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Second Chance

by Havoc

"A friend is someone who understands your past, believes in your future, and accepts you just the way you are."

******

Walking through the streets of Celadon City always made Serena feel very small.

The second-largest city in Kanto, Celadon was filled with tall buildings, bustling streets, and throngs of people. The tallest of all of the buildings was the Celadon Department Store, a huge mall built into a one-hundred-story skyscraper. Quite a few buildings over fifty floors were spread around the city, and in the entire limits only a small number of structures were shorter than ten stories. All of this combined to make a skyline which could easily be seen for miles around. The top of the department store could even, on a very clear day, be seen from Fuschia City, all the way on the southern coast of Kanto.

Then again, Serena felt small most places. She was short, even for a girl her age, standing an even five feet in height. Sixteen years old, she had graduated from high school early just a few months ago in her childhood home of Lavender Town and had immediately moved to Celadon City, eager to start her own life in the big city. She'd had dreams of what life by herself would be like, and for the most part they had come true. Serena had managed to get a decent job working as a salesperson in a small, upscale boutique, and she had a modest apartment in a quiet part of the city. The only thing that she hadn't thought would be a problem was the loneliness. Serena considered herself a plain girl, with short brown hair and black eyes, and she didn't have a lot of confidence talking to boys, so dating was definitely out of the question. She wasn't so good at making friends with other girls, either, and in any case she wasn't comfortable enough in her new surroundings to go out much, socially. The most she managed, when she wasn't at work, was shopping for groceries and venturing out from her apartment to wander around one of the several parks in the city, where she could spend time in relative anonymity. After spending sixteen years with her large family, living on her own was quite an adjustment to make.

So, that was what had pushed her to make an excursion into the more busy area of Celadon City, close to the towering department store. Lacking the confidence to go out and meet people, she reasoned that another solution would be to get a pet who could share her apartment with her. Back in Lavender Town, her family had kept several pokémon as pets, and she missed having that sort of companionship. After looking through a guidebook for the city that she had bought, she found that there were no shortage of stores selling pokémon as pets, but what had drawn her attention was a place that was on the thirtieth floor of the Celadon Department Store. Called "Second Chance Shelter", it was a place that took in abandoned, stray, or unwanted pokémon and adopted them out to people who were willing to take care of them. She thought that was a much better option than buying one from a pet store, so on the morning of one of her days off she'd taken a bus to the department store.

When Serena finally arrived at the shelter on the thirtieth floor of the department store, she first went to the reception desk. "E-Excuse me?" she said in a small voice. The lady who was sitting there was typing away at a computer, and it seemed as though she hadn't heard the young girl speak. Clearing her throat, Serena tried a second time. "Excuse me. Is this the Second Chance Shelter?"

Looking up from her work, the receptionist seemed a little annoyed at first to have been interrupted, but once she saw the teenager standing before her she smiled. "Yes, yes it is." Swiveling her chair to face Serena, she folded her hands on top of the reception desk. "How can I help you?"

"I want to adopt a pokémon," Serena explained. She pulled out a printed piece of paper from her pocket and unfolded it, handing it over to the receptionist. "I...I made an appointment on your website earlier last week, see?"

Taking the paper from her, the receptionist looked it over briefly. "Oh, I see. You must be Serena, then." The woman gave a small laugh at the astonished expression on Serena's face. "We don't get a lot of people interested in adopting pokémon, you see, so it's easy to remember the names of people who sign up. It's sad, but a lot of people seem to have prejudices against shelter pokémon."

Serena was surprised by that. "Why would that be?"

"Well, I guess they feel like the people who owned them gave them up for a reason, so why take a chance on them?" The receptionist turned back to her computer, tapping away at the keys for a few seconds. "Personally, I think shelter pokémon are real sweeties. I have two Skittys I adopted from here at home, myself." She looked at Serena with another smile. "One of our adoption counselors will be out shortly. Just have a seat and they'll come get you."

Looking to the side, Serena saw a small waiting area with a cluster of chairs. "Okay. Thank you!" Walking over to one of the chairs, the sixteen-year-old sat down and crossed her legs. She jerked one of her feet nervously, thinking back to the online application process she had been through. There had been a lot of questions on the application, including questions about her income, living space, and history with keeping animals. Serena had answered honestly, of course, but she knew that she didn't make much money and had a smallish apartment. A chance existed that she would be rejected as a candidate for adoption.

She wasn't kept waiting for very long. After sitting there for about ten minutes, a door near the reception desk opened and a man wearing clothes not unlike surgical scrubs came out. He was young, though older than Serena, and had an earnest air about him. Spotting Serena, he walked over to her extending a hand. In his other hand, he held a clipboard with a printout of what looked like her online application.

"Hello, pleased to meet you!" he said, as Serena took his hand. "My name's Miles. I'm one of the veterinarians here, and I'm also one of the adoption counselors. I've looked over your application, but there are a few more questions I need to ask you before we can head back to see the pokémon."

"A-Alright," Serena said. She tried not to show him how anxious she was, though she was fidgeting a little, unable to decide what to do with her hands. Finally, she settled on folding them in her lap.

Miles took the chair next to her. "First, what purpose are you wanting to adopt a pokémon for? Are you a trainer, a breeder, or a coordinator?"

"Oh, nothing like that!" Serena said. "I'm not interested in training or anything. I just wanted a pokémon for a pet. I come from a small town. I get lonely sometimes, so I wanted a pokémon to have for companionship."

"Okay." Miles made a notation on his clipboard. "So you live alone, then? What do you do for a living? Is your schedule flexible?" When he saw the quizzical expression on Serena's face, he explained the question. "It's good to be home with a new pet for a week or so, until they get adjusted to their new surroundings. Being left alone for long periods during the adjustment period can lead to feelings of abandonment and be very stressful. Would you be able to take off from your job for that long?"

"I see...," Serena said. She thought about it for a few seconds. "I work in a little fashion boutique uptown. I'd be able to take off a week, probably more. And when I am working, it's for only six hours at a time."

Miles looked approving of that answer. "Excellent. How about your neighborhood? Plenty of space nearby for you to take a pokémon to exercise?"

"Oh, yes!" Serena said, nodding enthusiastically. "I love being outside! There's a huge park near my apartment building, with tons of room. I see people with their pokémon there all the time, and I'd love to be one of them!"

"Good to hear. Alright, then, I think that does it for your application." The veterinarian handed over the clipboard and his pen. "Just sign right here at the bottom, and of course there's a nominal adoption fee. Had you thought about what sort of pokémon you wanted to adopt?"

Serena considered as she signed the document. "Well...Nothing too big," she said, handing the clipboard back. "My apartment is nice, but it's only nine hundred square feet. So something good for that size."

