding a pen, and a pencil case at the base; and the now-empty plastic box that had held his lunch.

"Well, unless you wanna spend a couple of minutes sunning, we should start to head back. I'd say that soon we'll be getting in trouble for being late again…"

Aw. But I just got really warm… The sun here is OK, but it takes forever to really warm up… Morgan chuckled, stroking her head, and stood, brushing down his jeans. Serena lifted her head, yawning widely before following him as he walked back into Slateport.

"I know, but once we're back at the Centre you can rest under a heat lamp for a while. Besides, we may have a battle today or tomorrow, so you need to warm up soon and a lot to get to work on your lunch. I don't want you puking after getting hit in the gut." Serena let out the familiar, stuttering hiss of a laugh.

Morgan, about ninety five percent of my body that gets hit is going to involve a gut shot. It's kinda hard to avoid getting hit in it, unless I catch attacks on my head and tail-blade. Morgan nodded slightly, shaking his head at the same time.

"I know. I was referring more to your stomach, but I sometimes forget that you have a sense of humour, and a sarcastic wit, as caustic as some of your venom." Serena laughed again, before nudging him with her head.

All part of my charm. Keeps you on your toes. Speaking of which, I still don't understand why you humans have toes. You always walk around in some sort of foot covering, and even those 'sandals' keep your feet off the floor. Morgan nodded, before patting her head.

"Don't worry. It's too hard to explain right now, so what I'll do is give you a book on it. All about the human body." Serena nuzzled his hand, before looking up as they entered the Pokémon Centre again.

I'd rather you gave me something to eat instead. She laughed, drawing various glances as Morgan groaned in annoyance.

"I've told you before. I follow the diet that is best for Sevipers. If you keep snacking like this, or asking for more food, you're gonna get fat. And then you won't be able to do much more than be used as a doorstop to prevent drafts through the gaps." He chuckled, and Serena butted the back of his knees, knocking him into her coils.

Oh, so you think I'm gonna get fat? Well, I'll show you, human! Morgan grinned, throwing off a coil even as several others formed around him. Several people in the Centre had stood up as Serena started to loop around him, some reaching for balls on their belts.

"Hey, I'll show you. Who won the last game we had, Serena?" There was a faint click as she opened her mouth, and the fangs folded away, rendering her mouth safer; there were rows of small, but sharp teeth still left, although those were mainly for holding food and not chewing or biting. She hissed in annoyance, before quickly grabbing his left hand in her mouth. Immediately, there were shouts from those within the Centre, as several ran out of the room shouting for help.

Yeah, well this one is mine! She threw another coil over his shoulders, beginning to force him to curl up. Morgan laughed, before twisting and grabbing her upper jaw, digging his fingers between her lips and pulling his hand free. He squirmed out of the coils, before one wrapped his ankles, pulling her weight on top of him.

"That's cheating!" A stuttering hiss answered as Serena laughed. She leant down, wrapping her mouth around his right shoulder, holding him still and quickly cocooning him with her body, until only his head was exposed. A smug grin greeted him as she let go of his shoulder, before nudging his chin.

Who won this time, then? Morgan scowled, struggling for several seconds, before sighing.

"You did…" Serena nodded, licking his cheek and nuzzling him. They both turned, looking towards their right as a door slammed open and Nurse Joy stormed in, glaring at them. Morgan looked down, realising that he and Serena were in an unusual position; he was laying on the floor, on his back, completely wrapped by Serena, whose head was beside his.

"Uh… Hi. This is all her fault-Ow!" Serena hissed in annoyance, squeezing him and cutting him off mid-sentence before relaxing again.

Is not! You started it when you called me fat! Morgan scowled, bucking his hips and struggling; all that happened was Serena slowly rolled over, so he was face down now.

"I didn't call you fat, I said if you kept eating and snacking you would look fat!" Serena hissed again, squeezing tighter, before relaxing and uncoiling him. She curled up beside Morgan, looking at Nurse Joy as he sat up.

We were just playing. Wrestling. And I won this time! Morgan grinned, standing and stroking Serena's head.

"This time. Next time I'll tie you in a bow." His voice made it clear he was joking, and Serena made it clear what would happen if he tried as she lunged forwards, biting his thigh. A girl in the room screamed, before Serena let go and moved back. Morgan laughed, stepping forwards again and hugging her as Serena nuzzled.

"Good girl, you remembered to keep your fangs away. But seriously, if you do that in public again, or somewhere else, I'll have to tie a knot in your tail to remind you that it's bad." Serena hissed, turning her head in a derogatory movement, and with a slight click her fangs folded back out.

Whatever. You know you would slice your hands open on my tail before you even got it to bend. Nurse Joy coughed, drawing their attention again.

"If you two are done messing around, and scaring people waiting for help, you have a class to get to. Now move!" Morgan nodded, running through the doorway with Serena beside him. She sighed as the door closed behind them, turning to the group of people who had seen the game. The girl who had screamed was in the arms of an adult, having caught her as she fainted.

