A Poisoning of the Heart
Hey, welcome again! So, chapter three is now here. I know some of you are probably starting to wonder when it will actually begin, but don't worry, because I promise it is nearly here, OK? Just hold out for a little longer! So, please, be patient and R&R!
XOXOXOXOXO
"Speech"=Talking
Speech=Translated Poketalk
Speech=Telepathy
*Speech*=Thoughts
Morgan started awake with a yawn and an alarm beeping profusely. He groaned, shaking his head and reaching over to the bedside table to slam a palm onto the clock, turning off the alarm. He sat up, yawning again and stretched, before standing. Scratching his head, he crossed the room and left, entering the bathroom and standing in front of the toilet.
He paused, blinking several times, before looking to the side as he started to relieve himself. Staring back at him, curled up in the bath, Serena looked up and smiled.
Morning. There passed several seconds of them staring at each other, silent but for the sound of water splashing, before Morgan yelled and stepped backwards out of the bathroom, furiously pulling up his pyjamas. Serena laughed, looking out after him.
What are you doing? Morgan glared at her, pointing at her.
"What am I doing?! What are you doing? Why are you hiding in the bathroom? Why are you even awake? Normally I have to drag you out of bed and under a heat lamp!" Serena rolled her eyes, slithering over to him and nuzzling.
I got hungry in the night. I got a snack, and figured you would like it if I washed off before getting back into bed. I fell asleep under the hot water, and woke to cold. I turned it off, and didn't have the energy to move back to bed so slept in the bathtub. I woke to your alarm and I guess I was waiting for you. Morgan stared at her, mouth open slightly, before blinking.
"I… You…" He turned away, walking across the room and peering into his parents bedroom, sighing in relief as he saw that Jonah was asleep at the base of the bed.
"OK. Next time, wake me up or something, Serena…" He looked over at her, before crossing and running a hand over her body, stroking down her scales.
"I can't feel anything solid… Looks like you'll be fine to fight today. If you cough up bone though, I swear, there is nothing I will be able to do to keep you safe." Serena nodded, nuzzling him again, before heading towards the bedroom.
I'll go rest under the heat lamp for a while. Go finish up your silly little human markings. I don't know why you only mark that room, since you have a nest that's entirely free for the taking. Besides, your parents are disputing you for it. Morgan frowned, before groaning and shaking his head, entering the bathroom again.
"They're not disputing me for it, they're-… Serena, just… Don't mark it out in my bedroom as your territory or whatever. I don't want the air to be stinking of Serena." He closed the door, before sighing, and turning on the shower. Feeling the water he groaned, before stripping his pyjamas off and flushing the toilet.
"Great. A cold shower…"
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Stepping into the Centre, Morgan looked around before crossing to Beverly. Luke, sat by her side, bounded over as he saw them, tail blurring with movement.
Hi! Hi, Morgan! Where's Jonah? Morgan smiled, petting the energetic canine as he leaned past to sniff at Serena.
"He's at home. This is Serena, my Seviper. I'd recommend that you keep your nose to yourself around her, she's prone to biting." Serena shot Morgan a withering glare, turning it upon Luke as he nudged her.
Get that nose off of me, mutt. Morgan sighed, wrapping an arm around her head and holding her mouth shut before dragging her towards Beverly.
"Hey, Beverly. Ready for today?" She smiled, nodding as Morgan released Serena, who immediately flicked her tongue towards Beverly.
Hey, you're that human that I could scent on Morgan. Is the Mightyena yours? Beverly nodded, reaching out to stroke her. Serena snapped at her hand, hissing, before leaning up and staring her in the eyes. Beverly backed up slightly, as Serena followed.
"Morgan..? Is… This normal..?" Morgan nodded, stepping along beside Serena.
"Sure, she's getting a measure of you. As long as you don't do anything to get her mad, you should be fine." Serena slid forwards, forming a loose loop around Beverly's ankles, the coil stopping her moving before flicking her tongue out. She slid it over Beverly's cheek, hissing quietly, before opening her mouth, closing it and moving back to Morgan.
"Well, I think she likes you." Morgan patted Serena, while a significantly paler Beverly looked over at him. Luke moved to her side, glaring at Serena and growling quietly.
"Likes me..? As a friend, or a meal..?" Morgan grabbed Serena's tongue as she opened her mouth to speak, pulling lightly and shutting her jaws.
"Well, like is a strong word. I suppose I should say she accepts you. She was basically testing you for courage and stuff. How well you stand up to a threat. I guess if it helps, you can think of it as the reptilian version of when two canines sniff each other. Remember, they base their feelings for others on what actions they do, not who they are. You did better than most." Serena nodded, nudging Morgan, who let go of her tongue.
Yeah, don't compare me to a mutt. She didn't stand up well to a threat, backing up like a prey, I mean like a coward, but she stared the danger I posed down into the floor. I guess she's OK. Most people cry or scream at the last part, or try to run.
"That's because they think you want to eat them when you yawn in their face. They don't know you're testing them. And I've told you to find another way than that, because the last thing we need is someone taking it the wrong way." Serena rolled her eyes, before looking towards Luke.
Stop growling, mutt, you're not scaring anyone. If you want to scare someone then do it properly. Luke blinked, his growl tapering off, before tilting his head in confusion and moving from a crouch into a seated position.
What? How? Serena chuckled, before looking towards Morgan and winking. His eyes widened, before she turned back to Luke and twisted her head, cracking her neck with a twist of her head.
In a flash, she had lunged forwards and wrapped round Luke, pinning his limbs to his belly and tilting his head up and back. Her head was over his, leering and fangs out, small beads of venom dripping down onto his neck as the blade of her tail pressed against his underbelly.
Morgan reached over, slapping her across the snout and Serena recoiled, starting. He slapped her again, and Serena hissed as she uncurled from Luke, rubbing her snout against a coil. Luke scrambled up, darting behind Beverly with a whimper as she wrapped her arms round him.
"No. Don't ever do that. I don't care if it was a demonstration, Serena. I've had a crappy morning because of you using up all the hot water, and I am not in the mood for your games. Behave yourself, for this one day, or I swear…" Serena looked up at him, before nodding slightly and rubbing her snout again.
OK… He sighed, pinching the brow of his nose and looked at Beverly.
"I'm really, really sorry about that. She has no idea about personal space, or where the line is for behaviour. If I wasn't able to keep track of her, she'd probably have been in a much worse situation than by now. Is he OK?" Beverly nodded, stroking Luke's back, glancing towards Serena, who was curled up with her snout tucked under a coil.
"Yeah, he's fine… Are you sure you're able to control her..?" Morgan nodded, glancing around slightly.
"Yeah. She's a handful, and I can't let myself get sloppy with her. The problem isn't her, it's the fact that she has trouble bridging the gap between reptile and mammal. I'm trying to get her to understand, though." The door to the Centre slid open, and Morgan glanced over as several other people entered the Centre, various Pokémon following their trainers.
"Looks like we're not the only two in here for testing. I wonder how this will happen?" Beverly shrugged, before checking the clock above the desk.
"Not sure. But it's coming up for the time we were told to be here by…" At this point, the reception of the Centre was filled with the sound of conversation, and Morgan looked over at the others.
"I don't recognise many people here. Think some of them are from the other classes she teaches?" Brianne shrugged, before looking at Serena.
"If you promise to not hurt anyone, on purpose or accident, then you can go talk to people. Any trouble, and I put you in your ball." Serena nodded slightly, before slithering across the room and towards a Roselia standing beside a Trainer.
"If she's so much trouble why keep her?" Morgan glanced at Beverly, a hard look in his eyes, before glancing at Luke.
"If he growled at everyone who approached, and tried to bite them or attack, would you give him up?" Beverly shook her head, petting Luke, who nuzzled her hand.
"No. I'd keep him away from others, and try to work something out to help him." Morgan nodded, before gesturing to Serena.
"Well, I have the same thing for her. She was my first Pokémon, I've known her for over a year, and we've learnt a lot from each other. Besides, if she had any other Trainer she'd either be released or worse by now. Poison types are, by nature, hard to control, and the fact that most people have a dislike for them doesn't help." Beverly sighed, nodding slightly, before glancing up as the doors opened again and Nurse Joy stepped in, looking at them all. A silence filled the room, as Pokémon moved back beside their trainers side.
"Good, you're here. We'll start testing, then. Because of this being an active test, we will proceed based upon type. If you have a dual-type then you shall have to pass the test for both types. First, the Grass types. Everyone else, wait here." She walked out of the centre, several people trailing after her, those left behind sitting or leaning on the wall and talking nervously.
