Here's chapter two. Before we start, let us give thanks for our health, for our freedom, for Fan Fiction, etc.
…
Well, that's that. Happy Thanksgiving to all! Enjoy the story and the turkey!
Eevee: I'm thankful for Oshawott!
Oshawott: And I'm thankful for my team and my beloved Eevee-kit!
Piplup: For Chimchar.
Wigglytuff: For friendship and Perfect Apples!
Chapter 2: The Second Meeting
Rather than going to the guild first thing the next morning, the scarred Seviper went to Audino's to see how Razara was doing. In his fanged mouth was a bouquet of flowers. He found Razara sitting up in bed, humming that beautiful tune she sang the day before as she gazed out the window. When she became aware of his presence, she was at first frightened, but then eased when she saw that it was him.
"Hey," Seviper greeted as he dropped the flowers onto Razara's lap.
"You got flowers for me? Seviper, that's…that's so sweet of you," she said, deeply touched by his kindness. She had always been taught that Seviper were a ruthless and vindictive species, but this one was different. He was thoughtful, strong, and caring. What could she believe now?
"It'sss the gentlemanly thing to do," Seviper responded, blushing. Just thinking about her kiss made his cold blooded face heat right up. "Out of curiosssity, what isss it you plan to do once you're dissscharged? Do you have a place to go?"
"Well, to be honest, I want to see what working under Spinda is like, and a Spinda's Café opened up here recently. I'm sure you already know that, though. I was thinking about being a waitress. It's hard, but it seems like fun once you get used to it," Razara answered, ending with a slight giggle and pleasant smile.
"Well, I admire the fact that you have a plan, and I would definitely want you waiting my table," Seviper informed her sincerely.
"Really? Aww, thank you! I also wouldn't mind trying my claws at exploring. In fact, I was trying to clear Midnight Forest as an exploration when I was attacked from behind," Razara confessed.
"That'sss dessspicable! Attacking a beautiful maiden from behind like that isss ssso cruel and unfair!" Seviper hissed angrily at the thought of something or someone attacking Razara from behind. "Not to mention rude!"
"Seviper…" Razara spoke softly. Her eyes seemed to sparkle.
"I'm going to go pick out a job. Would you like me to come back later?" Seviper asked, interested in her desires.
"Y-yes, please, if you don't mind. I'm sorry I was so rude to you yesterday… I don't know what came over me. Please forgive me," the female Zangoose bowed her head and begged for forgiveness.
"It'sss alright, Razara. I don't blame you," Seviper told her soothingly. He slithered out, sparing her one more glance and praying to Arceus above that she couldn't hear his fleeting heart. Once at the guild, he was looking over the Job Bulletin Board when a little Water-type Pokémon caught his eye. No, it was not Piplup nor was it Marill, an apprentice at the guild and Azurill's older brother. It was Oshawott, the leader of Team Poké Friends. "Hey, Oshawott, may I ssspeak with you?"
"Uh, sure, Seviper. What's up?" Oshawott came over and asked. Not only was he the leader of Team Poké Friends, but he was the boyfriend of an adorable Eevee who apprenticed at the guild. Everyone knew it because everyone knew that he risked his life several times for her and they were lovey-dovey as all get out.
"I need help talking to a beautiful female," Seviper explained it in short and sweet terms.
"You've found a snake who loves you!" Oshawott exclaimed cheerfully.
"Not exactly. She'sss a Zangoose," Seviper corrected him awkwardly.
"Oh. How the Muk does that work?" Oshawott asked, caught completely off guard by the viper's response.
"I haven't the ssslightest clue," Seviper hissed in frustration. "And her older brother isss the leader of Team Razor Wind, the one I fought before when I wasss ssstill the leader of Grand Serpent. My chancesss couldn't be bleaker!"
"You could say that again. This is a tough one," Oshawott sighed, not sure how to help a fellow explorer in his time of need. "You work hard! You deserve love! Does she at least like you?"
"Well, she hasssn't tried to rip my head off of my body, ssso that'sss a good sssign," Seviper hissed in response, wondering how Razara felt about him.
"Well, I don't know what to do. Just talk to her a lot and get to know her, I guess. I'm sorry, Seviper. I need to get to work. Remember: smiles go for miles!" Oshawott exclaimed cheerfully as he recited the third rule of Wigglytuff's Guild, which was a philosophy that the Poké Pals Guild felt the need to promote. It was a good saying. Words to live by.
"Hmm…" Seviper turned his attention back to the Job Bulletin Board. How could he be so infatuated with the sister of his blood enemy?
Meanwhile, Eevee was making rounds around town, running errands and mingling with her fellow Pokémon. She even visited her sister, Flareon, and her darling little nephew. Eevee had heard about a recently injured Zangoose and decided to stop in and say hello. That's what she felt her beloved Oshawott would do, so she would follow his example. Eevee entered and made her way to Razara, instantly recognizing her. "Razara?"
"Eevee! Hi!" Razara greeted. They had met once before. Razara was a past client who needed help looking for a lost item.
"What are you doing here?" Eevee asked, looking over the Zangoose's wounds.