"OK, if you're here for help line up. If you're here to fight, leave. If you're going to ask about those two, that can be done later…"

XOXOXOXOXO

Morgan closed his notebook, putting the pen down beside it and stretching his arms and back, hearing the muted pops as his joints cracked. He glanced at the clock over the door, before sighing. Serena was wrapped around his table, chair and body, head slumped on his lap and eyes closed. Asleep, as she breathed out the tip of her tongue flickered in a hissing snore.

"Morgan. Did I say you could stop? There's still ten minutes left." He sighed, before looking at Nurse Joy, who was sat marking papers at the front of the room.

"I've filled out the notebook you gave me though… Cover to cover, I will not play-fight with Serena in the Centre. Please, it's just ten minutes." Nurse Joy was silent, before she finished marking and stood, walking over to him. She picked up the notebook, fresh from the store cupboard and fully blank when given to him and flicked through the pages. Each and every one was filled with the same line, over and over.

"Hmm…" She walked back to her desk, dropping the notebook on the top and picked up a second one, throwing it onto his desk.

"Same lines. Cover to cover. If it goes over ten minutes, it goes over. Now start writing." Morgan groaned, slamming his face into the desk with a hard thwack. After several seconds, he picked up the pen and lifted his face, opening the notebook to the first page. He glanced up at Nurse Joy, before whispering to Serena.

"Serena. If you're awake, please, get me out of here. I don't care if you attack someone, feign hunger, or break the chair, but get me out, please…" Serena nodded, before glancing at Nurse Joy, who was marking papers again.

If you want out, then don't shout. Her tail slowly lifted, before two coils wrapped round his forearm. He set the pen down, wincing as she tightened her grip; his fingertips took on a slight blue tinge as she gripped hard.

Get ready for a free ticket out. She pressed her fang tip to his palm, digging it in. There was a moment of burning pain, before a numbing cold filled his hand and his fingers cramped up as she released his arm. The hand curled into a fist, muscles aching with the stress of the cramp.

"Gah!" Morgan grabbed his wrist, squeezing hard both in response to the paralytic and to slow down the spread. Nurse Joy looked up, frowning.

"Morgan, what's wrong?" He looked up, wincing, and showed her his fist.

"I got a cramp in my hand…" Nurse Joy walked over, taking his fist in her hands and checking, before sighing and looking towards the clock.

"You'd better leave. I'll call your parents that you're on your way, and give you something for that. One book and several pages is clearly enough." She turned, leaving the room, before Morgan stuck his other hand into his backpack and pulled the pencil case out.

"What the hell?! I asked for help, not to be poisoned! What was that about?!" Serena scowled, licking the small puncture wound in his hand.

You said to get you out. Short of me eating you, which would see you dead and not escaping, I can't really do much but paralyse your hand so you get a cramp. I can't exactly teleport, or burrow through tiled floors. Next time I'll use my regular nerve toxin. Morgan scowled, fumbling the hard plastic case open with his one hand. Inside was a syringe and several small glass vials, filled with a clear, off-yellow liquid. Each vial had a different label, and was topped with a foil seal. He pulled out the leftmost one, holding it between his knees as he prepared the syringe with his good hand.

"Well you gave me too much! My elbow is going numb! When I ask for help that does NOT mean poison me, even if you think it helps! Hold my arm down, grip it tight." Serena scowled again, before wrapping her tail around the base of his elbow, tight enough that blood vessels rose to the surface. Morgan jabbed the syringe into the vial, taking a measure into the syringe and then rolling his sleeve up.

"OK…" He lined the syringe up with a blood vessel, closing his eyes and pushing. There was a moment of tension, before the skin broke and the hypodermic plunged into the vessel. He winced, before injecting the anti-venom and pulling out the syringe, a red bead of blood welling up.

He slotted the syringe back into its holding, and used his good hand to seal the vial with clingfilm so it wouldn't spill, then pressed a cotton ball to the puncture mark. He pulled a piece of tape from the case, wrapping it round his arm and the cotton before biting through and putting the roll back. He rolled the sleeve down, sighing in relief as the muscle cramps subsided.

"Man… Next time you do that I'm injecting your glands with so much anti-venom you'll have something that can be drunk coming out your fangs." He lifting his hand, flicking the side of a fang with a chuckle. Serena hissed slightly, snapping at his finger in annoyance.

You said you wanted me to get you out of here. You always carry those anti-venoms, so I figured that you would be OK if I jacked you up on something. And it was just the paralytic, that's my least damaging. Morgan nodded, before petting her head.

"Yeah, but don't forget that it's only non-lethal until it hits an organ. If Nurse Joy had decided to try and rub out the cramp, that would have reached my heart or lungs by now…" Serena lowered her head, gently rubbing against his side.