"So, no Wailords, then?" Miles asked, with a little laugh. "I think we can help you out there. Come on back, and we'll find the right pokémon for you." He got up from his chair, gesturing to the door he'd come in from.

Standing up as well, Serena followed Miles back into the main area of the pokémon shelter. Once back there, the atmosphere was a cacophony of cries of different pokémon. They both walked through halls, and as Serena turned her head this way and that she saw wide windows that looked into holding areas with cages housing all sorts of creatures. Pokémon of all sizes were represented, from tiny little Purrloins all the way up to Luxrays and other large breeds. Serena hadn't realized how many pokémon there were that were in need of adoption, and this was just one shelter! She couldn't believe that so many people could give up their pokémon.

After walking for a while, Miles opened a door. "Here we have some of our smaller to medium-sized pokémon. I think you'll find what you're looking for in here."

Stepping inside, Serena felt overwhelmed. She'd been able to see inside the various holding areas, but she hadn't been able to see how far back they went. From the door, there was an aisle that extended several hundred feet to the back of the room, and on either side were cages. Each cage was about six feet wide and twenty or so feet deep, housing a single pokémon. Taking a deep breath, she started walking down the aisle, with Miles just a few paces behind her. Looking from side to side, she saw several adorable Eevees, a glamorous Delcatty, and an intimidating Mightyena, among others. When she got to each cage, she could read an information card mounted next to the cage door which told her the age, sex, and name of the pokémon, if it had one. All of the pokémon, despite their varied appearances, seemed very friendly. They approached the fronts of their cages, wagging their tails if they had them and making plaintive growls and mews. She had no idea what how she was supposed to decide among them; they all seemed like really good pokémon to have.

Then, coming to one cage, Serena paused. For a moment, she thought that the cage was empty, but when she looked closer she saw a huddled ball of green and light yellow all the way at back. "Who's this?" she asked curiously, before she remembered the cards mounted on the cages. Glancing at the card, she read the description. "'Ten years old. Male. Named...Leon.'" The teen looked towards the back of the cage again. The pokémon inside was still huddled in a ball, and he seemed to be shivering a bit. Serena got down on her knees, tilting her head as she tried to get a better look.

"Ah...," Miles said, making Serena jump. She'd forgotten he was right behind her. "That's Leon, as you just read. He's been at the shelter about six years. We've had some trouble adopting him out. He has a bit of a...ah...troubled history."

Serena saw a long, green, pointed ear twitch up at the sound of Miles' voice, and the pokémon slowly raised his head. "A Leafeon!" she said, surprised. They were incredibly rare pokémon, difficult to find in the wild and uncommon even with trainers. Serena found it hard to imagine that someone wouldn't have adopted him already. "Why has he been so difficult to find someone for?"

"Leon's a rescue pokémon," Miles explained. "His previous owner was a less than reputable breeder. Miles was one of ten Leafeons from his litter, and one of only four to survive. His owner was very abusive and wound up getting investigated by the police when enough neighbors complained. Leon was taken from him and he ended up with us." Miles tapped on the cage wiring. Leon lifted his head a little higher, but then his eyes fell on Serena and he seemed to shrink back. "We rehabilitated him physically, but he's still very withdrawn and shy. He jumps at loud noises, and he has trouble sleeping. Only the staff who have been here the longest are able to even touch him. He'll let hardly anyone near him."

"Poor thing...," Serena said. She watched the Leafeon for a few more minutes. Even with him huddled up, she could tell he was pretty. His fur looked soft, and if he had ever been unhealthy he looked perfectly fine now. His tail was long and broad, like a tropical leaf, the same as his ears. The Leafeon's eyes were a soft shade of brown, matching the hazy borders between his green and yellow areas of fur. As soon as Serena looked into them, and saw the gleam there, she felt her heart melt. She saw so much pain in Leon's eyes, and a lot of fear as well, but she could also see loneliness.

All of a sudden, the decision didn't seem very hard at all.

******

Serena approached the front door of her apartment, and with a little difficulty she shuffled around the shopping bags in her hands and managed to unlock and turn the handle. She pushed the door open and stepped inside, then she put the bags down and closed and locked the door behind her. Humming happily, she began unpacking the items she'd purchased from the bags. On the way home Serena had stopped at a few shops and gotten some things for her new pet. She looked around her apartment, searching for the perfect places to put them. Her living room was the most spacious part of her home, with a long couch against the wall the door was on and a television placed near the wall opposite. The living room also had a large armchair against one wall, which was skirted so that it appeared to be a solid piece, but which actually had four legs and an empty space underneath which things could be stored on the floor. Right now, though, she didn't have anything under there. To the left side of the living room was an open doorway which led into the kitchen and dining area, and to the right was a closed door which led to the bedroom. There was a sliding glass door on the same wall as the television, which led to a small balcony on which she had a little table and a chair.

From inside the largest shopping bag, Serena pulled a circular, plush pet bed of a dark, earthy brown color. She placed the bed in the center of the room, where the floor was wide open. From a second bag she removed three toys, carefully selected to match the kinds that the pokémon shelter had kept around. One was a small, squeaky rubber ball, brightly colored in red, blue, and yellow stripes. The second toy had a wide circular base with a tall, tightly coiled spring sticking up from it and a bundle of dyed Swanna feathers tied at the top. The third toy was a small stuffed Leafeon, realistically colored and filled with cotton. She put all of the toys on the floor, near the bed.

Serena carried the last shopping bag into the kitchen, and from it she took two plastic dishes and a heavy paper sack of pokémon food. She put the food in her pantry and put the dishes on the kitchen floor near the entrance, first filling one with fresh water. Once all that was done, the girl walked back out to her living room, reaching into the pocket of her jacket. Closing her fingers around the poké ball inside, she withdrew it and cupped it in both hands. The ball looked like a normal one, except it was yellow-on-white, rather than red-on-white. The different color was to distinguish it from a trainer's poké ball, so that Serena could carry it even without a trainer's license in places where pokémon were not allowed to run free.

Placing the capsule on the floor, Serena pressed the button in the center and took a few steps back from it. There was a brief delay and then a bright flash of light, and the ball popped open. With another flash of light, Leon materialized on the floor, next to the bed and the toys. Serena smiled happily as the Leafeon blinked, looking a little bewildered at what had just happened. Her smile quickly faded as the pokémon gave a loud yip of fright, twisting his head back and forth in confusion. When he caught sight of Serena he scrabbled at the floor with all four paws, panicking. Then he made a beeline for the armchair against the far wall, flattening himself to the floor and shooting underneath it.