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Morgan sighed, before looking about. The only people left were him and the guy who had a Roselia, everyone else having finished and left. Most had left ginning, or happy. The occasional few had instead left with treated and bandaged injuries, or in tears. He glanced over as the doors slid open, and Nurse Joy entered with Beverly and another guy. Following them, was Luke and a Sableye.
"Alright, you two can go home. Morgan, Kyle, you're up. Testing with Poison-types." Morgan stood, shaking Serena from her doze and walked over to Joy, before Beverly placed a hand on his shoulder.
"Good luck." She sat on one of the chairs, leaning back as Luke padded over to sit beside her. She stretched, yawning, before petting him slowly. Morgan swallowed nervously, following Joy. She led them out of the city, up north and onto he route, before looking at them.
"Alright. Today you're getting tested. That will consist of several stages. There will be, and not in this order: battling, dietary needs, health care, biological functions and antivenoms. In order to see if this is possible for you to pass, there are a series of Trainers that I contacted. They're waiting at set locations within the forest for you. To prevent problems, you will be going in opposite directions from each other. The testing areas are linked through rope that spans the gap between areas. Off you go. Morgan, that way. Kyle, this way." Casting a glance at Kyle, then looking towards Serena, Morgan turned and headed along the route that was pointed out to him.
Hey, Morgan, what do you think she means by biological functions? Morgan shrugged, placing a hand on the rope and walking beside it through the trees.
"Who knows? If I had to guess I'd say what it sounds like. How your body works. It would probably be stuff like what types of Pokechow to buy you, how often to feed you. Maybe some stuff on caring for your health and scales, and how to assist during a skin shedding. But some of that may be under health care, so we'll see." Serena nodded, looking about, before lifting her head and scenting the air.
There's a person ahead of us. Not sure how close they are. Maybe a minute or so of walking. Morgan nodded, continuing to walk along the rope. After a minute and a half, they entered a clearing in the trees. Standing there, waiting for them, was a guy who stood beside a table with several different groupings of pokechow.
Ugh… Morgan placed a hand over her mouth, shushing her, before walking up to the guy who nodded at him.
"Hey there. You must be Morgan and Serena. I'm Drake, Nurse Joy asked me to come in and help with the testing today. I'll be covering the dietary needs section. So, first up, what do you know already?" Morgan shrugged slightly, glancing at Serena.
"Well… Do you mean wild diet, or what she eats now..?" Serena chuckled slightly, as Drake replied.
"Wild is fair enough, but I was asking more about the needs of a tame Seviper. So, what I want to know is this. How often should she be fed? What amount should she be fed? And then, what type of Pokechow should she be fed?"
None-Mpph! Morgan wrapped his hands round her muzzle, squeezing it shut with a nervous laugh.
"She's just trying to be funny… Ignore her. Uh… Let me see. She should be fed daily, either in two portions at morning and at evening, or fed in one large portion in the morning, with the total amount being enough that it satisfies her energy requirements. The amount itself depends on her age and size, but for a nineteen year old female, who's roughly a foot shorter than fully mature, I'd say it's about… a kilo of food a day? Maybe a kilo and a half?" Drake nodded, before glancing towards a fuming Serena.
"I'd say so. Maybe you should drop it from a kilo and a half to just a kilo. I'd say you're feeding her too much, she seems a little overweight." Serena's eyes snapped towards his, and Morgan's face drained of all colour as a threatening hiss rose from her.
"No, no no, he didn't say you were fat Serena, calm down-" Drake hands shot up as Serena's tail stabbed towards him, his hands grabbing her just below the blade, the point aimed towards his face. Serena twisted her head free, shouting at him as Morgan wrapped her arms around her neck.
Did you just call me fat?! I am not fat! I eat healthier than any other 'tame' Seviper that is out there! I'd be able to eat that crap you humans call food and still wouldn't gain weight- Morgan grabbed her head from behind, ramming an arm through her mouth; his forearm was behind her fangs, lodged in the corners of her mouth and his other hand reached over the top of her head, latched onto her upper jaw.
"Serena! Down! Lower your tail or I lock you in your ball!" He pulled back, stretching her out as she continued to flail her blade at Drake. Once fully stretched out Morgan tugged, and her tail pinged free as Drake scrambled backwards.
"I said stop- Oh, hell with this!" He reached into his pocket, pulling out a Pokeball and tapped it to her head, recalling Serena. He quickly pressed the button, holding it in for several seconds, before there was a beep and an automated voice.
"Pokeball safety lock engaged." He sighed, pocketing it, and looked towards Drake.
"I'm so sorry about that. I've never seen her act like that before…" He walked over, helping Drake to his feet, who rapidly ran his hands over himself and sighed in relief.
"Thankfully she didn't cut me. How do you deal with that?" Morgan shrugged, before looking around.
"No idea. I've never had such trouble… Well. Not like that. She's tried to defend herself from people who hurt her, sure, but that was a valid attack. This time… I know she's touchy about her weight, but even so… She's never snapped at someone like that. Uh… Is that a fail? Should I go back..?" Drake shook his head, glancing to the table.
"No… Not yet. For now, finish it up. Since she's in there, as I was saying, she needs to cut down her eating."
"I know. She likes to snack between meals. I tell her she's going to get pudgy, and she acts like she listens but doesn't act on it. No-one's ever told her outright she's going to be fat, though, until now. I'll need to make sure I let the others she sees about that… Are you sure you're OK?" Drake nodded, waving a hand at him.
"Yeah, she didn't get me. But do you have her milked? An anti-venom?" Morgan nodded slightly, before sighing and facepalming.
"She gets milked but she changes her toxins every few months, so we need a consistent supply of the anti-venom. But I left it at home. I know some of the natural curatives, though, but they aren't always growing." Drake nodded slightly, before looking towards the table.
"Alright. Final part. Several samples of Pokechow, various samples, pick the right one, and you're good." Morgan walked over to the table, glancing across the different samples. They all had the same, roughly cylindrical look of dried food; however, minor differences were present, such as the shade of colour or the edges revealing exposed contents such as dried berry or other, less familiar parts.
"Uh… OK… So, for a Seviper, none of the berry ones, those are herbivore… I guess that leaves me two… So, I would say… This one..?" Morgan gestured towards a sample, cringing as Drake raised an eyebrow.
"Are you answering me, or guessing?" Morgan shrugged lightly, before nodding.
"Answering. This one." Drake nodded at him, before gesturing across the clearing.
"Alright. On to the next test. There's one other guy, so he's probably going the other way. Hurry up." Morgan nodded, walking across the clearing and finding a metal peg with rope tied to it. Following the rope, he walked for several minutes before reaching the next clearing.
Standing in the centre was another guy, a table beside him as well, who looked over with a nod. The table had several items; a bowl, a small brush, a palm-sized rounded stone and several samples of plants.
"You're the one with the Seviper. Where is it?" Morgan tapped the ball on his belt, keeping his finger away from the button.
"Here, she had a… Slight anger problem… How did you know I had Serena?" The guy grinned at him, offering a hand as Morgan approached and shook.
"Because we were told to expect two poison types, a Seviper and Roselia. Since we saw the Roselia before, during the Grass-type sessions, I know that Trainer, and you aren't him. This area is all about health care. I'll be covering how to keep your Pokémon clean, safe, healthy, and what to do if they get ill." He turned, approaching the table and lifting the bowl.
"This is pretty much what a reptile wants. Most can bath in water, but it can be a problem if they can't get dry soon after since they're cold blooded and can get really low body temperatures, so most reptiles have these. A dust bath." He passed the bowl to Morgan, who took it, looking in to see it was mostly full of a light brown, very fine powder.
"Of course, dust is misleading, since really it's a very fine dirt layer; generally what settles on top of the floor. Others use sand, but a Seviper would be a dust bath species. They would roll on the floor and use their yellow scales to kick up a cloud, which can be used to clean their scales. Let her out, she's show you." Morgan hesitated, before lifting the ball and aiming it away from them towards the open area in the clearing.
A red light speared forwards, forming Serena, who had her tail extended. She looked around, focusing on Morgan and slithered over, hissing angrily.
Where is he? I'll show him I'm not fat! Morgan sighed, before gesturing back over his shoulder.
"We've moved to the next area now. We're in the place for health care. So far I've learned that the whole time you've had a bath, it should actually have been in dust not water." Serena glanced past him at the guy, before moving over and looking into the bowl.