Sorry… But you didn't say not to use paralytics… Morgan nodded, glancing up as the door opened.

"We'll talk later." He whispered, closing the pencil case and sliding it into his bag as Nurse Joy entered the room.

XOXOXOXOXO

So. Explain to me what it was. Serena spoke, following Morgan into his bedroom. He dropped onto his bed, laying there with hands behind his head. Serena laughed slightly, before sliding up onto the bed and over him, lazily coiling up on top of him, head beside his and nuzzling. Morgan smiled, petting her head, before resting his arms over her body.

"OK. I said do anything to get me out. You clearly took that literally. You have to remember, and it isn't your fault since I wasn't careful, that humans aren't literal. When we say anything we mean, anything that doesn't involve us getting injured or hurt or bleeding. Or being poisoned."

So humans don't really mean anything when they say anything..? Weird. Although now I know why people get mad when I try to eat their pets. Morgan paused, before looking her in the eye.

"What. Explain it to me, now." Serena shifted slightly, glancing away and tucking her head down.

Well… I was outside, and this guy was walking his Pokémon, and he said he had too many and would do anything to give some to new owners. I was hungry, he said anything, and there was this mature Poochyena beside him, so I tried to help. Morgan sighed, before slapping an hand onto his forehead.

"Serena… What am I gonna do with you. You can get in a lot of trouble if you had done it." There were several seconds of silence, before Morgan groaned.

"Oh, no…" Serena nudged his elbow slightly, still looking away.

It was tasty though, and I made sure it wouldn't suffer… I don't get why humans freak out. It's like they would rather I swallowed it alive, than prevented it suffering. Morgan moved his arm, petting her head.

"They would rather you didn't eat it at all. And no, but compared to what a lot of people are used to, you eat quite… Gorily. A lot are used to giving that Pokechow to their pets or Pokémon, or letting them eat vegetables and fruit. So when they see you crush, poison, or whatever and then gulp it down whole, it can be repulsive." Serena sighed, lowering her head onto the pillow, absently punching two holes with her fangs.

Stupid human behaviour stuff… It would be worse if I chewed like most do. I mean, I didn't rip it open and stuff. Morgan nodded, hugging her before patting her body.

"It's just how most people are. You have to put up with it, Serena, but hey. I don't think it's weird or anything. I just don't like seeing you feed since it always reminds me that you could do it to me as well." Serena sighed, before looping a coil around him, pulling him close.

I would never hurt you. I mean, yeah, I tried eating your fathers Pokémon but I was still uncaptured at the time. You're my trainer, and my friend, and I would never let you be hurt by something or someone, or me. Just… The only time I can't promise you'll be safe from me is if we find a Zangoose. Stay away from me, because I won't be myself. Morgan nodded, before sliding a finger into a hole in the pillow.

"Aw, man, this was my favourite pillow… Hey, relax. If we get into a fight, I'll ask if they have a Zangoose. I don't wanna risk you in a death-fight, and I'm sure they don't want to risk their Zangoose." Serena smiled slightly, before scowling.

Stupid, puffed up, ball of albino fur with claws. They aren't even as filling as they look, since they have thick fur coats… Always a disappointment. Morgan smiled, shaking his head slightly.

"It's always food with you. 'Is this edible, can I eat this, can I eat that guy's Pokémon'… I'm waiting for the day you just come out and say 'Can I eat that person?' to me." Serena grinned, leering slightly as her tongue slid along her fangs.

Too late. Campers in tents make great snacks. Only problem is humans take way too long to digest. There were several seconds, before Serena laughed, nuzzling Morgan, who was looking at her with worry.

I'm kidding. I've never eaten human, personally. I heard about it from some of the older Seviper in my old clan, and I know sometimes Zangoose attack humans if they assault their dens, but I never did it. Maybe that's why people always travel in groups where I used to live. Morgan sighed, before tapping a finger on the tip of her snout.

"Be careful. I know you were joking, but others may not take it so lightly. Actually, no one will at all. Especially any police officers who overhear, or police Pokémon. And, on that note, do not do anything like try to eat a person, even if they're dangerous. Paralyse, sure, or immobilise, but no eating. And really, you are gonna end up a little chubby with your eating habits." Serena hissed, tightening her coils and wrapping more over him.

Not my fault. I used to have a great diet of Zangoose, Swablu and stuff; it took a lot of effort to catch and devour them, and then I got caught. I lived on a very energetic, high-meat diet lifestyle, and the Pokechow they give me now just doesn't fill me up. I'd probably still hunt, even if you didn't let me, it's so bad. Maybe I'll have some meat now… Morgan chuckled, closing his eyes as Serena licked his cheek.

"Come on, get off. This was funny before, but I'm not in the mood to play."Serena sighed, before nodding and nuzzling slightly, loosening her coils.

Come on, Morgan. I was trying to put a spin on our games. I thought it might make you try harder to win. Morgan shook his head, pulling his arms free and levering himself into sitting up.

