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joyarting · 1 year ago

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A change of scenery

Pokemon Lab au thing! Story under the cut

Tera was honestly not surprised when the old guy stepped down. She’d been there for years and seen many head scientists step down and pass leadership to someone just as terrible. One day she had enough of a certain head treating her like shit so she killed him. After all, they did it to some of the pokemon here. No big deal, they’ll just replace him.

Well apparently, it was a big deal and she woke up with a chain around her ankle that prevented her from moving too close to the door. Did she still try however? Yes. Then she got a muzzle to stop her from using certain moves. Last time she tried to use flamethrower she ended up with a gaping burn mark on her snout.

She heard the door to her painfully small, bug infested, room creak open and she hissed at whoever it was coming inside. It was a man with red hair and brown eyes. He was wearing a gray lab coat and the name “Trystan” was written on it.

“Uhhh” He said. “C’mon we gotta do something with you..”

Tera got up and the thick chain laced around her ankle jangled. Locking her eyes on his, she gave him a dark stare. When he kept standing there, she used her telepathy.

“No.”

“But, I can get the chain and muzzle off you” He said, gesturing to her ankle and then her snout.

Tera didn’t break eye contact. She darkened her stare and got closer in an attempt to intimidate him.

“I will not move from this room.”

Trystan stepped back, clearly intimidated by her. He stuttered “P-please?”

Tera stomped and once more, stated with telepathy. “No”

Suddenly, Tera heard heels clicking down the halls.

It was the new boss of the lab. She spoke to Trystan: “What’s wrong? Are they not co-operating?”

Trystan, still trembling, replied “Uh Yeah. They aren’t..”

Tera rolled her eyes. “Well listen, I’m not fighting.. That’s all I'm gonna say..”

The boss lady stepped in front of Trystan. “Hello there Tera! I’m Ashley! I don’t think we’ve met!”

She was quite tall. Taller than Trystan. Tera noticed. She was wearing cherry red heels and a black lab coat. Indicating her high status. Her hair was jet black and in a tight ponytail. Her hair also had some hazel streaks littered around. She had large green eyes, freckles and wore a confident expression on her face.

“Ashley…” Tera echoed

Why does that sound so…familiar..?

Tera shrugged that familiar feeling off. Maybe it was another experiment’s name.

Ashley looked down at the thick chain that was laced around Tera’s ankle, and casually walked towards it. Tera backed away from the woman.

“I’m not fightin’ ya hear?? I’m not taking anyone else’s life!” Ashley looked confused, “Uh, fight? We aren’t-” She cut herself off realizing the gravity of what the large wyvern-like pokemon in front of her said. “H-He made…you fight…other pokemon..?”

Tera flinched. But she didn’t falter.

Ashley approached her and wrapped her arms around the wyvern-esque pokemon. “Is that..Is that why… Listen…I didn’t want to tell you.. I wanted it to be a surprise but.. I was trying to move you to a different area.” She smiled. “Come, I’ll show you.” She unclasped the muzzle and the chain. She stepped back allowing Tera to process what had just happened.

She hadn’t felt like this in a while.. So..So..

Free.

She tried to stretch her wings but they were stopped by the wall. On account of the room being absolutely tiny. “And that, Tera, is why we have to move you! If you can’t fit through the door then blast it. This holding area is getting demolished soon anyways..” Tera knew she could probably fit but blasted the doorway anyway. She followed Ashley from far behind and they reached a door with an access pad. “Trystan, If you will?” He stepped forward and pressed his keycard against the screen and the door opened. “Come on! Don’t be shy!” Tera cautiously stepped through the doorway. And was blinded by the sun shining down. She flinched but kept moving ahead. She had no idea why she was trusting these scientists. Maybe it was their aura? It was… soothing somehow? Especially Ashley’s. Tera was sure she had felt it somewhere before. But where? She had shut her eyes subconsciously when she emerged from the doorway and she kept them shut. The sun irritated her eyes on account of being part Noivern, so she was more active during the dark and at night. Lost in her thoughts, she felt a tap near the bottom of her wing. She flinched, not expecting the sudden contact. “Are..You okay? Do your eyes hurt or something? C’mon! Open your eyes! You’ll love what you see! I swear!” Tera hissed as she forced her eyelids open. She stood in shock at the sight before her. It seemed like a densely wooded area with a surplus of berry trees. There was a river that trailed out to a lake and Tera saw some other pokemon playing or resting around it. There was ample space to fly around. Tera stretched her wings, satisfied. Ashley chuckled. “See? I told you!” Tera laid down where she was standing and relaxed a bit. She felt safe enough, so why not? She felt something lean against her wing. She was about to shove it off and growl at it but she heard Ashley.

“Trystan, could you gather the rest of them and bring them here?”

Tera heard the door slide open and shut

“I’m gonna take a nap. I take it that you haven’t slept in a while either?”

Tera huffed, seemingly signifying a yes.

Ashley smiled and nodded. “Alright then.. Night little crystal..”

Tera froze, she began to reach out to Ashley with telepathy but Ashley started talking first.

“You forgot me, I know. I almost did too. I knew my old man was treating all of you terribly. But.. I never had the power to do anything about it.. All I could do was hope…that he would.. Let you all.. Go.. y’know..?”