Oh, OK. I haven't had one of these since… Well, before your dad caught me. She dipped her head in, puffing air out and billowing a cloud of dust up over herself. Lifting her head, she turned and rubbed it against her side happily.
"So… How does this get you clean?" Serena glanced up at him, before resuming the rubbing of dust across her back.
It's easy. The dust is fine, so it gets into the cracks and under the edges of my scales. It works free on its own, but while it does it also carries out any bits I don't want there like stone fragments, grass, and stuff. Kinda like what water does, but less likely to make me cold. It also acts to dull the shine on my fangs and blade when I hunt. Morgan placed a hand on her head, rubbing lightly.
"When you used to hunt, that is." He grinned slightly, before looking up at the guy.
"Hey, uh… I never asked, what's your name? I'm Morgan." He held out his hand as the guy grinned, shaking it with gusto.
"I'm Matt. Good to meet you. So, anyway, the brush would be used with the dust to keep her clean and to buff her scales; keeping them slightly rough, but still clean and shiny since it will balance the ability to grip and reflect personal hygiene at the same time." He passed the brush to Morgan, a small hand-sized brush with soft bristles. He glanced at Serena, before rubbing the brush over her side.
"You'll be there for a while, so the brush is mostly used by those who enter contests as a buffing tool. Battlers and League challengers rarely use the brush, and instead prefer the whetstone." He lifted the rounded stone, passing it to Morgan as well; a rounded lump of rock, deceptively light and full of holes.
"Pumice?" Matt nodded, and tapped the rock.
"Yeah. If you want to battle, you'll be using that on her fangs and tail blade. In the wild, a Seviper would normally sharpen the fangs on a rock, then the tail blade so that they always have something ready to fight with. Tame Seviper sometimes do that, but since they might not be in an area with rocks during the travel, a lump of pumice is best kept for them." Serena nudged the pumice, grabbing it in her mouth and lifting her tail blade, running it along the edge.
Huh. So I can keep sharp wherever I go? Great! Morgan tugged the pumice free, before looking towards the table.
"So, what are the plants?" Matt nodded, before gesturing towards them.
"These are plants that have a medicinal purpose for Seviper. Most other Pokémon would find them hard to digest, or even poisonous, but because of her typing these are actually beneficial. Their systems can also absorb the toxins harmlessly, and the glands filter the blood free before storing for when they bite or slash." Serena slid over to the table, tongue flicking out at the plants curiously, before she picked one up. It had short, round and stunted leaves growing, but had a tough and hardy look.
Oh, wow, these are Spinda Leaves! I haven't had these since I was caught! Morgan frowned, walking over and taking the plant in hand. It had a course, stiff feeling, thousands of tiny hairs over it brushing his skin.
"Oh, so she picked up that one? Let me see… Uh, the name for that is Green Folly. It can be poisonous if eaten, or burnt. I can't remember where is got that name though." Morgan placed the plant down again, glancing towards Matt.
"It earned that name because it grows from the cracks in a rock face. The hairs on it are the reason Seviper eat it, they help with indigestion and stomach pains. People used it for fuel in camp fires and as food seasoning, before they realised it was poisonous to humans. Green Folly, because they assumed a green plant that was eaten couldn't be dangerous. It's in one of my books." Matt grinned at him, before gesturing to the table.
"Alright. That's pretty cool. So what about the rest? I don't really need a back story, as cool as those are, though. Just a name and why they're used by poison types. I got a couple of things there from various places in the region, too." Morgan brushed the plants apart, separating them, before Serena pushed her head beneath his arm to look.
I don't recognise all of these. Weird… Morgan patted her head, before glancing towards the Green Folly.
"Hey, what did you call that one again?" Serena looked at it, before turning to him again.
Spinda Leaves. We call them that because the leaves kinda look like a Spinda's ears, especially since they grow in pairs. That, and the fact that someone would need them after hunting a Spinda. Hard enough to catch, harder on the stomach… Morgan sighed, before looking at her.
"I'm guessing that you didn't care about that and still ate them, huh?" Serena nodded, hissing her stuttering laugh, before turning to the plants again.
Uh… Let me see… This table has Spinda Leaves, Rockscale, Lunagrowth, and Riverweed. That's all I know… Morgan picked up the three others she named, looking them over curiously.
"Rockscale… This looks like some sort of yellow-orange crustose lichen growth. The Lunagrowth… Some sort of greyish, pitted seed pod… And riverweed is kind of obvious… Hmm… What do you use them for?"
Rockscale is used to treat wounds, since we scrape it up with tail blades. The powder it forms helps to stop bleeding, not effectively, but enough for someone to get the proper items. Lunagrowth is fed to young who can't sleep, it makes them drowsy, and Riverweed is used when someone has certain illnesses.
Alright… So a pre-emptive treatment, a natural sleeping agent, and a generic cure-all. At a guess I'd say that these plants are known by humans as Sunset Growth, Dreamseed and… Uhhh… Some sort of water weed… I don't recognise the others." Matt looked over, before gesturing to them.
"Yeah, those three are cuts, sleeping and illness, respectively. The other ones are for poisoning, and then various combinations. A herbal shop in Lavaridge is known famously for its plant products, although these can be found growing almost anywhere. Most Pokemarts stock a small supply of them too." He grinned, before lifting up a Dreamseed pod.
"As for these you want to make sure you don't break the pod. If you do the seeds-which are really more of a spore than anything-will explode through the surface and make anyone who breathes it in fall asleep in a few minutes. If it's eaten then it's almost instantaneous." Morgan nodded, pocketing the seed pod, before petting Serena.
"Alright. So that's how to care for her health. Thanks." Matt grabbed his hand, shaking it energetically.
"Not a problem! Glad to be of help! Now, you'd best remember all this stuff. If she ever needs these things for help, then she won't appreciate it if you get the wrong thing. Also, gotta remember it, these are natural. They'll have a bitter, or 'green' taste. It may disagree with her of you give her too many." He grabbed a few of the plants, passing them to Morgan who fumbled with them before cramming the plants into his pockets.
"You've got someone else to go to, so off you go. Good luck!" He placed a hand on Morgan's shoulder, steering him across the clearing before a heading back to the table. Morgan blinked in confusion, slowly walking along beside the rope guide.
Uh… I don't know what just happened… Morgan shrugged, glancing back and scratching his head.
"I… Think we just got given a half hour talk in maybe ten minutes… And then sent on our way without being quizzed on what we learned." Serena sighed, before nuzzling his side.
Alright. So who's up next? Morgan shrugged, looking down towards her.
"Hey. Serena. Why did you lash out at that guy, when he said about your weight?" She glanced up, twitching slightly, before looking ahead and dodging her eyes out from under his gaze.
I'm not fat. My species is heavy because of our size and out bones. You can tell me about it because you're my trainer. I don't even know him. Why should he get to judge? Morgan sighed, stroking her neck and feeling the scales beneath his hand.
"Serena, your body has a lot of bone. But if I was to compare it to my body, the amount of body that is bone would be similar. I have far less spine and ribs, but that bone is instead used for arms, legs, shoulders and hips. If anything you're heavy because you have a lot of muscle, like all snakes; you need to be strong enough to move yourself, hold prey and constrict it, then be able to force the whole thing down when you eat. It's the way that all reptiles are. But he did have a point about it. You like to snack on food between meals. But that adds more food than your body needs, so the excess is stored away as body fat. I've never seen a fat reptile before, but I'm pretty sure it's a risk."
Morgan, do you know why I eat so much? It's because I'm always hungry. That crap in a can I'm supposed to eat tastes like something else has eaten it before what's left gets repackaged. I used to eat things that were a good sized meal. Maybe two of them if I was lucky. But out here, everything is so stupid they either don't run or they fight. There's no chase. No expense of energy. Not to mention this place may be sunny, but the ocean wind is cold and that slows me down. I take longer to process food, and it takes longer for that 'full' feeling to set in. I would honestly leave this place and head home, if not for the fact we're such good friends. Morgan nodded, stroking her neck, before sighing.
"I know your heat needs. I have a heat lamp, so does the Centre. I do what I can, but I don't control the weather Serena. Maybe if you could learn Sunny Day, or something that would keep you warm… But I can't do much more than what I have done." Serena glanced up, before looking ahead again.