"L-Leon?" Serena said. Hesitantly she walked over to the chair, getting down on her hands and knees. She carefully lifted up the edge of the skirt around the furniture, peering underneath. Leon was huddled at the very back, against the wall, making himself as small as he could manage, which was impressive for a pokémon which was three feet long and more than half as high at the shoulders. His ears were laid flat and he was shivering, just like he had been back at the shelter. The pokémon's eyes were wide and scared-looking. "You don't need to be afraid. There's nothing to be scared of." Serena reached a hand underneath the couch, and he shied back from her instantly. Not wishing to scare him any more than he already seemed to be, she pulled her hand back out.

Remembering what Miles had told her back at the shelter, she realized how traumatizing this whole process must already be for the Leafeon. The first four years of his life had been spent growing up in an abusive environment, and he'd been rescued and spent the last six years in a place where he'd felt safe. He was used to the relatively small enclosure where he'd lived at the shelter, and had grown accustomed to the staff there. Now he was in a new place, with someone he'd barely met at the shelter, with all new surroundings and unfamiliar smells. It would be asking a lot of the canine pokémon to be comfortable right away, even if Serena would have like it. She knew that it would take time for Leon to be more at ease in his new home.

"Okay, Leon," Serena said, letting the skirt around the chair drop. She tried not to let how disappointed she was creep into her voice. "I know this is a lot for you. You just stay right there until you're ready to come out, okay?" She got up from the floor, feeling a little deflated as she walked away from the chair. She'd had visions of bringing Leon home and giving him a place where he could be happy, but he seemed even more scared and pitiful than he had at the shelter. Serena almost felt like a failure, and she had the brief thought that it might be better for Leon if she just took him back.

As soon as she thought that, Serena felt disgusted with herself. She'd accepted the responsibility of adopting Leon knowing full well that it would be a slow process. Taking him back to the shelter would be admitting defeat, and more than that it would be absolutely unfair to Leon. He was already distrustful of humans, and taking him back would reinforce that. Taking him back would be like abandoning him, and she just couldn't do that. No, she thought, being firm with herself, the right thing to do was to stick this out. Leon needed _someone_who cared for him more than a veterinarian at a shelter, and Serena had fallen for him the instant she'd seen him. She knew that she could get him to open up if she was patient enough.

Forcing herself to turn away from Leon's hiding place, Serena went into the kitchen. The sun had set outside, and it was getting close to dinner time, and she was starting to feel pretty hungry. For the next hour, Serena busied herself with cooking a meal, listening every now and then for any sounds from her living room. She was finished with her dinner, and in the middle of cleaning up, when she actually looked out into the living room for the first time since she got home. Of Leon, nothing was visible except for the end of his broad, leaflike tail sticking out from underneath the armchair. Serena's heart sank again. This wasn't going the way that she'd hoped it would. She finished clearing up, then she went back into the living room and sat down on her couch, crossing her arms and watching the armchair thoughtfully.

I don't know the first thing to do..., Serena said to herself. She leaned forward, placing her elbows on her knees and propping her head up in her hands. This is going to be tough. She wondered what she should do. Leon had been home with her for nearly three hours now, and she'd seen him for barely ten seconds all together. They couldn't get accustomed to each other if he wouldn't come out from underneath that chair.

Suddenly, something occurred to Serena. If she recalled what the staff at the shelter had told her correctly, the pokémon at the shelter were fed twice a day, once first thing in the morning and once in the evening just before the shelter closed. That meant that Leon hadn't eaten since early that day. He must be getting hungry. An idea came to Serena that this might be an opportunity, and a plan started to form itself in her mind. Maybe Leon wouldn't come out from under the chair for her, but he might come out for something else.

Getting up and going to the kitchen, Serena went into the pantry and opened up the bag of pokémon food. She filled up Leon's new food dish, but she didn't leave it in the kitchen. Instead she brought it into the living room, and she placed it on the floor in front of the chair the Leafeon was hiding under. The bowl was just far enough away from the chair that he would have to pop his head out if he wanted to eat. Grinning to herself, Serena sat on the floor against the wall all the way across the living room, and waited.

An hour passed before there was any sign of activity. Just as Serena was ready to give up for the evening, she saw the skirt around the chair move a little. She held her breath as a yellowish muzzle, tipped with a brown nose, poked out, the nose twitching as it sniffed at the air. Serena stayed absolutely motionless, watching. Cautiously, Leon put his head out more until his eyes were visible. He was looking at the bowl of pokémon food, and Serena saw his pink tongue flick out as he licked his lips. He was obviously hungry. Leon noticed her, sitting across the room, and Serena saw his eyes moving from the bowl to her and back again repeatedly.

"Come on, Leon," she whispered, more to herself than to him. "It's okay. I'm not gonna hurt you. Come on out for dinner." The pokémon seemed just as desperate to stay underneath the chair as he was to get at the food. Serena kept her eyes on him, and he came out just a little bit more. Leon reached out with one leg, trying to grab the bowl. He succeeded in snagging the lip of the bowl with his paw, but as he began to drag it closer to him it caught on the carpet and tipped over. Serena saw the fur on the back of his neck stand on end as the bowl dumped its contents on the floor, and in a flash he'd shot back underneath the chair.

Serena sighed, looking up at the ceiling. So close. She waited for a little bit longer, but there was no movement from Leon's hiding place. Still, it had been some progress, at least. Taking a bit of solace in it, Serena decided that she would go to bed. She went over to the chair and knelt down, scooping up the spilled pokémon food and putting it back in the bowl. The girl left the dish where she'd placed it before and went into her bedroom. For the Leafeon's sake, she left the living room light on, and she left her bedroom door cracked open so that she'd be able to hear if anything was wrong. Serena undressed and climbed into bed.

******

Some hours after she'd drifted off to sleep, Serena opened her eyes again. She could hear a sound coming from out in the living room, and it took her a minute to recognize what the sound was. A crunching, crumbling noise, broken up by periodic rattles. The girl realized that she was hearing something being eaten. As quietly as she could manage, Serena slid out of bed and tiptoed across her bedroom floor to the cracked-open door. Little by little, she pushed it open until there was enough space for her to poke her head out.

Out in the living room, where the light was still on, Serena could see Leon with half of his body protruding from underneath the armchair. He had his front paws planted on the floor on either side of the food bowl, and he was eating just as fast as his jaws could move. The angle from which Serena was watching was such that the Leafeon couldn't see her, but she thought that even if he could, he would have kept on eating. The pokémon looked thoroughly engrossed in his meal.

Smiling to herself, Serena silently slipped back into her bedroom and closed the door to a crack again. She got back into bed, snuggling under the covers with a warm feeling inside of her. The victory was a small one, but a victory nonetheless.