Ashley’s voice began quivering as she spoke.

“I’m so sorry Tera…I’m sorry that I wasn’t there for you…” she sniffled “None of you deserved any of this..”

Ashley wiped the tears that rolled down her cheeks.

Tera finally remembered. It all came rushing back to her. She remembered that time a little kid wandered into the lab. Years ago, before Tera evolved. The scientists had apparently been in a panic looking for her. She had wandered into Tera’s room. They found her there. It took them quite a while to get her away from Tera as she had grown attached to the kid. She got tranqued unfortunately, and the kid was gone when she woke up.

Tera was unsure how humans measured time but a while later a new person came to work. She had been quite gentle and regularly spent time with Tera. But, that didn’t last long. The boss of that time had assigned her to a different station and decided to make an “arena” for entertainment. The fights went on until the opponent died. Even if they fainted, the opponent would be forced to get the pokemon while they were down. Another pokemon had tried to go against that.

He was never seen again.

It was thanks to that arena that Tera’s brother, Hazard, got killed. After that, Tera just… broke.. One of the only people that cared about her, to the extent where the feeling was mutual.

Just..gone.

She wouldn’t leave her cell for months after. They eventually managed to get her out and she fought.

She nearly lost. Had it not been for her sudden evolution, from her grief, sadness and anger, she would’ve surely lost her life that day.

Tera snapped back to reality, and gently pulled Ashley close. The lady broke down and hugged Tera’s claw. She seemed to feel incredibly guilty.

Tera reached out with telepathy. “I..It’s been so long… all those fights.. All that time.. I had completely forgotten… If anything, I should be sorry..” Her own mental voice cracked. “I’m happy you’re the head now though… we don’t have to fight anymore..”

Practically on que, two pokemon began arguing below them, in a clearing by the river

Ashley sniffled and laughed. “I guess you’re mostly right! But we should stop them before that fight turns physical.”

Tera shrugged, picking up Ashley. She squeaked then and only then only then realizing how small the human was in comparison to the wyvern-esque pokemon. Tera jumped down, landing with a thud that sent birds scattering into the sky. Tera looked down to see what all the commotion was, growling the whole time. The noise was Hatchet and Cloth. Hatchet was a Riolu and Jangmo-o hybrid while Cloth was a Zweilous and Mimikyu hybrid. Tera assessed them quickly, a skill she’d picked up from the fights to judge the opponent’s strength. Hatchet could maybe withstand a few special attacks, but a strong physical attack would send him flying. Cloth on the other hand, was the opposite. They could withstand a few physical attacks but a special attack would defeat them quite quickly. Especially considering that the two heads usually fought over everything.

Tera spoke in a manner that humans didn’t understand. No telepathy was required at the present time.

Tera stared at them darkly and asked. “What the hell are you fighting about now?”

One of Cloth’s heads quivered, terrified. TThe other one growled back a response. “Hatchet knows that I claimed this territory. And yet, he lingers here like a parasite that refuses to unlatch!” The other head looked rather uncomfortable about this whole situation. Hatchet argued back. “Nu-Uh! See those slash marks?” He gestured to a tree, and sure enough, it had slash marks everywhere. “This is MY territory you cretin!” Cloth snarled, and tackled Hatchet, who was thrown off balance instantly. He hissed, spun around and smacked Cloth in the face with his long, scaly tail. Causing them to yelp in pain and stagger back.

Tera knew if she didn’t intervene, things would get much worse. They could kill each other for Arceus’ sake! The two pokemon charged at each other and Tera managed to land an Ancient Power between the two of them, creating a wall and effectively stopping them in their tracks.

Tera approached the two of them. In an intimidating matter of course.

She snarled, “Listen. One of you find a different fucking place to stay. This is a forest for crying out loud!” She gestured to the area around them. “Can’t one of you just be mature and find somewhere else to go?? There are so many other places to stay!”

A bright light swirled around the pokemon. Tera, knowing what it was, quickly jumped back before it affected her too. The lights kept swirling around the pokemon and they popped and dusted on and around the squabbling pokemon. Who seemingly didn’t even notice the lights floating around them. A few seconds later, they fell over, asleep. Tera looked at Ashley, who stood there in silence. Finally, she uttered out something along the lines of: “Are they dead?” Tera shook her head indicating that they were indeed, not dead. A glass variant Lapras popped up from the water. She smiled warmly at Tera and Ashley. “Good day! Sorry if you were dealing with them already Tera!” Tera recognised the voice to be Quartz. Tera stuttered as her words failed her. She managed to squeak out a response. “That’s fine..” She yelled at herself mentally. “You idiot! Why can’t you put 2 words together around her??” Quartz fully got out of the water, scooped up the two pokemon on her back, and slid back into the water. Offering a wave at Tera and then swam off, humming. Tera felt the heat rising to her cheeks. Ashley nudged Tera. “Ooooo someone has a cruuusshh~” Tera gave her an indignant huff and clambered back up the cliff. Leaving Ashley at the bottom. “Hey! Wait! I’m sorry! It was a joke I swear!” Tera hopped back up on the cliff, curled up and fell asleep. Her Noivern side finally overtaking her. She felt exhausted, like she hadn’t slept in days. She exhaled and drifted off into a long dreamless sleep.

A change of scenery was nice she supposed.