"Nope. Just makes me less likely to play with you after dinner than I was before. You just made it worse for yourself." Serena scowled slightly, before nuzzling and glancing towards the door as it creaked open.

From outside there was a light padding, before a Mightyena walked into the room, holding a leash in his mouth. He glared at Serena, hackles raising, before crossing over to Morgan and dropping the leash on the bed, licking his cheek. Morgan smiled, wrapping an arm round the canines neck, glancing at the strip of white fur along his back leg.

"Hey, boy. What's up?" The Mightyena glanced at Serena, who was busy staring at him with a mixture of hostility and hunger.

It's almost seven. Are we gonna go out now? Morgan nodded, lifting the leash and clipping it to the collar of the Mightyena. He pulled free of Serena, who spread out over his bed with a lazy hiss of enjoyment.

"I'm gonna go take Jonah out, now. Relax, sleep, and don't eat anything with a pulse." He smiled at the end, as Serena waved with her tail at him.

Only if it doesn't get too close, Morgan, and no promises. He laughed, before petting her head and turning, following Jonah out of the room. He paused to grab an old, frayed tennis ball from the corner table beside the door, turning back to the kitchen.

"I'm taking Jonah out!" He shouted, hearing his parents call back after a few seconds. Opening the door, and letting the canine leave first, he followed, closing it behind himself. Walking down the stairs beside him, Jonah glanced back at the door.

You shouldn't be alone with her. She's dangerous. Morgan sighed, before ruffling the fur between Jonah's ears.

"Jonah, you're a great friend, and you know I haven't forgotten anything with you even after getting Serena. But she's OK. I've never been hurt… Well, OK, never been hurt severely around her. And I'm still walking, still all here." Jonah grunted slightly, before nudging against Morgan's shoulder.

Oh, sure. All that's happened is that she's bitten you once, broke an arm, and almost gave you a lethal dose of venom. Morgan scowled slightly, tightening his grip around the tennis ball.

"She did those by accident. Each and every one of them. And you've seen how she gets when it happens." Jonah grunted, ear twitching slightly.

Yeah, sure. She gets all sad and apologetic, and does nice stuff for a few days. She even ate pokechow after the toxin problem for a week. But it doesn't mean she's changed. She was caught wild, and is still wild. Jonah rolled his eyes, opening the door to the street and stepping out with Jonah, turning towards the beach.

"I got hurt because I was either inexperienced, or did the wrong thing. And look, I'm still here, I'm whole, and the doctors said that the poison she gave me wasn't the worst it could have been. If you have such a problem, tell me what you think. When she bit me?" Jonah was silent for several seconds, before replying.

She attacked another person. You tried to stop her, and she attacked you, bit your arm. There were fang holes down to the bone, you were lucky she had been milked earlier. Morgan nodded slightly.

"Yes. And the girl she attacked had trodden on her tail. She was coiled up, out of the way, and everyone was stepping around her, and she instead stepped on her tail, just above the blade. I stopped her, and used the trick where you push your arm behind the fangs to keep them back securely. I just wasn't fast enough. I remember you snapping at people who trod on your tail." Jonah nodded slightly.

Yes, but I never turned on the person stopping me. Morgan shrugged.

"Yeah. What about the arm?"

She snapped your upper arm like a twig. I saw that she was playing with you, and you pushed her away as she tightened a coil, heard the bone snap. Morgan nodded slightly, before rubbing his left upper arm.

"An accident. She was trying to get a grip on me, and instead of wrapping round my shoulders got my arm. The break was because I pulled away as she pulled too. I was as much at fault as she was. Now, the poison."

You spent a month in the hospital before you were allowed to leave. I don't know where she bit you.

"I was with her at the beach, when a small, private yacht anchored out at sea. Someone on it took a dinghy and came onto the beach, since they couldn't find a way to the docks and wanted directions. They happened to have a Zangoose beside them. I'm sure you can tell where this is going." Jonah was silent for a few minutes before they reached the beach, and he looked down at the sand.

I know what that means… I've heard the warnings you were given about her. But even so, she poisoned you severely. Morgan smiled, before shaking his head.

"Nope. Not severely. She bit me in the thigh and shot me full of paralytic. The Zangoose did worse and twisted free of its Trainer, cutting their side at the same time. I had to watch as they fought, and everyone else ran from the area. She beat it, ate it, spat at the Trainer and came round before dragging me to the Centre for treatment.

It only took three days to flush me of poison, but the rest of the month was letting the bite heal up, with a little help from therapy and Psychic treatment. Everyone knows what happens when a Seviper and Zangoose meet, and this was no exception. I'm just glad she won, because otherwise…" Jonah nodded, before nudging his elbow gently.