******

The next morning when Serena woke up, she sat up in bed, stretching her arms wide. She looked out the window, where bright sunlight was streaming through. The weather was a welcome change; for the last few days the sky had been cloudy, threatening rain, but the rain had never come. Serena yawned and swung her legs out of the bed, getting up and going to the bathroom. After brushing her teeth, she took a quick shower, freshening up for the day. She didn't have to go to work today, or for the rest of the week, because she had called in to her boss and taken the week off. She knew that she'd need every available minute of that week to be with Leon.

After the shower, Serena put on some shorts and a t-shirt and went to her bedroom door. Carefully she opened it, peeking out into the living room. The food dish was sitting there on the floor where it had been last night, empty. She looked at the armchair. She couldn't tell whether Leon was underneath it or not, but she thought he probably was. Serena pushed the door open all the way and walked into the living room. Her bare feet made barely a sound on the carpet. Looking around, she decided to call out to her pokémon.

"Leon?" she said quietly, not wishing to be too loud. "Where are you?" He wasn't anywhere to be found in the living room, at least not anywhere in the open. The toys were still exactly where she had left them the evening before, and the pokémon bed didn't look disturbed either. Going to the armchair, she got down on all fours and peered underneath the skirt around the chair. She smiled. "Good morning, Leon."

The Leafeon was staring back at her with his soft brown eyes. He still looked scared, but he didn't seem to be trembling anymore. That was progress, right? She thought about putting her hand underneath to try to touch him again, but then she thought better of it. That might be pushing things a little. Instead, she just slid back a little, holding the skirt up.

"It's breakfast time," she said. "Want to come out to eat?" Serena waited for a few minutes, watching Leon carefully. He wasn't moving at all, but he had flicked one ear at the word "breakfast". She waited a little longer, then she shrugged. "Okay. You don't have to come out right now if you don't want to." Serena got up from the floor and picked up his food bowl. She carried it into the kitchen and filled it from the bag in the pantry, then she brought it back out to the living room and put it on the floor. This time she put it a little further away from the chair, and she went back to the kitchen to make breakfast for herself.

Serena always ate a quick breakfast, usually just a bowl of cereal or a piece of fruit and some juice. When she was finished, she looked back out into the living room. Leon had come out from underneath the chair, and he was munching on the bowl of pokémon food. Because she'd placed the bowl further away, he'd had to come completely out from underneath the chair to reach the dish this time.

Quietly Serena walked into the living room, trying not to make a lot of noise. Leon didn't notice her until she was about five feet away from him, and when he realized she was coming closer he sat bolt upright. Serena stopped and knelt down on the floor, getting more on the Leafeon's level. He was wide-eyed, watching her carefully, his leafy green tail twitching back and forth. He looked between her and the remaining food in his bowl, making a little whining noise.

"I'm not going to hurt you," Serena assured him again. "You can keep eating."

Suspicious of her, Leon eyed her carefully. Keeping his gaze on her, he lowered his head again, going back to eating his breakfast. Serena watched him eat, smiling a little at how eagerly he was going at it. He was the cutest thing she thought she had ever seen. She desperately wanted to reach out and pet him, but she was afraid of what might happen if she did. It might ruin what little progress she'd already made with him. So she just waited and kept an eye on him, trying to be satisfied that he was just letting her be this close to him. When he was done eating, she picked up the empty bowl and stood up, expecting him to slink back underneath his chair.

But he didn't. He stayed where he was, sitting on the floor, looking at her. Serena stayed where she was, suddenly unsure of what to do. She hadn't seen this kind of behavior from him before, and wasn't expecting it from what she'd been told about him at the shelter. When she'd been at the shelter, he'd done everything that he could to make himself as small and as far away from everyone as possible. Leon had behaved the same way when she first brought him home. She hadn't been expecting him to stay out this long. He was gazing back at her almost curiously, and she thought that he looked a little less scared.

"Is something wrong, Leon?" she asked, putting the bowl back down. Serena got back on the floor in front of him. They just looked at each other for a few minutes. Tentatively, the sixteen-year-old put a hand out, reaching for him. For a moment she thought she'd be able to touch him, but then he shied away from her, although he didn't run under the chair this time. Serena drew her hand back. "Okay, okay. You're not ready yet." She looked around, and then she spied the stuffed Leafeon toy on the floor near the pokémon bed. "How about a toy?" She picked up the toy and put it on the floor in front of Leon.

Leon looked at the toy, cocking his head to one side. He bent his head down and sniffed at it a few times, then put a paw out and poked at it. There was a little jingle bell around the neck of the stuffed toy, and as Leon prodded it the bell tingled. At the sound he jerked back for a second, but as Serena watched he leaned back in, and jingled the bell again. His ears pricked up and Serena saw his eyes sparkle, and Leon bent down further and picked up the toy in his mouth. He sat back up and looked at Serena, wagging his tail just a little. Then, taking the toy with him, he crawled back under the chair. This time, though, instead of staying all the way under he came back out partway, with his front paws and head sticking out. He held the stuffed Leafeon in between his front paws, nudging it repeatedly with his muzzle and making the bell ring.

Beaming, Serena felt a swell of happiness in her heart. "Good boy, Leon," she praised the pokémon. She picked up his food dish from the floor again, carrying it into the kitchen to give it a wash. While she was cleaning up, she listened to the rhythmic sound of the jingling bell.

******

The next week was filled with lots of little baby steps. For the first few days, Leon did little except huddle under the armchair with his toy, emerging periodically to eat and to go outside for a few minutes at a time. Over those days, he seemed to get more and more used to Serena. She still kept her bedroom door open at night, but Leon never seemed to have any trouble at night, which was a relief. Serena had worried that he might be sleepless, but he seemed to be growing more energetic as the days went on, so she assumed he was sleeping better. On the morning of the fourth day, Serena was awakened by a loud squeaking noise, fast and repeated. When she got up and looked out into the living room, she saw Leon sprawled in the bed she'd bought for him, grasping the ball that she'd gotten him in between his jaws. He was chewing on it furiously, making it squeak over and over as his tail wagged madly. He'd stopped playing when he heard Serena's laughter, dropping the ball and looking a little embarrassed. But he hadn't gone to hide when she'd brought him his breakfast that morning.

The best moment was on the sixth day, when he finally let Serena touch him. It happened in the evening, when she brought him his dinner. The Leafeon was laying in his bed, swiping a paw at the springy feathered toy and watching it twirl in the air above his head, when Serena came over with his bowl of pokémon food. As Leon rolled over onto his belly so that he could eat, he looked up at her and wagged his tail. Almost without thinking, Serena reached out to him and placed her hand on his head. The pokémon's fur felt as soft as feathery moss under her fingers, and she scratched him very gently between his ears. Leon looked shocked at what he had let her do, but for the first time he didn't shy away from her. Overjoyed, Serena almost startled him off again with how many times she said "Good boy!", running her hand down his back and petting him as he ate.