We're coming up on the next clearing. Before we get there, I'll say this. The beach is good because I can burrow into hot, hot sand and relax, let my body adjust and clean my scales at the same time. But it gets too cold at night. So when we pass these test things, I want one thing from you. Never, ever, use me against an Ice type or in an icy environment. Morgan nodded, stopping her before wrapping his arms around her neck, hugging her to him. Serena hissed lightly, licking his cheek and wrapping around him in return.
"Serena, I would never do that anyway… You're my best friend and I would never want you to get hurt or worse. I swear that I'll never do that." Serena nuzzled him, hissing lightly, before leaning her head backwards and looking at him.
Just keep that promise, Morgan, and I'll always stay with you as a friend, Pokémon, and whatever else you want and need. She nuzzled him once more, unwrapping herself from him and moving ahead as he followed her into the next clearing. Immediately ahead of them at the centre of the clearing, there was a battle area drawn out in the grass. At the point they entered the clearing, the battle had just finished, and Kyle was picking up his Roselia from the floor. Opposite him, stood with a girl with a Kadabra beside her. Glancing over, she nodded towards them, then looked back at Kyle.
"Here. Use these." She reached into a hip bag, pulling out a couple of items and throwing them in the air. A light blue glow surrounded them, as they floated through the air towards Kyle-a Super Potion, a small yellow diamond-shaped crystal and several plasters. He took them from the air, quickly reviving and spraying his Roselia, then applied the plasters to a series of cuts over his arms and face.
"Thank you." The girl nodded at him, before he turned and led Roselia past Morgan and along the rope route.
"So, you two are next? Get up and ready. I'll be testing your ability to battle, use strategy and tactics, and defeat an opponent if possible." Morgan strode across the clearing, taking up his place at the end of the battle area while Serena slithered into place in front of him, coiling up on the grass. Her head held high, she looked across at the Kadabra and girl, eyes narrowed to slits.
"Kadabra. Confusion." The Kadabra's eyes glowed that same, light blue colour, as an aura of blue surrounded Serena. She jerked reflexively, twisting in mid-air as the psychic energy levitated her before slamming her into the floor. Groaning, shaking her head, she slowly lifted it up to look at the Kadabra.
Morgan. Don't just stand there, do something! Morgan looked at her, gesturing to the Kadabra.
"I didn't get time, and I'm going to reply! Serena, uh… Use Bite!" She hissed, rearing back before launching herself at the Kadabra. It slashed the spoon in its hand downwards, several rocks on the ground darting towards Serena in an attempt to distract her. She swung her tail round, simultaneously batting a rock out of the way and wrapping around the Kadabra, before biting into its shoulder, causing it to cry out in pain.
"Disable!" The Kadabras eyes flashed, a burst of power flinging Serena off and to the side. She twitched slightly, up righting herself and glaring.
"Again, Bite!" Serena hissed, mouth opening-and froze. She stared at the Kadabra, fangs extended towards it and unable to move. Her eyes flicked back and forth, visible tremors showing as she tried to move.
"Fool. Don't you know what Disable does? She cannot make a Bite attack until it wears off, and trying immobilises her. Now, use Psybeam." The Kadabra nodded, pacing its hands together and holding the spoon between them. The metal began to glow blue, the bowl of the spoon twisting down and around, knotting the handle together, before a solid beam of that same energy speared forwards. Upon impact with Serena, it catapulted her into a tree, bending her around with the force.
"U-Up! Hurry!" Serena shook her head, moaning slightly before slithering up the trunk and into the boughs of the tree.
"An admirable attempt. But she can hide from sight, not the sixth sense." Morgan paused, before a call came from above him.
Wait, that Kadabra sees dead things? Morgan chuckled, shaking his head.
"I don't think she means that. Uh… Sixth sense is used to refer to psychic powers of sight… She means… you're visible… Serena! Move, quickly!" There was a sudden burst of movement, a second before the branches where she used to be whipped apart to expose the area behind the leaves.
"Lick!" The tree behind the Kadabra shook as Serena dropped on top of it, slamming its body into the ground and pulled it up with a coil. She hissed, tongue spilling out from her lips to slap into the Kadabra's face, slathering up and across it while tracing a line of thick, clinging saliva behind it.
"S-Serena, enough..!" She froze with her tongue on the back of the Kadabra's head, mouth open above it, before flicking her body and throwing the Kadabra away. It slowly stood, twitching, before the right leg folded beneath it and it caught itself with its hands.
"Paralysis… Very good. Play on a status chance and effect for an edge-… Kadabra? Where is your spoon?" Morgan looked over as Serena let out a chuckling hiss, drawing the attention of the girl and the Kadabra. Clutched in her mouth was the spoon. Dropping it, she pounded the metal several times into a rough rectangle of metal and flicked it into the air.
"No!" She jerked her head forwards, catching the metal, an audible crack filling the clearing as her fang broke it in two.
Now you're missing your spoon. So, feeling lucky enough to try to keep fighting? Hmm?
"Serena! What did you do that for? It needed that spoon!" She turned to look at Morgan, frowning.
What? Why? All I did was take away his spoon, it won't matter..! Morgan shook his head, pointing to the two lumps of metal, before he was interrupted by the girl.
"That spoon was more than a spoon, it was a focus." Serena frowned, looking back at Morgan curiously.
What's a focus? Morgan shrugged, before looking up at the girl. She sighed, shaking her head, before gesturing to the remnants of the spoon.
"A focus is something that does what the name suggests. It allowed for greater control and use of the psychic powers by channelling, focussing and amplifying the effects of his mind. In essence, it is to psychic powers what a focussing lens is to light." She sighed at Serena's further blank stare, clarifying the sentence.
"A focussing lens is another term for a piece of plastic or glass which is shaped to focus light. Think of a lens within a magnifying glass, for example, it can focus light to a single point. That is the theory behind a focus and psychic power." Morgan nodded, glancing towards the Kadabra. Serena 'ooohed' in understanding, before nodding as well.
OK. So let's get this going! Keep it up Morgan! Morgan shrugged, glancing towards the girl.
"I can still fight you. Just expect less… Controlled effects." Morgan nodded, before pointing forwards.
"Uh… Use Poison Fang!" With a hiss, Serena lunged forwards. The Kadabra stepped backwards, flinching, before Serena bit down on the Kadabra's arm. Her fangs overshot the torso, her original target, thanks to the movement, but the razor edge sliced into the skin. Venom dripped to the floor from the tips, grass wilting and browning beneath the toxin before the Kadabra pulled its arm free. The other hand grasped its arm, clutching two parallel scores of red parting the yellow skin. The girl looked up, seeing Morgan's look of shock.
"What, did you think that a fight is gentle? Have you never battled before?" Morgan shook his head, glancing to Serena.
"I've seen her fight twice, once hunting prey when she was a day captured and once when a Zangoose appeared. Both times she intended to kill, and succeeded. Other fights were using my parents Mightyena, but those were never more than a few minutes. No attacks with claws, teeth, just tackles and other sort of attacks…" The girl nodded, sighing.
"Another newbie. Fights are fights. The aim is to make an opponent faint. Pokémon, naturally, have a limit where they pass out from wounds. It sounds barbaric but it isn't so. It's similar to how a person will fall asleep when tired. A Pokémon reaches a limit and passes out. They can be healed up, and returned to full energy, or with enough time and rest wake up naturally. A Pokémon can die of old age under a Trainer's care, or of complications such as poisons. But passing out slows a Pokémon's metabolism so much that they nearly always recover naturally or with help."
Morgan nodded slightly, looking at Serena.
"So… I can expect for serious injuries?" The girl shrugged slightly in reply.
"It depends. We're fighting, so you can expect her to have headaches, or muscle aches as well as pulled muscles and bruises beneath the scales. I can expect cuts, gouges, bites and poisons. But there's no malice, no attempt to murder here, so no deaths will occur. Unless a Trainer cannot control the Pokémon, or has murderous intent while commanding, deaths never occur in battles. I promise." Morgan nodded slightly, before looking to Serena.
"Alright… Just to be clear. You're not trying to seriously injure, Serena. I know it hurt you, but you can't damage it because of that. You should expect it." Serena hissed in an irritated manner, glaring at him.
I take my hurt with pride, and my injuries, then do the same and more to my enemy. The sudden change in her manner startled Morgan, who stepped backwards in surprise.
"But… You're going overboard a little. At least ease up. I mean, you have those scars, and you won't get scars from a Psychic, so you can ease up on it, right-" Serena snapped her jaws at him, spitting towards his feet.