I know… And she is still here. But to attack you because you tried to stop a fight is just… Even when I'm chasing a feline, if someone grabs me or blocks me, I don't hurt them. I knock them over, or duck past, but never attack. Morgan grinned, before flicking the tennis ball up in the air, catching it. Immediately, Jonah's eyes locked on to the ball, tracking it with ease.

"I thought you didn't do that. And I hope you let them go." He raised the arm, pelting the ball down the beach as Jonah tore down the sand after it, kicking up clouds of sand as he moved. He caught the ball in mid-air, jumping to grab it before it hit the sand, and jogged back, tail wagging proudly as Morgan took the tennis ball from him.

I do. Sometimes I catch them, sometimes not, but I don't hurt them now. Besides, I can't help it. Seeing a feline go racing past just brings it to the front and I'm after them. Morgan nodded, petting the canine.

"Yes, barking howling and raising hell as you do in the busy streets." He threw the ball again, watching as Jonah ran after it and walking along the sand. By now, most people had returned to their homes, so it was free for people walking Pokémon to do as they wanted. There were several others there, with Poochyena or Zigzagoon, and one person was walking by the shoreline as another Mightyena prowled through the shallows.

Not my fault the damn felines keep to the busy areas. Morgan smiled, petting Jonah and taking the ball from him.

"Maybe. At least there aren't any here now. A felines worst day; stuck between you, or cold salt water." Jonah chuckled slightly, glancing towards the other Mightyena, who was staring towards part of the shallows.

"A friend of yours?" Jonah shook his head, still watching.

No. I knew about the Poochyena here, but never knew a second Mightyena was in the city. Not many people have Poochyenas, since they need a lot of exercise, so in a big city like this we can be a problem. Word spreads when someone evolves. Morgan nodded, as the Mightyena lunged forwards in a spray of water, coming back up with a Magikarp in the mouth, held between the front teeth. The faint sound of shouting came from the owner, who was waving wildly at the Pokémon. It shook its head slightly, before tossing the Magikarp back, watching it flop weakly in shoulder-deep water before finally splashing away.

"Looks like it's either an early evolution, or just a playful Mightyena in general." Jonah nodded, before nudging Morgan. He smiled, before raising his arm and throwing the ball down the beach. Jonah started down the sand, chasing it, when a second flurry of movement from his side revealed itself as the other Mightyena, chasing down the ball. Jonah grabbed it as the other Mightyena leaned it, taking a grip as well, and pulling back.

Morgan started running towards them both, the other person running over as well, when Jonah let out a low, rumbling growl. He stood up, fully, and looked down with a glare at the other Mightyena. The ears, now visible at a close distance, flopped backwards as it let go, dropping to its front paws where it had been lifted up by Jonah, who tossed the ball to Morgan.

"Hey! Stop that!" Morgan glanced over at the other trainer, seeing a girl around his age running over and stepping between Jonah and the other Mightyena, which had lowered its head and was whining slightly.

"Jonah, you can stop now, OK?" Morgan placed a hand on his back, rubbing slightly as Jonah growled one last time, turning away. Morgan tossed him the ball, watching as it was snatched from the air and Jonah lay down on the sand, gnawing on the ball.

"Sorry about that. He doesn't usually react in such a way to others." The girl scowled slightly, tossing a handful of hair out from in front of her face over her shoulder.

Looking at her, Morgan saw a teenage girl, perhaps a year younger than he was; her hair was black, with a streak of azure across the front of the left side; it was this particular streak that she had thrown over her shoulder, reaching down to just below her shoulders. Her skin was pale on her feet, but the rest had the bronzed tan of someone who regularly visits a beach. She was wearing a sea green, body hugging vest over a pair of dull silver shorts. Her feet were bare, and dusted with sand, while grey eyes bored into his own.

"And? It doesn't matter what he's usually like, but what he was. Luke wasn't hurting him, but playing!" Morgan blinked, before glancing at the Mightyena beside her, rubbing his head against her side as she stroked his neck.

"Luke… Huh. OK. Well, uh, sorry. We've never seen another Mightyena, at least not one who is owned by someone else in the city, so… Well, just… Sorry." The girl frowned slightly, staring at him.

"What are you talking about Morgan? We see each other five times a week at least. You're always sat with the Seviper who won't shut up about food." Morgan frowned this time, shaking his head.

"Sorry. I don't really recognise you…" The girl sighed, smirking, before looking at him.

"Alright. How about now?" She turned her back to him, leaning forwards on one arm that was resting on Luke.

"Oh! Beverly! Sorry, I didn't… I just… I've never really seen your face…" She turned round, laughing, before smiling at him.

"No problem. That's the thing with sitting at the front; no one really sees my face. I also have to dodge chalk that's aimed at you or your Pokémon for slacking off in class." Morgan nodded slightly, glancing towards Jonah who was still chewing on a now soaking wet tennis ball.

"Sorry, again. I guess since your Pokémon is a guy, Jonah didn't feel like sharing at all… Jonah. Next time, don't be so stubborn. You can share that ball." Jonah growled slightly, looking up at him with one eye. Morgan sighed, shaking his head, before looking back at Beverly.