After the week was over, Serena had her heart nearly broken the morning she had to return to work. The morning started off like any other, with breakfast in the kitchen and Leon playing around with his squeaky toy. She hadn't been looking forward to this, and she worried it was going to cause a relapse. They'd made such good progress together. Serena got into her work clothes after breakfast, and when she went to the door she steeled herself for what was about to happen. As soon as her hand touched the doorknob, Leon sat up as though on alert. Serena turned about, hearing him whine at her.

"I'm just going to work, Leon," she said, trying to reassure him. She walked over to where he was sitting, and knelt down next to him. The Leafeon's ears were drooping like wilting leaves. Serena felt like crying as she looked at him. "I'm not leaving forever. I'll be back in the afternoon, okay?" She put her hand on his head, rubbing the soft fur there. His ears perked up a little. "Be a good boy and wait for me. I'll be home soon."

Serena got up and went to the door. She had to force herself to leave the apartment and lock the door behind her, trying not to listen to Leon's whines of dismay. When she got to work, it was all she could do to concentrate on the sales floor. More than once she was listening to a customer and realizing that she wasn't comprehending a thing they were saying. All she could think about was Leon, all alone at home, probably feeling like he had been abandoned. The whole time she was there she was constantly checking the clock, worried out of her mind, counting down the hours until she could go home again and be with Leon.

Finally, when her shift was over around three o'clock, she fairly flew home, running as fast as she could through the streets of Celadon City until she got back to her apartment building. The ride up to her floor seemed like an eternity, but it really only lasted a few seconds. Once she got to her door, she quickly unlocked it and went inside. She was prepared for the worst, but as soon as the door shut Leon was right in front of her, wagging his tail and looking relieved that she was home. Serena was so happy to see that he was okay that she just sank down to the floor and scratched his back for a very long time. The pokémon still looked mad at her for leaving him alone all day, but he looked more happy to see her again, and that was exactly how Serena felt, too. If she could have it her way, she would spend every day at home with Leon.

******

About a month had passed since Serena had adopted Leon, and he was starting to warm up to her more and more every day. He barely ever hid under the chair anymore, and he had even begun eating his meals in the kitchen with her. On her days off, Serena and Leon would spend the day playing in the living room. On the days when she had to work, she'd feed him in the morning and play with him a little, then leave and work her shift before coming home. When she got home from work they'd play a little more, then eat dinner and spend the evening winding down until bedtime. Recently, Leon had taken to hopping up onto the couch beside her while Serena watched TV, curling up next to her with his head on her lap. She had to be careful what sorts of shows she watched, as anything with loud noises would scare him and make him shake. She'd rub his side while they sat together, marveling at how soft and silky his yellowish fur was, while he wagged his tail lazily. He was still sleeping in his bed out in the living room, but Serena was hoping that soon he'd feel comfortable enough for her to be able to move it into her bedroom.

One day, when she was off from work, Serena decided that it was time to start broadening Leon's horizons. He was perfectly comfortable at home by now, but she was sensible enough to recognize that she couldn't spend the rest of her life either at work or in her apartment with Leon. So she ran a few errands after breakfast, and after lunch the next day she called her pokémon to the front door.

"I have a present for you, Leon," Serena said, smiling at him. She pulled a small shopping bag from behind the couch as Leon watched her, curious about what she was doing. From inside the bag, Serena pulled out a brown collar. She held it out for Leon to sniff, and then she put it around his neck, fastening it snugly but not too tight. Sitting back, she admired it. The collar was made of genuine Tauros leather. She watched while the Leafeon turned his head this way and that, trying to look at the thing that was around his neck. Two things were attached to the collar: one was a silver pendant in the shape of a leaf on which was engraved Leon's name, and the other was a silver bell just like the one that was on his stuffed toy. Serena laughed as he twitched his head from side to side, wagging his tail in amusement at the sound that the bell was making. "See, this way we can go outside, and no matter where you are I'll be able to find you. Wouldn't you like that, Leon?"

As he watched her, she went to the door, but he stayed where he was. Serena opened the door and beckoned to him, but he looked uncertain. Leon hadn't been outside for more than twenty minutes at a time since he'd come home with her, and he'd absolutely never been around other people. He looked nervous at the prospect of going outside.

"It's okay, Leon," Serena said. She patted her hip, trying to get him to come over to her. "We're just going down the block to the park. It'll be fun, I promise." She bent down to the floor and picked up his squeaky ball. "We can take this with us..."

Perking up somewhat, Leon got up and trotted over to her. Serena held the ball out to him and he took it in his mouth, wagging his tail. Serena stepped aside from the door, gesturing for him to come outside. Slowly and carefully, squeaking the ball occasionally, Leon stepped out into the hall. Once he was clear of the door, Serena stepped out after him and shut it behind her, locking it securely. Leon looked over his shoulder in surprise, and he whined a little, his ears lowering just a bit.

"Don't worry, Leon, I'm right here." Serena knelt down and patted him on the head, moving her hand underneath to scratch him underneath the chin. He calmed down, his leafy ears pricking back up. "Good boy. Now, come on. I'll be with you the whole time, okay?"

He didn't seem all that happy about it, but Leon obediently followed along with Serena as they went downstairs to the ground level. She was thankful once again that they lived in a quiet part of Celadon City, and it wasn't very crowded at street level. Leon stayed very close to Serena anyway, but he was doing very well, much better than she had expected him to do. She kept up a steady stream of praise as they walked together, letting him know how proud she was of him and how much fun they were going to have together. It wasn't the best day outside, with the sky clouding up, but it was warm and there was a steady breeze that made the atmosphere feel very pleasant.

One of the many parks that could be found in Celadon City was right down the block from Serena's apartment building. Sprawling and hilly, the park was also one of the largest and was a popular destination for people and pokémon alike. In the time she'd lived in the city, Serena had gotten to know the park well, so she knew exactly where the most secluded and quiet spots were. She already had the perfect play area in mind for her and Leon.

When they arrived at the park after a short walk, Leon immediately looked more at ease. As a Grass-type pokémon, he felt a kinship with the plants, and he sniffed around at the green grass and flowers as they walked through the park together. Serena could tell that he was feeling a lot better walking around on natural ground instead of on the paved city sidewalks. They soon got to the spot that Serena had in mind, a flat area of the park surrounded by bushes and trees.

"Here, Leon," Serena said, holding out a hand. "Give me the ball." She waited for Leon to walk over to her, and he dropped the ball into her outstretched hand, then sat down on the ground waiting for what she was going to do next. Tossing the ball from hand to hand a few times, Serena then turned and tossed the ball away from them. It landed on the grass about ten yards from them both. "Go get it, Leon, and bring it back to me!"