These scars mark for each time I have killed a Zangoose, and I am honoured by fighting through injuries and pain to victory. But Psychics… They fight with powers that aren't physical. It's cowardly, not brave, to use something like that. Better to fight, and even die, on the claws or teeth or horns of an opponent than to the mind of an enemy who can kill without even having to look you in the eyes. She jabbed her tail at the scars along her body, punctuating each sentence vividly, before pointing towards the Kadabra.
I expect to be hurt when I fight. If I'm not hurt my prey is too weak and I shame myself by not fighting a worthy opponent. Likewise, if I challenge something too strong I bring even more honour through my bravery, victory or defeat. This Kadabra is not the enemy I fight for honour, it is one I fight for yours. You are in control, not me, and all honour gained or lost by me reflects upon you. All Pokémon do this! So stop shaming me by having no courage, babying my fight, and let me earn you your first victory scar! Morgan nodded, staring at her, before looking away.
"I… Alright… I, uh… I'm sorry…" Serena raised her head, a look of fury about her, before the Kadabra gestured and flung her to the side, into a tree again.
"Serena..!" The girl glared at him, chopping a hand through the air.
"Idiot! That is a Pokémon which comes from a species priding itself on combat! Yet you treat her like she has yet to kill her first prey! You would recognise the term more as treat her like she's still a baby… But you're insulting her, immensely! I can't think of anything more offensive to a martial species than to baby them, insult their honour, and then apologise to them! How are you still alive?!" Before Morgan could answer, Serena burst from the bushes, coiling around the Kadabra with vicious twists, hissing angrily.
Coward! To attack an opponent from behind! We may be fighting, and that may be a useful manoeuvre, but to do so in battle with no command shames your Trainer! She slashed her tail across the back of the Kadabra's shins, hurling it through the air and into a tree, flicking her tail and killing a line of grass with toxin spray.
"Teleport!" The Kadabra flashed blue, disappearing and reappearing a second later on the other side of the clearing. It stood up, hobbling slightly as the hurt leg abruptly locked up on it, muscles cramping and curling the legs up tight to the body. A second later, Serena sped towards it, lashing her tail out and slamming it onto its back. Coiling across and around it, pinning the Kadabra, she levelled her tail at its chest, point digging in.
Give up- She managed to say, before being interrupted.
"Serena! Get off of it! You've won, you don't need to do this, now let go! …Uh… Before you dishonour yourself and hurt a defenceless enemy who is not resisting..?" Serena looked at him, tilting her head to the side slightly.
Are you telling or asking? At this rate I may challenge you to the right of being the Trainer, and lead you into fights with confusion and hesitance, much as you did to me today. You're incompetent, and need to learn. You should still be learning, not taking the test! She uncurled from the Kadabra, slithering over to Morgan and glaring down at him, head raised over his own. Tongue flickering out in what seemed an angry manner, she hissed before folding her fangs away and slamming her lower jaw into his head, knocking him over.
"What are you-" She jabbed her face into his, leering, before snorting slightly and looking away.
You aren't worth a Swablu's wing in a fight. Next time, do it properly, or you'll have hell to pay. A Trainer should be confident, swift, decisive, not double-guessing and unsure, a bag of nerves. If I was wild your Pokémon would either be unconscious or lunch and your arms would be in my mouth as I drag you back to the den for the hatchlings to practice attacks on. You're a wonderful friend and a lousy Trainer, so get better at that second one or give it up. Looking back, her eyes softened slightly, noticeable only to Morgan and anyone who spent a lot of time around reptiles; the motion was only noticeable as a slight hooding of the eyes.
I hate treating you like this but I don't want you to die. And you will die, or end up in a hospital, if you don't get better as a Trainer. Some Pokémon will run from you, some will attack you to chase you away, or as blood sport. Some will see you as easy prey. My kind are of the last two when we see humans. I would treat you as sport, or as food if I was truly desperate, and I will ensure you survive your journey by being a Trainer to you as you are to me. Now get up, lying there you look weak, underbelly and throat exposed to fangs and tail. Morgan scrambled to his feet, looking at her nervously. He was used to seeing her as his friend, her coils an immense length and girth of playfulness, friendship and affection with happy eyes, a tongue of affection and nuzzling chin. Now, he saw her as anyone else did.
Eyes that shot hard and true, piercing him and pinning as a lepidopterist does to his specimens. Her fangs hung free, sharp, ripe to pierce and tear flesh while filling him with toxins of varying effects. Her tail the same, its blade able to batter and slash easily. Coils of thick, condensed musculature, as easily able to pluck fruit as crush bones. And then her mouth, which while normally held closed or opening only to speak, could instead now dislocate and engulf him easily, forcing him down her body along a path so many others had travelled the once.
He shook his head, looking away from her eyes, a thick numbness fading away as though he had been submerged in cotton wool. Serena looked around, her captivating stare directing towards the girl.
"Go on. You won, although I think your Seviper deserves it more than you. Now get along the path and finish your test. Make sure to get this problem sorted, too." She recalled her Kadabra, as Morgan turned and slowly walked alongside the guide rope, Serena beside him.
"…I've never seen you act or speak like that before… Why did it just happen?" Serena looked at him, then ahead once more.
Think, Morgan… I come from a species which has been in a war for so long the hatred and prejudices of our ancestors in inherited and passed on. Only the strong and tough survive, loosing friends and family who were too weak to continue, and passing a revenge hunger on. I am who I am. But in a fight, I do not just fight. I aim to win. Seviper are always scarred, as are Zangoose. Those aren't battle injuries, those are ceremonial scars. One scar is earned for each time you defeat an enemy in single combat.
I have seven scars; before I was captured, I challenged, fought and won against seven Zangoose in single combat. Some already had scars, my earlier enemies none. I was supposed to be one of my clans best fighters. There were rumours I was to take the mantle of being the Alpha's Champion when the old one died. And then a human ambushed me, captured me… Morgan sighed, placing a hand on her head and stroking gently.
"So, in order for me to have my life and journey yours was ruined and sacrificed… I'm sorry..." Serena brushed his hand away, looking at him again.
Don't be. Because if I hadn't been caught then I would have killed your father and probably eaten his Pokémon. It's war for me, Morgan. Every day, every night, is war. Even under a Trainer's control, it's too little. A Zangoose appears, and I turn from your companion, your battler, into a raging killing machine. Nothing will stop me from that fight. It's too much. Morgan nodded, slowly running a hand over one of the scars. Rougher, less smooth and scaled with a feel almost as of hide, the rich plum colour stood out against her tar-black colour.
The colour and weakness are the cost of honour and strength. To show out worth we scar ourselves, marking us as more experienced and stronger among the whole. Someone with no scars is pitch black, able to sneak to an enemy or past them, whereas an accomplished fighter is marked out so that no enemy can miss them; a challenge to their strength, shown through markings. But the scars heal with weaker scales, more fleshy than the area around it; they can take a hit, but will rupture easier. We do not hide behind our scaled armour, and as we become stronger we reduce it to show our experience. Similar to your parents. They work with a hat that's a different colour to those around them, marking them as more experienced. Morgan smiled slightly, stroking her neck, before replying.
"It's not quite like that. But… What happened to you during that fight, it was terrifying. To see you like that, in full out attack mode… I'm surprised you didn't go after the girl." Serena huffed in annoyance.
She had not attacked personally, and I had no reason to unless you ordered it. I fought for you and the Kadabra for her. We were your fighters, your champions, and are bound to only fight those we're commanded to, otherwise we would dishonour our Trainer. Morgan looked at her, before looking ahead again.
"There's a lot about you to do with honour and glory. More than I expected… You mentioned an Alpha earlier, so I thought maybe a patriarchal society. But if anything you speak like it's a meritocratic structure. You could be far younger than someone else, but better than them because you have more victories, or are better respected..." Serena nodded at him, before nudging his arm.
There's a scent from ahead. We must be nearing the next thing. And you're right, that is how it works. The Alpha's Champion, when I left, had a male successor. But I would always win our fights despite being laid a clutch later than he was, and so I had more influence and power than he. His sire's position means nothing to us, he has to earn special treatment. But he'll most likely take over as Champion since he is now the strongest one there. Before Morgan could reply, the two of them left the trees and passed into yet another clearing. This one had another girl waiting, and beside her was a table with several sheets of paper and small bottles of liquid.
"Hey. I'm Marcy. You two must be Morgan and Serena. I'll be dealing with you and helping about biological functions and antivenoms. How have your other sessions been?" Morgan shrugged, glancing at Serena uncomfortably.