"Sorry about that. Still, I didn't know you had a Mightyena." Beverly nodded slightly, petting Luke, who was sniffing at Morgan curiously.

"He evolved yesterday. Until now, he's been at my side when I'm at my desk, so you couldn't see him there. I guess he'll be sitting at my side and more visible now." Morgan nodded, reaching out and gently stroking Luke, who licked his hand in greeting.

Hi! Morgan smiled, continuing to pet him.

"Hey there." Luke pressed against his hand, rubbing back against it.

You go to the same place as Beverly. I know you! Morgan chuckled slightly at the Pokémon's excitable demeanour.

"He's excitable, huh? Is he still young?" Beverly nodded, as Luke pressed his nose against Morgan and took a deep sniff.

Where's your snake? Did you get rid of her? Is he your new Pokémon? He's mean. Morgan smiled, petting him more as his tail furiously wagged, blurring it into one wide tail.

"I left her at home, she's sleeping. I haven't gotten rid of her, and this is my old Pokémon, specifically my pet. He's not mean, he just doesn't share." Beverly smiled slightly, before looking at Morgan.

"He evolved yesterday, so yeah, he's still a little excitable and energetic. Plus, he's always been that way. When he was a pup, he would wake at five in the morning, wake us with puppy antics and keep going into ten at night. He wouldn't stop; he would pause to eat, drink and stuff, then keep going. When he slept, he would be running, and then just drop and slide on the floor to a stop, snoring." Morgan grinned, glancing back at Jonah.

"We had it similar. Jonah would stop for rests sometimes, but pretty much he was the same. Play, eat, drink, repeat, until he collapsed asleep. He used to find a spot to curl up in, though, and the most annoying one possible. He slept in the washing machine, under the beds, on the beds, in the sofa if he had time to work between the cushions…" Jonah glanced up at him, snorting in a derisive manner.

I was not that bad. I slept in my bed, or at the foot of yours and your parents every now and again. Morgan nodded, looking back to Beverly.

"He was. Don't listen to his excuses." Luke nudged Morgan, panting excitedly and lapped over his face. Morgan laughed, pushing back the excitable canine, then looked at Beverly.

"So, what do you know about those of us Nurse Joy is gonna test to see if we're ready to leave?" Beverly wrapped her arms around Luke's neck at the base, pulling him back with a little effort.

"I know that I'm up for it, and you must be too, since we've both been there a year. I'm guessing either we battle Nurse Joy, or she watches us battle each other; that is, those who are being tested. She'll probably do a grading system for it too, so there's a lot of pressure. I know a couple of those who are for being tested, and are at their houses cramming and training." Morgan nodded, petting Luke and turning back to Jonah.

"Come on, Jonah. Either share the ball, or give it up so I can throw it again." Jonah stood, raising up and dropping the ball into Morgan's hand with a faint 'slap' or saliva-soaked ball hitting flesh. He turned, tossing the ball down the beach as Jonah raced after it, and grinned at Beverly.

"How well can you throw a ball?" Beverly shrugged, watching as Jonah snapped it out of the air and began jogging back.

"Not sure. I tend to use one of the plastic ball holders so I don't get a drool-coated hand from it, so I'll have to give it a whirl." Morgan smiled, taking the ball again and placing it in Beverly's hand.

"Give it a throw. I have an idea." Beverly grimaced as saliva ran between her fingers, but turned and threw the ball. It didn't go as far as Morgan's throw did, but far enough that Jonah had to run for several seconds. Luke whined, straining against Beverly's arm.

"OK, Beverly. Let Luke go, and run down to where you threw it. I'll step closer a little, and we'll through it back and forth; let them both exercise together." Beverly nodded slightly, releasing Luke as Jonah arrived back, running down the beach to where the ball had been intercepted.

"OK, guys, ready?" Morgan rubbed the ball against his jeans, wiping it clean, and tossed it down the beach. Beverly caught it, flinching slightly at Jonah snapped for the ball.

"Jonah! Stop that! Let her play, and be nice!" Jonah glanced back, ears flicking in annoyance, before he turned back to Beverly and lookedat her. He gave her a quick lick to the cheek, before she grinned, only to be knocked over as Luke pounced on her. He teased her hand open, grabbing the ball and running as Jonah darted after him.

Morgan ran over, helping her up as Beverly laughed, brushing sand from her front and face.

"It's been a while since he did that. I guess he really is having fun with Jonah now they're getting on." Morgan nodded, watching as Jonah tackled Luke and pinned him down. He took a step forwards, before Jonah snatched the ball into his own mouth and turned, running. Luke lay there for several seconds, before darting up and running after him.

"Heh. Look at that, he learned to share and play." Beverly nodded, before glancing at him.

"Hey, Morgan… What's up with the white stripe on his leg?" Morgan looked towards Jonah, before facing Beverly.