Looking at her curiously for a minute, Leon looked over to where the ball was sitting, wagging his tail. He seemed a little confused by what she was asking him to do, but nevertheless he got up and trotted over to the ball. He picked it up in his mouth and carried it back over to her, plopping it down in front of her. Then he sat down, cocking his head to one side as if he was asking her "Did I do a good job?"

"Good boy, Leon," Serena said, smiling at him. A little lackluster, but... She picked the ball up, sitting down on the grass and patting his head with her free hand. "But how about a little farther this time? Run for it, Leon!" The sixteen-year-old girl threw the ball much harder this time, and it sailed through the air. Leon watched it as it flew through the air, and this time he seemed to know what to do. He took off after the ball, moving faster than she'd ever seen him go, the bell around his neck jingling the whole way. He actually managed to gain on the ball as it flew, and after it hit the ground he caught it on the third bounce. Serena clapped as he turned and ran back to her. "Good catch, Leon! Good boy!"

For the next several hours they played in the park together, alternating between playing fetch and running around together in the grass. The whole time they played, the sky kept getting darker, but they took no notice. Leon seemed to be having the time of his life, and Serena could see no evidence of the malaise that had lingered about him since he'd left the shelter.

As she picked up the ball to throw it for Leon again, she felt a drop of water hit her hand. Looking up at the sky, another hit her on the nose, and she realized that it was starting to rain. "Last throw, Leon!" Serena called to him. "Looks like we're in for some weather. We need to run home, okay?" She cocked her arm back and tossed the ball as hard as she could, and it flew far away from them, landing in a tall patch of shrubs some distance away. Leon tore off after it, disappearing from sight, but Serena could still hear his bell ringing as he dug around in the brush for the toy.

Then, without warning, Serena heard a snarling noise behind her. Whirling around, she had barely a second to comprehend what she was seeing before she was knocked to the ground. Some animal had bowled her right over, and she gave a startled shriek as whatever it was began to scratch at her. Terrified, she kicked out blindly and pushed the creature off of her, scrambling back as soon as she was free of it. Her eyes wide, she saw that it was a Poochyena, and from its scraggly, disheveled appearance it was clearly either wild or a stray. Whatever the case was, the pokémon was clearly hostile. Serena whimpered, clutching her left arm, as the Poochyena advanced on her, baring its teeth and growling dangerously.

Trying to push past her fear, Serena desperately strove to get to her feet. Her legs were so shaky with fright that it was proving difficult, and she stumbled and fell back to the grass as she tried to get up. The Poochyena made a movement towards her, the fur on its back raised up as it snarled again. Serena screamed again, holding her hands up in front of her to try to defend herself. The rain was starting to fall harder now, and it was making the grass slick, making it that much more difficult for her to get up. The wild pokémon charged at her again, hitting her in the chest with its front paws, and it was on her again. The animal lashed towards her face with its claws, and Serena brought her arms up to protect herself. She felt scratches landing on her forearms, and she pushed away, throwing the pokémon off once more. Her attacks didn't seem to faze the beast, and it looked ready to attack her again.

Then she heard a loud ringing sound, and there was a blur of yellow and green as something came between the girl and the Poochyena. Serena closed her eyes, hearing a shrill cry and an animal yelp of surprise. She huddled up in a ball, covering her head with her arms. When she peeked out again, her breath caught in her throat. Leon was standing in front of her, hunkered down on his front legs with his hindquarters raised, his tail whipping back and forth in the air behind him. The Leafeon's green ears were thrust forward, and he was staring down the Poochyena. Serena could hear him growling, and he pawed at the grass underneath him. The feral pokémon shied back a few steps, but it was growling just as hard. Leon took a step forward, barking again with that same shrill Leafeon cry.

"L-Leon...," Serena gasped. She tried to get up, but before she could move Leon pounced on the smaller Poochyena. They tumbled on the ground for several long minutes, with her pokémon smacking his paws hard at the other's head. The Poochyena was striking back at him, but Leon paid the blows no mind. Then, in an instant, they separated. Both of them were panting hard, and Leon was holding one of his front paws up. Serena's heart was in her throat.

The Poochyena seemed less sure of itself, but it advanced towards Leon. The Leafeon growled, and hunkered down, keeping himself protectively in front of Serena. She saw him glow briefly, and his tail seemed to grow rigid and stiff. As the Poochyena got closer, Leon suddenly whipped his rear around, slashing with the leafy blade that his tail had become. His tail struck the Poochyena on its flank, and the canine pokémon yelped in pain and surprise, falling to the ground. It leapt to its feet, turned tail, and took off running, disappearing out of sight over one of the hills in the park.

Still shaky and scared, Serena shakily got to her feet. Leon kept his eyes on where the Poochyena had retreated, and he was still holding up his left front paw. When he heard Serena come up behind him, he turned and sat down on the damp grass. She could see that he was concerned about her, but she was more concerned about him.

"Leon, you're hurt...," Serena said. She knelt down next to him, reaching for his left leg. He let her take hold of it with her hand, whining only a little as she felt it. Then Serena looked up at the sky again, taking notice of the increasing rain again. "C-Come on, Leon. Let's go home. I think we've had enough of the park for today."

******

Once they returned home, Serena refused to do anything else before she had taken a closer look at Leon's leg. Fortunately, it didn't seem to be anything serious, just a little bruised. Other than his leg, he didn't seem to have been hurt at all. She, on the other hand, was a different story. The Poochyena had scratched her arms up pretty good, although none of the cuts was deeper than a shallow scratch. Serena had been lucky that Leon had been there to defend her. After she dried him off with a towel, she got him his dinner and then went to her bathroom to clean herself up. She didn't have much of an appetite.

In the shower, Serena spent a long time standing under the hot water. She went over the attack repeatedly in her head. She felt so guilty that she'd taken Leon to the park. If she hadn't done that, none of this would have happened. The injuries that she had suffered were inconsequential to her, what she was concerned about was that Leon might never want to go out with her again.

Poor Leon..., she thought to herself, in tears. Serena was jolted out of her thoughts by a loud rumble of thunder. The storm outside must have been getting worse. She was done with her shower, so she turned off the water and stepped out of the tub, grabbing a towel to dry off with. She wrapped herself up in the towel and went into her bedroom, just as she heard a second, louder crack of thunder.

Suddenly, there was a loud jingling and Leon shot into the room, looking terrified. He crawled underneath Serena's bed, and she could hear the little tinny sounds of his bell as he trembled, out of sight. Wiping her eyes, she got on her hands and knees and looked under the bed. Leon was huddled in a shaking ball, scared. Serena remembered what the vet at the shelter had told her, that he was scared of loud noises. The thunder must have made him run in here.