"They've been… Unusual. Informative. Mostly, a little bit overwhelming. I thought I'd be able to do it all, but there's a lot of stuff that I didn't know about… A lot that I needed to learn. It's a little scary, actually, with so much I need to still learn." Marcy grinned at him, nodding happily.
"Good. That's how it should be. If it was too much for you, then you'd need to redo your studies, and if you thought you were doing fine and knew it all then you would be overconfident, which is dangerous. But getting flustered and put under, while still learning, that's it. It never gets any easier, either, it just gets more familiar. Each new Pokémon you capture is a whole new experience and challenge to learn and master." She nodded towards Serena, before looking towards the table. As she began to sort out the items on it, Morgan approached with Serena.
"OK. Since most snakes can produce two different toxins at once, but have access to a large amount of variables it's important to recognise the signs of a poisoning and what is most effective at treating each type, as well as the severity. Can you tell me the main types of toxin?" Morgan frowned, tapping the tip of his finger against the fingers of his other hand as he spoke.
"There's, uh… neurotoxin, cytotoxin and hemotoxin… But the organic chemicals that make those toxins can be mixed together to create combinations…" Marcy nodded, before pointing towards Serena's fangs.
"Almost. There are neurotoxins and hemotoxins, certainly, but those are both categorised as a cytotoxin because they kill or damage cells through their effects. The differences between neuro and hemo?" Serena lifted her tail up, before speaking.
Neuro paralyses and hemo kills. Marcy nodded slightly, looking to Morgan.
"Able to expand on that?" He shrugged slightly, before glancing towards Serena as Marcy began to speak again.
"Alright. A neurotoxin enters the bloodstream and travels about the body until it reaches a nerve cell. It triggers a nerve impulse, but the toxin proteins bind to the chemicals causing the impulse; they attach to the receiving nerve cell, but don't continue the impulse and then become permanently attached until the protein is removed. Over time it weakens a limb or area of the body, then it goes numb, then it seizes up. The effect spreads throughout the body, until it reaches the brain, heart or lungs, which eventually seize up and cause death."
Uh… That's on a lethal amount… If I inject a small enough measure, I can paralyse them but keep them alive. It takes practice, but if I got enough, I could manage to bite someone and only cause numbness to pain due to the small amount. Marcy nodded again, before continuing as though she hadn't been interrupted.
"As for the hemotoxin, that's inherently lethal regardless of dosage if untreated. The proteins within the venom destroy erythrocytes, attack proteins and damage tissue structures and organs. Debilitating pain accompanies it, along with loss of limb and life from cell death. Treatment outside of an hour of the bite sees the lib affected lost, or death if bitten in the torso. It also aids digestion, since it weakens protein bonds within the bode pre-ingestion."
"Hey, wait… What's an ery… uh… eryth-thingy?" Marcy giggled slightly, before correcting him.
"Erythrocyte. It's a red blood cell. Basically the hemotoxin reduces the amount of oxygen that can be carried in the blood; in simpler terms it weakens you from lack of air. Theoretically, if you survive the protein damage long enough, you'll suffocate from inability to get oxygen around your body." Morgan nodded, shuddering lightly at the descriptions of the venom, before Serena piped up again.
I thought hemotoxins were useful for doctors and nurses? Marcy shrugged slightly at that.
"I don't know much outside of the toxicology area, but hemotoxins sometimes carry anticoagulants, which prevent blood clotting and forming a scab, so you bleed for longer from a wound. I suppose that protein could be useful for treating a patient if they have something like an embolism within their body…" She sighed at Morgan and Serena's blank face, tapping a finger to the side of her head.
"An embolism is where something in the bloodstream forms a blockage. If it's caused by a blood clot, then the anticoagulants of a hemotoxin can break it down before it causes death. But apart from that, it tends to be more lethal than helpful." Turning to the table beside her, she tapped a nail against the small vials. Each one contained a small amount of a fluid, and a blank piece of paper was over a larger label, obviously obscuring text.
"These are all different toxins extracted from snakes. Mostly used for production of anti-toxins and for toxicology studies, I was given these samples by Nurse Joy for the test. I'll describe the effects of each one, and you need to tell me what can be used in the wild to treat or inhibit the toxin." Lifting the first of four vials, she unfolded a square of paper that had been beneath it, reading the text.
"This toxin affects the ability of the body to respond to nerve signals, and damages cell structure around nerves to further reduce movement and responses. When it reaches the spine and the brain, irreversible paralysis or death occurs respectively."
"Uh… Well, if it affects the nerves, it's a neurotoxin… But the cell damage would be from a hemotoxin, right? So, uh… I guess… Something that cures or relieves paralytics… Not sure about the cells…" Marcy nodded slightly, gesturing to the paper she held.
"Can you name any plants that do that?" Morgan blinked, glancing around, before shrugging.
"Not really… I know a couple, but they won't be enough for that kind of toxin…"
I know one. We destroy it whenever we find it, since Zangoose use it to cure paralysis from a Lick attack. We know it as numbroot. It's a plant with short, flat and broad leaves that have an edge like lots of half-circles poking out, and the roots are long, thin, hairlike. It grows along the shore of the river nearby where we nested.
"Half-circled edge leaves..? I don't know about that one… Sorry. But if it works, then I guess you can use it if she can find any. Still, I'll have to look it up so I can find out more about it. Anything else?" Morgan shook his head, as Serena glanced towards him.
Nope. Not really. Most of what I know is to cure wounds and injuries on a Seviper, not to cure what we inflict. I guess if you get a Zangoose you can wring out some stuff on plants, but mostly it will just spit, curse and try to cut us both into little cubes and strips of meat. Morgan sighed, nodding slightly, before looking up again.
"Well, to be honest I don't really need to know the more advanced plant species. I have a case of antivenoms on me at all times for use. Sometimes she'll snap out at a person if they hurt her, or I'll catch myself on her tail or fangs while we play, so I need a quick shot. Since we're outside, I only brought a small amount with me." He reached into the jacket pocket, pulling out a syringe contained within a rectangular plastic case too long for it; in the bottom of the case was a single vial of fluid.
"Her tail and fangs have different poisons, a paralysing one and a damaging one, but only for battle use. This vial contains the serum that can counter both toxins easily. The only downside is, they have a lifespan of a month or so, since she changes her diet to alter the toxins. Mostly, she does it over the course of a month by eating some kind of plant that can be venomous to anything eating it, but any other way is unusual…" Marcy nodded, before walking over to Serena. She placed a finger against her head, just below the eye and tapped the scales there. Lifting her tail by the base of her blade, she touched an area an inch or so up her body as well.
"The snake venom is produced within a gland connected to the fang, or the tail. Most snakes produce a single type of venom for their life time, but in the case of captured snakes they can have the venom altered. Most doctors were, and some still are, confused as to how it occurs, since the venom should be fixed in its type due to protein production. I think that they recently found out that the protein produced can be altered if the gland is exposed to certain chemicals in plants, which a snake an eat instinctively when venom becomes less effective." Morgan nodded, as Serena twitched her tail and looked to the side, flicking her tongue out.
Hey, Morgan… I can taste Plusle. Can I go, uh… Fight? You know, for some experience against electric types? He sighed, shaking his head slightly, before placing a hand under her chin and scratching lightly.
"Yeah, sure. Go ahead. Just be careful it doesn't belong to one of those weird people who hang about on the route and do everything they can to pamper their 'adorable little fluffballs'."
If it is one of those, can I-
"NO, no eating the fluffballs. I know that they're annoying and I love it when they lose in a fight because it shuts up the maniac of a trainer they have, but that's not good enough to warrant that. Besides, Plusle and Minun at the same time would cause you really bad stomach ache. They'd electrocute you, and that charge would feed off of itself and get more powerful. Besides, you don't need to eat them, you have Pokechow at home." Serena nodded, nuzzling his hand, before turning and passing through the trees.
"So, why was this all set up in the forest, anyway?" Marcy shrugged, looking around.
"Not sure. I think it's because it was easier to set up this stuff in clearings rather than in a public place, and because it isn't so hard to battle without injuring someone by accident when out here. Still, it is an odd thing… But anyway, you're done now, so I suppose you can go back and battle Joy. What we'll do is get together and talk, discuss what we thought of you, and so on to decide a grade for you, then pass it to Joy. Still, good luck." Morgan nodded, before the two of them jumped in surprise as Serena cried out, her exclamation carrying pain.