"When he was a Poochyena and I first got Serena, she tried to eat him. That mark is where her tail slashed his leg, poisoning the wound. We got him healed up, but the fur that grows through is bleached of colour now. They don't get on well, but they aren't at each other's throats." Beverly nodded, glancing around.

"And you left… Serena..? At home?" Morgan nodded.

"Yeah… She had a late lunch, so stayed at home to sleep under a heat lamp so she's ready for tomorrow. I had to tell her to, actually… The last thing we need is her getting hit and puking it up over someone, or another Pokemon; if her stomach is full when she pukes, there's going to be a lot of corrosion on that person or Pokémon before we get them cleaned off…" Beverly shuddered slightly.

"How do you know?" Morgan shrugged, glancing around.

"About… seven months ago. A Zangoose came here with the Trainer when I was out with Serena." Beverly's eyes widened, a hand raising over her mouth.

"I tried to stop her fighting and got poisoned with a paralytic, but I saw that she won and ate the Zangoose. It took her ten minutes to get me to the Centre for treatment. At about… Fifteen minutes after eating, she was forced to cough it up in case it could be saved. It wasn't pretty, and there's a patch of paler tiles which were doused at the same time." Beverly nodded slightly, shuddering again.

"You seem to always be in hospital." Morgan chuckled slightly, before nodding.

"Yeah, well, it took a while for me and Serena to get used to each other. She had to learn to moderate her strength, I had to learn how to handle her safely when she gets in a rage. She also gets angry when she has to be milked, which needs to happen every other month so we can get a fresh anti-toxin made." Beverly looked at him curiously.

"I thought anti-toxins lasted for a few years."

"They do. But she's a tricky Seviper; all snake Pokémon have several venoms they can use, and it takes a while for them to change the toxin. For safety, she normally keeps a paralytic in her glands in case I get nicked by her, but whenever we form an anti-toxin she alters the one her tail secretes, so it becomes worthless. If I get bit, or catch on her fangs, I can get cured. If she's fighting, she uses her tail, a more potent paralytic." Beverly looked over at Luke, who was standing on Jonah, barking happily.

"I guess we had better get back to them two, then." Morgan nodded as Luke took the ball, running away happily.

XOXOXOXOXO

Morgan glanced at the sky, seeing a rich tapestry of dark oranges and reds, tinted with plum-purple edges, spreading from the sinking sun. The ocean was reflecting the sky, two identical surfaces mirroring and edging to the point that they met, a half-disk of sun still visible. He was leaning back against Jonah's side, feeling the ribs behind him expanding as he breathed. Beverly, at his side, was in the reverse; she was sitting up, Luke slumped over her legs as she stroked a hand across his side.

"It's getting late, huh? We should probably be getting back now." Morgan nodded, looking around the beach. All the others walking their Pokémon had left a while ago, leaving them both free to play with the two Mightyenas as they wanted.

"It's amazing, isn't it… How we still have Pokémon…" Morgan looked over at Beverly, an eyebrow cocked curiously.

"How do you mean?" Beverly shrugged, ruffling the fur on Luke's hea as she thought it through.

"Well… We're humans. We're not really a threat to Pokémon on our own, at most an equal, and Pokémon are much more able to live in harmony with nature that humans. Considering how Pokémon can be dangerous to humans as well, injuring us often, rarely to a lethal level…" Morgan nodded slightly, understanding her point.

"Maybe. But there's always a good reason. The kids bitten by a canine had been teasing it, getting scratched was due to rough play, chasing was from teasing the Pokémon… The only thing that really suits what you mean are… Well… Poison types, and ones like Slugma or Absol." Beverly frowned at him, slowing her strokes as she did so.

"Absol don't cause problems."

"True, but they're so closely interlinked from their ability that people assume they're one and the same. I mean, it is the Disaster Pokémon… They tried warning settlements, and they were blamed; people see the two as one and the same." Beverly shrugged, before looking at the sunset.

"Who'd have thought it… I came out to walk Luke and play, and instead end up discussing ethical problems with you." Morgan smiled slightly, before looking out at the sunset as well.

"…It's late enough now… If we've got this test ahead of us, then we should probably get back and rest up. Besides… I need to go make sure Serena didn't eat any pets while she was waiting." Beverly laughed, pushing Luke off and standing.

"Come on, she can't be that bad." Morgan stood, shaking his head slightly as Jonah rose as well.

"I'm serious. She has a bad habit of eating pets if the two of them are alone for too long… She tried eating Jonah, remember, and she's eaten other Pokémon from peoples teams, so don't put anything past her." He turned, walking up the beach, Beverly quickly following with Luke.

"Wait. But how is she… Well… Still on your team...? I thought if Pokémon were too feral they were released, or if dangerous… Well…" Morgan looked back at her, before grinning.