"It's okay, Leon," Serena said, her voice still a little shaky. She reached out a hand to him. "It's just thunder. You don't need to worry. I'm here for you." Lightning flashed outside the bedroom window, and there was another boom of thunder. Leon jerked at the sounds, his ears lying flat. "Come on out, sweetheart. I'll keep you safe."

Slowly, Leon got up and started crawling out from under the bed, coming to Serena. When he was within reach of her, she put her hand on his head, rubbing softly and coaxing him back out. As soon as he was all the way out from under the bed, Serena wrapped her arms around him, hugging him tightly. She could feel him shaking, but she rubbed her hand along his back, doing her best to calm him down. When the next rumble of thunder came, she felt him jerk a bit, but he didn't bolt back underneath the bed.

"If you'll feel better, Leon, you can sleep in here with me tonight," Serena told him. She leaned back from him. "I'd feel a lot better if you would, too." She kissed him on the top of his head, and when she leaned back again, his tail was wagging. Smiling, Serena went back into the bathroom and hung her towel up.

When she came back in, Leon had hopped up onto her bed and was lying there, watching her and waiting for her. She suddenly felt very awkward standing naked in front of him, but then she reminded herself that he was only a pokémon, after all. She crossed the floor and climbed up onto the bed, pulling the covers back and sliding underneath them. Reaching over, she unfastened his collar and laid it on the bedside table. Then Serena held the covers up, and Leon scrambled underneath them as well. He curled up near the top of the bed, beside her. Settling down, she laid her head on the pillow. She was very tired; it had been a long day.

"Good night, Leon," she whispered. Serena scratched him between the ears, looking into his brown eyes. She rolled over and switched off the bedroom light, then turned back to him, snuggling up. He body was warm against her bare skin. She pet his side again, and he stuck his head up and licked her cheek, making her giggle. "You were a very, very good boy today. Sleep well." Serena kissed him on his head again. "I...I love you."

They both huddled underneath the covers, listening to the rain falling outside. Before too long, both of them were asleep.

******

Some time later, Serena woke up again. She'd rolled over in her sleep, and her back was to Leon. She could see out the window, where the outside was illuminated by streetlights on the sidewalk below. It was still raining hard, but the thunder seemed to have calmed down. Serena sat up halfway on her elbows, yawning. The sound of the rain was soothing, good after the scare that she'd had that afternoon. She felt a soft, wet sensation on her side, and Serena looked over to see Leon licking at her. He was looking at her carefully, as though he wanted to be sure she was okay.

"I'm fine, Leon," Serena assured him. She stroked a finger along the top of his head. "Are you feeling better?" The Leafeon laid his head on her belly, looking up at her. He looked so sweet and adorable there, it was hard to believe that he was the same poor pokémon she had first seen looking so scared and alone at the shelter. "Good boy..." Serena laid back down again, pulling him closer to her.

They cuddled up together, both of them staying awake for now. Serena wanted to enjoy this time. She felt closer to Leon than she ever had before, and she thought that he felt the same. He had stood up for her when she was in danger. In a way, he had been repaying her for the way she had rescued him from his life at the shelter. She was glad that they had found each other.

While they laid there, Serena started petting Leon absentmindedly, stroking her hand up and down his side. He kept close to her, letting her rub him, and she could sense his tail moving back and forth underneath the covers. Serena was half-asleep now, soothed by the pouring rain and by the downy softness of his fur. Her hand made its way around to his belly, moving in a slow, steady circle. The fur was really, really soft there, slightly thicker than it was on his sides and back. The feeling reminded her of a stuffed animal she used to sleep with when she was a little girl.

A moment later, she felt her hand brush against something much warmer than Leon's body. For a split second she had no idea what she was feeling, and her fingers touched it again. It wasn't until she heard a quiet whine from Leon that she realized what she was touching, and she jerked her hand away with a little startled gasp.

"I...I...I'm sorry, Leon!" Serena stammered, her eyes wide. She was in a panic over what she had just accidentally done. Leon looked just as startled, although he seemed more surprised at Serena's reaction. He was watching her carefully, his head tilted to one side. "I...I didn't mean to..."

To her surprise, Leon flicked one ear unconcernedly, and then he rolled onto his back. He was still half underneath the covers, but Serena could see bump through the sheets. She knew exactly what it was. Amazed, she looked at the expression on her Leafeon's face. He was looking at her with his soft brown eyes, staring right back at her. He didn't look scared, or upset, or mad at her, or anything. He just looked...content. Like nothing at all was wrong.

"Leon, I...," Serena said. Her eyes drifted down to the bump under the covers, and then back to Leon's face. "Do you...I mean...Do you want me to...?" Leon just kept looking at her. Lifting her hand, she took hold of the covers and slowly pulled them down off of both of them. The covers went past his hind legs, and Serena swallowed as she got a good look at him.

Protruding from a fuzzy sheath between his legs was a pointed shaft of slightly shiny, pink flesh, about as thick as two of her fingers and just as long. His balls, slightly larger than two plump grapes, were below that. Serena bit her lip as she looked at him. Since he was a canine pokémon she had, on an academic level, known what the Leafeon's cock was going to look like, but she hadn't really given it much thought before now. Seeing it made a little thrill go through her, one that she hadn't ever felt before.

Putting her hand down on his belly again, Serena rubbed at his soft fur, watching his expression carefully for the slightest sign that he wasn't okay with what she was about to do. She moved her hand lower, until her fingertips touched his cock. One of Leon's back legs twitched a little, but he didn't betray any emotions other than quiet contentment. Taking courage from his reaction, the sixteen-year-old started rubbing one finger along his canine length, going slowly from the tip down to his sheath and back up again. Leon stretched his front legs up, his back arching up. It seemed like he was enjoying what she was doing.

"Does that feel good, Leon?" she asked. Serena was a little unsure of herself. She didn't have much experience with boys...well, any at all. But she wasn't stupid, even though she was young. She knew what sex was and she knew all the mechanics of it.

In a way of answer, Leon made a little whining sound. It was different from the whine that he made when he was scared of something. His cock looked like it was growing more, extending even further from his sheath. Soon it was an inch or so longer, and Serena saw a swelling starting at the base of it. A bead of moisture was collecting at the tip of his cock, mostly clear with a slightly milky swirl. When she saw that she felt that thrill again, and there was a twinge between her legs. She'd felt arousal before, but not like this. This felt more real than any fantasy she'd ever had.