"Crap!" Turning on the spot, Morgan ran into the trees and through the forest, picking up speed and heading towards where the sound had come from. There was a second cry, before he burst through a cluster of trees and out onto the Route itself. Ahead of him was Serena, coiled up on the path and covered in scorch marks; standing either side a Plusle and Minun, cheeks crackling angrily.
"Hey, get away from her!" As he approached them, the two turned towards him, sparking more as a woman stepped over.
"You! Is this your Pokémon? This thing attacked my adorable Pokémon without any reason to do so!" Morgan scowled, glancing around before scuffing a foot into the ground.
"Right… I suppose I can only do one thing, then… Serena. Poison Tail." The woman's eyes widened, before Serena tensed and lashed out her tail, the force of it spinning her around and slashing both Pokémon around her, knocking them back. She lifted her head, coiling up as Morgan stepped to be beside her, shaking her head slightly.
"I told you to avoid trouble."
I tried. Those little brats shocked me when I was in the treeline and when I defended myself, that old hag intervened. Morgan nodded slightly, looking forwards as the Plusle and Minun ran together, standing in front of them both.
"Alright then." Pulling his Pokedex from his pocket and opening it, he scrolled the menu before tapping a picture of Serena, bringing up a screen of Serena. A small bar beneath her image was roughly two-thirds full.
"Huh. They're weaker than I was expecting. Wrap." Serena hissed, quickly coiling around the two Cheering Pokémon until only their heads were exposed. Thanks to the yellow scales and scars over her body, it could be seen where her coils were sliding over each other and pulling tighter around them.
"Spark!" The Plusle groaned, head sagging slightly as the Minun's cheeks sparked, discharging a flash of electricity. Serena hissed at the attack, clenching around them both as the bar on the Pokedex dropped to half-full. The Plusle's head shot up as it screamed, before Serena threw them both away, flicking her body as she simultaneously opened the coils. The two Pokémon bounced and skidded across the floor, the Minun standing up, shaking slightly. The Plusle lay on the floor, fainted.
Darting forwards and opening her mouth, Serena scooped up the Plusle and closed her jaws, shaking her head about. Spitting out the Plusle, she slapped her tail into it as it fell, batting it into the fence beside the water, cracking several posts.
"No! Plusle!" As the woman turned to the side, looking towards her fainted Pokémon, Morgan pointed towards the Minun.
"Poison Fang." A wicked grin crossed her face, as Serena lunged forwards and bit down on the Plusle, grabbing it with her head sideways. Raising herself up, the Plusle now horizontal in her mouth with fangs behind it, edges cutting into its back and venom dripping from the tips, she tossed it away. It hit the floor, bouncing slightly before coming to rest as Serena hissed eagerly.
"Enough. Let's head back, Serena. And don't even think of doing anything else. You can eat and take out your anger back at the Centre." He turned, walking down the path towards Slateport as Serena glared at the woman, slowly turning to follow him.
So. You can command me fine when fighting those rats, but not when fighting an actual opponent? What is with that? Morgan shrugged, sighing as he petted her.
"I don't really know. The Kadabra was a threat, an enemy, and I was nervous and unsure how to fight a type advantage. But at the same time, the Plusle and Minun are smaller, have no type advantage… We normally end up fighting them whenever we come this way, so by now it's just actions. I don't need to think, I have it already. Send out you, she sends out them, you get paralysed, shed skin, Poison Tail, dodge, Wrap and Poison Fang, then you throw them aside like nothing, we win. But whenever we fought them, you never actually drew blood before…" Serena nodded slightly.
That's true, they're unworthy of being bloodied in combat. But it is annoying how they always paralyse me. Shedding skin for relief, I can only do it so many times before I end up without dead layers. Mostly the shedding skin is just so that I can recover from status' when fighting so I can keep it up; scales for my kind are dull and not reflective because we have several ready to shed layers at all times. Morgan nodded in return, before glancing ahead.
"So. We got sent into the woods, to follow a course of what seemed like half-assed testing, come out and walk back, get you healed, then we have to fight Joy. The other guy, he had to go the opposite way to us. But we never actually saw him pass, so I guess we missed him. Weird…"
Will you be able to command me during the fight with Joy? Or will I have to take over? Morgan sighed, looking at her. She had a determined expression, from the set of her jaw and eyes.
"I'll do what I can. It's hard enough that we're fighting, and you seem to have stopped holding back during the fights, but I don't feel confident. You see those Plusle and Minun as prey, and you look down on them. I suppose that rubbed off on me, and I look down too. But with a proper opponent, it's different. And it's harder, because I can't guarantee you'll win, and I don't know how you'll get hurt…" Serena nuzzled his hand, before looping around him quickly. He smiled, stroking her back and continued walking.
I'm sure you'll be fine. You can gain confidence with time, and I'll get stronger in time as well. But for now, we'll do what we can. And that means training. When you command me properly, and we get a good win down, I'll even give you your first scar! Morgan chuckled slightly, shaking his head.
"Yeah, I would prefer that you didn't scar me… Us humans don't do that to show honour, and it will just seem weird if I start doing that. But thanks, I guess." Serena nodded once more, before placing her head on his shoulder. He fangs rested behind his shoulder, pressing against but not cutting through his jacket, holding her head in place as she relaxed.
XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO
"There. She's healed up. Are you ready?" Morgan nodded, as Serena slithered past Nurse Joy and over to his side. The nurse nodded, before turning and gesturing to the doors of the Centre.
"Alright. I'll be waiting for you. We'll head down to the beach, I sent someone ahead to clear an area and prepare markings. We're going to battle properly, so you should be ready for that. In addition we're also going to be fighting until someone faints. We'll heal both battlers up here afterwards, and then I'll get you graded with advice from those you met in the test areas. Now, come along, both of you." She turned, walking out of the Centre as Morgan and Serena followed her.
Who do you think she'll use? Morgan shrugged, glancing at Joy's waist before answering in a lower voice to avoid being heard.
"I don't see any Pokeballs… I guess she'll use a Chansey and sent it ahead to mark the area out. Either way we'll see when we arrive, so just be patient." He petted her, Serena nuzzling his hand as he did so, before looking ahead.
I suppose we'll have to do our best then. Do you think you'll fail if we get beaten? Morgan frowned slightly, poking her.
"What do you mean, I'll fail? We'll both fail if you lose." Serena hissed slightly, snapping at his finger.
I'm just the Pokémon remember? If I faint, you as the trainer fail. So I haven't much to worry about, really, whereas all of your trainer stuff depends upon this. So, yeah, you will fail but not me. Morgan chuckled slightly, pressing a finger to her snout.
"Maybe. But that means you would lose honour, right?" Serena nodded slightly, licking his hand, before looking ahead again.
We're here. Morgan looked up, as Nurse Joy walked across the beach. Roughly half way down the beach, a Chansey stood. Marked out with flags and white lines, a battle area had been prepared along with a secondary line, marking the safety area to avoid. There was a crowd, as usual for the beach, with about half of them waiting around for the battle.
"Alright. I've already battled the other Poison trainer, so after you I've finished. Are you ready Morgan?" Morgan nodded, stepping up to one of the trainer areas as Serena moved in front of him, coiling up. Joy stepped into the other trainer area, as the Chansey stood in front of her, smiling.
"After you, Morgan."
"Alright… Serena, use Poison Fang." Serena hissed, speeding across the sand towards the Chansey and lunging towards it. Just before she bit down, Joy called out.
"Minimise." The Chansey abruptly bent forwards, shrinking down as Serena passed over the top of it, missing.
"Double Slap." The Chansey grabbed Serena's tail, jerking her back before wrapping n arm round her back. Lifting the other arm, it began to slap her, the hand moving back and forth with the sound of flesh impacting each time.
"Poison Tail!" Serena whipped her tail around as she let out a pained hiss, slashing across the Chansey's back. It flinched, letting go as Serena squirmed free, slashing her tail across as she did so for good measure. Moving quickly, she settled in front of Morgan again. She glared at the Chansey, spitting to the side as several in the crowd muttered.
"Sing." The Chansey pressed its hands together, closing its eyes before opening the mouth and beginning to sing. A soft, sweet melody that filled the air and caused a feeling of relaxation and calmness in those who heard it. Serena blinked, her eyes loosing focus and head swaying slightly.
"Serena, uh… Use Wrap..!" Serena blinked, shaking her head, before lunging forwards and coiling around the Chansey, pulling tight. She blinked, head sagging, before yawning widely. He head drooped forwards once more, eyes closing, before after a pause she started to snore.