"Relax. She only does it for one of two reasons. First, if I'm being harmed by it she'll use lethal force. And second, if it's a Zangoose. Of course, I could say when she's hungry, but since that's all the time…" Beverly smiled, nodding, before looking ahead.

"Alright. As long as it's safe to hang about with you." Morgan nodded, petting Jonah's back slightly.

"What, you thought she would eat you for being a friend? I mean, well, someone who's hanging out with me. You'll be fine. If she gets curious, just be ready. She doesn't have much concept for what she calls 'human' interaction. Basically she'll get right up in your face, smell you, maybe lick you, and then decide if she likes you. Very reptilian of her. You can get her to change her opinion, but it takes actions not words." Beverly nodded, before glancing to the side.

"This is my building. Thanks for the tips, Morgan. See you tomorrow, then. And, yes, you can call me a friend." She grinned, walking towards the apartment building as Morgan smiled, waving back.

You know that she's going to shed her skin in anger when you get back, Morgan. Morgan grinned, walking again.

"Oh, come on. She should know her scent, even if we never talked much out of school. And why would she over-react, anyway?"

XOXOXOXOXO

Morgan closed the apartment door as Jonah padded past, yawning widely, and approached the door to his parent's bedroom, nudging it open and passing through. Jonah smiled, before locking the door and walking to his bedroom, opening the door. Immediately, a barrage of scaled coils launched at him, latching on with a position securing grip.

What took you so long-… Morgan blinked, frowning as Serena looked him over, tongue flicking out slightly. She leaned in towards his head, scenting the air close to his skin, before uncoiling.

You've been with a female! Morgan sat up, sighing.

"Serena, I have not-… Wait. What do you mean, 'been'..?" Serena nudged him, a mischievous glint in her eyes.

You know what I mean, Morgan. Been. Hey, when you two were together, are you like a male snake? You know, with two- Morgan grabbed her muzzle, holding it shut and glaring.

"Finish that question, and I will see to it that you never eat fresh meat again. I have not 'been' with a female. I met a classmate, and we walked and talked together for a while. Furthermore, we both had Mightyena, so we had to stand close as hers is young and excitable. Just because her scent rubbed off on me, does not mean we have 'been' together." Serena frowned, pulling away.

Then how come you smell of her so strong? Morgan shrugged, before standing. He stretched, spine popping slightly, before walking into his bedroom.

"I don't know. Maybe because we were walking for a couple hours, and we laid down and talked for a time?" He pulled off his shirt, throwing it into the washing basket in the corner and sitting on his bed. Serena hooked her tail onto the door handle, pulling it closed enough she couldn't see into the room.

Oh, so what did you talk about? Morgan rolled his eyes, tugging his jeans free and throwing them into the basket as well.

"Why are you so curious, all of a sudden, Serena? You do know she's just a friend…" There was a huff from behind the door, followed by silence for a while. Morgan grinned, grabbing his pyjamas from under the pillow and pulling on the top.

I'm not curious. But I never knew you to have such a strong scent of female on your body. Morgan nodded, pulling his pyjama bottoms on and tugging of his socks.

"You can come in now. And that still isn't a reason to assume." Serena nudged the door open, moving over and pushing against his stomach. She nuzzled his shirt up, pressing her muzzle against his skin, tongue flicking over his torso.

Well, I can scent that you didn't do anything… And taste it. You don't have that scent for mating around you. Besides, you aren't sweaty. Don't humans get sweaty when they exert their selves? Morgan smiled, pushing her head back and pulling his top down again.

"It depends on the level of exertion, but pretty much. Now stop tasting and smelling me, so I can sleep." Serena nuzzled his arm as Morgan laid on top of his bed, covers left beneath him, and Serena slid up beside him, layering herself over the bed and Morgan, head on the pillow beside him. There was a slight click as her fangs folded up.

"Should I be worried that you're doing that?" Serena nuzzled him, closing her eyes and relaxing as Morgan rubbed her back.

No. But I don't wanna bite you in the night or something by mistake. At most, I'll either chew your shoulder or eat your pillow, and even then it will only be if I get hungry. Morgan smirked, prodding her nose with a finger.

"It that's true, then we're gonna top and tail tonight. I don't feel like waking up with a shoulder drenched in drool." Serena smirked, before nuzzling up to him and relaxing.

I'm kidding. I just hate putting holes in your pillow, because the filling gets out and it irritates me. Morgan grinned. Before closing his eyes and relaxing as well.

"As I've said. You need to work on your humour, or your kidding, with people… Besides, if it did happen, you wouldn't stop at my shoulder. Now go to sleep so we're not tired tomorrow. We've a tough battle to do, if my guess is right…" Serena laughed slightly, before nodding.

Fine, fine… As long as I get to eat a good meal tomorrow after the fight. I'm almost empty now, and fighting gets my appetite up. Morgan sighed, shaking his head.

"Everything gets your appetite up. Even eating. Now sleep."