"Well, Eevee, it's kind of a funny story… No, not funny! It was like something out of a dream…! The sweetest Seviper came to my rescue yesterday! I know it sounds wrong, but…it feels so right! I can't explain it. I was so rude to him, but he continued to be nice and sweet and gentle with me," Razara explained as she swooned. "But it turns out that my older brother fought him once before and gave him a really nasty scar next to his eye."
"I get that Zangoose and Seviper are natural enemies, which probably causes a lot of tension, but it sounds like you're falling head over paws for him," Eevee commented. She then noticed the flowers in a glass vase and flower petals on her lap. "Are those flowers from him?"
"Yeah," the Zangoose replied. "He put them on my lap, but I thought that they'd need water, so I put them in there. So…how do I talk to him? I think he likes me."
"Personally, I wasn't aware of how Oshawott felt until I was pretty much half dead and coughing up blood into the snow. I still feel bad about it…" Eevee's ears drooped, but then perked back up. "But if you're reading him correctly and feel the same way, you've got to talk to him and reel him in before he thinks you're not interested!"
"You're right. Thanks, Eevee!" Razara thanked her, her red eyes now filled to the brim with hope.
"You're welcome," Eevee replied as she walked out. She was happy that her friend and former client finally found love, but she was worried that it wouldn't work out. Then, she wondered if more Pokémon should have had nicknames. They were definitely a good way to tell Pokémon of the same species apart.
Meanwhile, at the guild, Thomas was telling Piplup and Chimchar what he had learned about Pokémon when he was back in his world. They were amazed. He told them about Mega Evolution and the different myths involving Yveltal, Xerneas, and Zygarde. Chimchar, completely awestruck, wondered, "I wonder if we can ever achieve Mega Evolution here in our world."
"I'm more amazed by the Pokémon said to bring life and destruction. Grovyle mentioned something like that not too long ago," Piplup added his opinion to the conversation.
"I find it all so fascinating! Boy, it's great to be back, and not to mention in a form I can seriously enjoy! I have paws that I can use to fight and grab stuff! Not to mention a really cool tail!" Thomas exclaimed, hugging his long, blue tail.
"Yep. Your personality has definitely stayed the same," Piplup commented.
"So, what kind of Pokémon have you trained in your world recently?" Chimchar asked curiously, remembering that the Riolu was a Pokémon Trainer in his home world.
"My Vileplume and Swampert all the way. And recently I've befriended a Braixen that I met as Fennekin and a Doublade that I met as a Honedge," Thomas answered. "I love Pokémon. It's an honor being one right now."
"Speaking of which, Piplup, I always sort of wondered what you looked like as a human," Chimchar wondered aloud as the attention shifted over to Piplup.
"You think I'd remember something like that?" Piplup asked defensively.
"Of course not! We're not putting you to it! You just can't help but wonder, though," Thomas replied, trying to ease his leader and companion.
"Maybe you'd take on your human form if you went to Thomas's world," Chimchar theorized.
"Somehow, I think I'd get in trouble with Palkia for that…" Thomas muttered.
At sundown, Seviper returned to the hospital with a wide variety of berries for Razara. She gratefully exclaimed, "Oh, wow! Thanks, Seviper! There're so many of them! Ooh, Cheri Berries!"
"Eat up. I got you plenty of Oran Berriesss, too. You need to get your ssstrength back," Seviper advised encouragingly.
"By the way, I got you something, too," Razara said as she gobbled up the berries. She held out a soft, pink, squishy candy in her paw. It was a Pink Gummi. "I hear that you Poison-types like these. Here! Open up." Seviper did as instructed and opened his gaping mouth, amazing the she-Zangoose at how wide his mouth could go. She let the Pink Gummi rest on his thin, forked tongue. "Okay. Close. Swallow." Again, Seviper did as he was told. The Pink Gummi was delicious!
"Thanksss, Razara! That'sss so kind of you!" Seviper said gratefully. He had never been treated so kindly by a Zangoose before, and he didn't have the urge to engage her in mortal combat. He only wanted to engage her in love. "Are you feeling better?"
"Much better, thanks to you! If you hadn't come to save me, I would've lost so much blood! And thanks to these berries, my wounds will heal so much faster now! Thanks, Seviper! I really owe you a lot!" Razara thanked him with a very emotional voice. "You've been so nice to me ever after the way I treated you and the way my brother treated you! Thank you, Seviper! Thank you!" She was practically crying, but not in the way she was the day before. These tears were different. They were…happy tears. They were tears of joy.
In an effort to wipe her tears, Seviper licked her face with his forked tongue. In spite of her tears, she giggled at the way it tickled her cheek. She wrapped her fluffy tail around his long, thin body. Her soft fur felt so good on his hard scales. They wouldn't have minded being there forever if Nurse Audino had not come along. She said to them, "I'm sorry, but visiting hours are over. You can come back tomorrow."
"I guessss that'sss my cue. Good night, Razara," Seviper bid her farewell and slithered out.
"Good night," Razara called out to him. She sighed dreamily as she watched him go.