"Chansey, throw her back to her own side." The Chansey wiggled, slipping free from the now slack coils, before picking her up and hefting her back towards Morgan. She hit the sand with a thud, skidding along in a wave of sand.
"Serena! Wake up, come on..!"
"Egg Bomb." Morgan froze, looking up in horror as the Chansey reached into its pouch and retrieved an egg. It lifted it in one arm, before tossing it at Serena. The Egg hit her, settling beside her, before suddenly exploding with vicious force. A cloud of smoke billowed out, black and choking as Serena shot through it and past Morgan onto the sand. She landed, folded and coiled up by the blast, still snoring, her scales marred with scorched patches.
"Serena..! Come on, please!" Morgan ran over to her, kneeling and placing a hand on her back. He shook her slightly, as Serena continued to snore before abruptly he was lifted into the air. Chansey turned around, carrying him and Serena back to the battle area. It set him down in the trainer area, before placing Serena in her half of the battle area.
"Doubleslap." The Chansey immediately lifted Serena, bashing an arm back and forth across her face. The last slap, harder than all the rest, knocked her away and to the floor in front of Morgan. She bounced, once, her head landing at his feet, her eyes closed and mouth open. A slight beeping came from his pocket, and removing his Pokedex he flipped it open. There was a status screen for Serena, the bar beneath her image empty and flashing.
"Serena…" He dropped the Pokedex to the sand, kneeling beside her and pulling her head onto his legs, stroking her head. He sighed, brushing a hand through one of the scorched marks, fingers coming away blackened with soot, before looking up as the Chansey approached. It bowed, pulling an egg from its pouch, and passing it to Morgan.
"Thank you…" He took the egg, opening Serena's mouth and placing the egg in, closing her jaws and tilting up her head. There were a few seconds before she swallowed, the sound of the shell cracking as it was crushed by her throat letting him know it had happened, and he lowered her head. He knelt there for several seconds, before a low groan came from Serena and she opened her eyes.
…Did we win..? Morgan smiled slightly, sighing as she slowly coiled up around him.
"No, we didn't win… Sorry…" Serena laughed, cutting off sharply as she hissed in pain.
Ow… I feel like a Voltorb used Self-Destruct in my gut… Morgan smiled, stroking her back gently.
"That would be because after you fell asleep, you got hit with an Egg Bomb… It kinda landed in the middle of your body since you were folded up a bit from the previous hit…" She groaned again, slowly lifting her head and shaking it.
Are my fangs OK? What about my tail? Did they get broken? Morgan shook his head, tapping the tip of her snout with a finger.
"They're fine. And you need to stop worrying about your appearance and start worrying about getting healed. We need to get you up to the Centre. Can you move?" Serena nodded slightly, unwrapping from around him and straightening out. She winced, looking back.
Damn, I got a kink in my spine… Can you straighten me out..? Morgan nodded, placing a hand on her back behind the head.
"Just tell me when I'm there." He began to move his hand down her back, slowly, until she twitched.
There. Just push down. I must have pulled something, or knocked against something in the sand when I hit it… He nodded, pressing down as a loud cracking sound rang out, followed by a sigh of relief from Serena.
Ohh, yeah… That's the stuff. Thanks, I can move now. Morgan nodded, picking up and pocketing his Pokedex as he stood up before looking towards Nurse Joy. She was standing beside the Chansey, watching them both. As Serena looked over, she crossed towards them and nodded.
"You did well, considering that you were fighting me and Chansey. The defence of Chansey against physical hits is monumental, and to have her withstand that many hits means you've trained her well. At the Centre I'll see her treated. Come on." She turned, walking towards the Centre again, before the Chansey bowed to Morgan and Serena. Grasping Serena and lifting her, it wrapped her around Morgan's shoulders and torso, before lifting him as well, then proceeded to carry the two of them towards the Centre. Serena nuzzled Morgan, licking his cheek as he smiled and petted her.
"You did really well… I'm sorry you got hurt though."
Morgan, if you apologise again I'm cutting you. I told you, if I faint then it's my fault. You did pretty well, I guess, at first. You slackened a little later, seemed less sure. If it hadn't been Joy we were fighting, then the enemy would have taken advantage of that… But at least you kept it going. He nodded, petting her lightly, before looking back at the beach.
"I found it a little easier… The Kadabra was tough, I had never faced one, I was panicking. The Minun and Plusle are easy enough, I guess, and they helped me get ready, fight off some nerves. Until it used Sing, I was OK, but I panicked a little there…" Serena nodded, resting her head on his shoulder with a smile.
You did your best, and so did I. I suppose I can complain about you losing your cool, but I can't really do that since I was asleep… Morgan nodded, before a loud crack filled the air as his head slammed into the top of the doorway to the Centre as the Chansey walked through it.
"…Ow…" The Chansey lowered its arms, before passing through again, this time making sure Morgan missed the doorframe. Inside, Joy was waiting beside the machine. Serena unwrapped from Morgan, slithering towards her and up into the machine, curling up within it.
"Serena. You know you can only use this if you're in your Pokeball." She sighed, looking towards Morgan, who nodded.
"Sorry." He held up the Pokeball, recalling her and throwing it to Nurse Joy who placed it in the machine and closed it, activating it. The machine hummed slightly, glowing faintly around the Pokeball as said ball slowly rotated in the machine. After several seconds, it stopped and dinged, the machine opening and Nurse Joy removing the ball and releasing Serena.
Oh, man, I need to use that more often. I feel like I can take on a dozen Zangoose and win! Morgan chuckled, before walking over and hugging her. Serena wrapped round him, nuzzling, before Nurse Joy coughed slightly. Looking over, she was holding a couple of paper sheets.
"Well, I have the notes and reports from those you met. Most of them are good, not perfect, but higher than average. Your battle report is a little lower than the average, however… So. Based on these, and the battle between us, I can say that although you lack attention span in some situations you have excellent control over Serena's habits and quirks. You also have the ability to somehow annoy and befriend anyone you meet, so you should be fine on your journey… Congratulations. You pass the course with a B." She passed him a sheet of paper, edged with decorative gold and cursive script. He took it, reading from the paper.
"This certificate shows that Morgan Amphere has completed the supplemental trainers course under the tutelage of Nurse Joy of Slateport City to the level of a B grade. He is officially authorised, by the Pokémon League, to pursue his trainers journey." Serena looked at the paper, before nuzzling him.
Come on, let's get going! I wanna get this started so that we can kick ass and win this League! Morgan smiled, petting her, before looking at Joy.
"Thank you." She smiled, nodding at them and bowing.
"Be careful. And don't let her eat what and who she shouldn't." Morgan chuckled, as Serena hissed and narrowed her eyes, clearly put out by the comment. Morgan petted her, before pulling out his Pokenav and opening it up, tapping the option for a map.
"Well, I guess I should say bye to my parents and get ready to leave… The nearest Gym is Mauville, so I suppose we should head there first. If we get that and the Lavaridge badge, we can take the Rusturf Tunnel to loop back to Rustboro afterwards as well. Should save some time for us." Serena nuzzled him, before he closed the Pokenav and pocketed it along with the certificate, now folded up. He turned, leaving the Centre and waving at Nurse Joy as the doors closed behind them.
XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO
Morgan stepped onto the entrance of Route 110, looking about with a grin. His backpack on, filled with supplies and sleeping bag rolled up and attached beneath the bag, he looked at Serena. She grinned at him, nodding towards the Route as they started to walk down the path.
"We're gonna do great, Serena. And I promise I'll get better as a trainer. All I ask is that if I catch another female, you don't get controlling and clingy over me. I know Seviper are territorial, and I wanna make it clear I'm not yours. I'm your friend, yes, but I can have other friends who are female."
Morgan, really, do you think I'm that bad? I'm fine to share you. But if you are in danger, then I'll treat you like property just so I can make it clear to the attacker. Besides, I do have your life in my fangs, since I'm the one keeping you safe from attacks. Morgan nodded slightly, petting her, before looking down. Six Pokeballs around his waist, one of them marked across the top of the red with a marring slash exposing the metal below.
"I have five more spaces to fill. And I'm looking to capture some Poison types for all spaces. I'll do what I can to change the way people see you, all of you, Serena. Because it's not fair."
It isn't. But it's also true. A lot of Poison types are toxic to the touch, you have to remember. He nodded, before looking ahead as the path split into two, heading left and right.
"Well, we go right here… Let's see how well we do and how far we go." He smiled, as Serena nuzzled his side, before the two of them began to walk down the route, passing through thick, tall grassy clusters as they did so.