Licking her lips, Serena got an idea in her head. Leon was a canine pokémon; he wouldn't need nor would he tolerate a lot of foreplay. But she had something that she wanted to try, and so Leon would just have to humor her for a little bit. Shuffling down on the bed, she got on her hands and knees. Serena wrapped one finger and her thumb around his cock, stroking up and down slowly for a few minutes. The Leafeon whined again, kicking his back leg next to her head. He was getting impatient, and he seemed a bit confused by the way this human female was teasing him.

"Good boy, Leon," Serena whispered. "You're such a good boy..." Then she moved her mouth close to his cock, putting her tongue out. She gently licked at the tip of his member, tasting the canine precum that had collected there. The flavor made her heart hammer against the inside of her chest. His cum tasted musky and salty, like nothing she'd ever tasted. The wetness in between her legs increased exponentially, and a drop of her own fluid slid down the inside of her thigh. Reaching back, she touched her pussy with one finger, sliding it along her smooth, slick slit. Serena moaned, feeling a wave of pleasure through her whole body.

Opening her mouth, she took his cock inside. The stiff, hot length of his malehood throbbed in between her lips. Leon growled quietly as Serena began to suck on him, moving her mouth up and down every inch. Her tongue lapped along his canine flesh, teasing him and making his hips start to hump upwards into her mouth. She murmured in the back of his throat, one hand moving to his waist and rubbing his side comfortingly. Her other hand was occupied with her sex, and she slipped a finger inside of herself, groaning around him. Serena was intensely aroused, and all sorts of wonderful thoughts were sprouting in her head.

Lifting her head back up, Serena looked down at Leon. The Leafeon was looking back at her with his eyes half-lidded and his tongue protruding. He was panting, his chest rising and falling rapidly and his tail wagging underneath him, swishing wrinkles into the bed sheet. She smiled, then giggled at how he looked just like a goofy puppy right now. She leaned forward, lowering herself on top of him, careful not to put all her weight on his body as her breasts pressed to her chest. Serena kissed Leon on his forehead, and he began licking her chin and neck. She laughed louder.

"Leon, I want to try something," Serena said, propping herself up on her arms. "Would you like to help me?" Leon yipped shrilly, making her grin. "Good boy." She turned around, staying on all fours but placing herself so that her rear was presented to him. The position she was in made a naughty thrill run up her spine. This was such a wrong thing for her to do, but right now it was exactly what she wanted. Looking back over her shoulder, she reached back and patted her rump softly. "Come on, Leon...Hop up, boy."

Leon rolled over onto his belly and pushed himself up to his legs. He padded forward on the bed, sniffing at the air. Serena wondered if he could smell how aroused she was, or if he would only be able to detect the scent of his own species. She liked to think that he would be able to smell her, at least. Leon put his nose right up to her pussy, and she stifled a moan as his cool nose touched her nether lips. After snuffling at her for several minutes, he reared up on his hind legs, hooking his front paws around her waist.

Oh, gods..., Serena thought to herself. _We're really doing this..._She closed her eyes, resting her head down on the bed. Her body was rocked gently, and she bit back a little cry of pain as Leon jabbed his cock forward at her, missing the mark several times. Serena didn't want to scare him off or make him feel bad. He was just inexperienced, like she was.

"You're doing fine, Leon," she said, encouraging him. "You're almost there."

Leon whined, but he kept trying. He adjusted his grip on his owner's hips, growing more and more desperate with each passing moment. His cock slipped around, getting coated in the moisture around Serena's pussy. Finally, gloriously, he found his mark, and his cock sank inside of Serena. She shrieked at the sudden, but oh so expected, intrusion into her sex. The girl grabbed handfuls of the sheets beneath her, gasping and whimpering as she adjusted to the feeling of having something inside of her. It seemed like there was so much of him, but it felt so right to have him connected with her.

Despite it being her first time, the Leafeon wasn't going to give her any time to get used to him. He was a pokémon, after all, and his instincts drove him to mate the female who had offered herself to him. He began humping as hard and as fast as he could, driving his cock in and out of her at a feverish pace. Though he'd never mated before in his life either, he knew exactly what to do. It didn't matter that she wasn't the same species as him. Serena was his owner, and the one who had cared enough to take him in, and he loved her. He had only a few ways to show her, and if this was one of the ways that she wanted, he would give it to her.

Serena moaned loudly, her body rocking back and forth as she moved in concert with her pokémon's mating. The feeling inside of her was amazing, the most intense and pure pleasure that she had ever felt. She hoped that he was feeling the same way. If his vigor was any indication, she didn't have to worry very much about that. His cock was as deep inside of her as she thought anything could go, and still he was trying to push himself even deeper. With every inward thrust, Serena could feel something huge pressing up against her pussy. Through the haze of pleasure clouding her mind, she knew that it was his bulging knot, trying to get inside of her.

"Oh, Leon!" she cried out, feeling the pleasure starting to increase rapidly. If he kept fucking her this hard, she would cum in no time, and she wanted this experience to last. But he wouldn't let it. He needed to satisfy his desires to mate her, and that meant tying with her, making her his female. And Serena was along for the ride now, subject to his instincts.

A sudden, loud, high-pitched howling came from Leon, accompanied by a powerful push forward. Serena gasped and then gave a choked cry as she felt his bulging knot force its way inside of her pussy. As soon as she felt that pressure in her sex, she grit her teeth as a massive orgasm began to rocket its way through her body. At the same time, she felt a hot, liquid stream shooting inside of her. She panted for breath as Leon came inside of her, mumbling and whispering words of praise and encouragement to him, feverish in her frenzied state of passion. She could feel the Leafeon's back claws scratching her legs as he whined and shuddered against her, but she didn't care. She was in heaven, and he was right there with her.

They were stuck for a while after that, for how long Serena wasn't sure. The entire time she could feel his cock jerking inside of her, setting off little mini-orgasms inside of her. It seemed that he never really stopped cumming, with little streams of his canine semen continuing to fire off into her pussy. Eventually, with a little labored tugging, Serena was able to pull herself free of him. She sank to the bed, just laying there with Leon draped over her rear as she caught her breath again. When she was able to, Serena rolled over, pulling the Leafeon up so that he was laying against her chest.

"How do you feel now, Leon?" Serena asked him quietly. She was curious, anxious, and a little bit scared. She hoped that what had just happened wouldn't harm their relationship. They'd crossed a line, one that they couldn't step back over.

Leon looked up at her, his head resting comfortably between her breasts. He blinked slowly, his long leafy ears flicking a few times. Then he yawned, nuzzling at her as he cuddled up to her body. He stretched out all of his legs and then his whole body relaxed, and he fell asleep in a matter of seconds.

Staring at him, Serena smiled and laid a hand on his head, ruffling the fur in between his ears. If that wasn't the perfect answer to her question, she didn't know what was.

******

"The most important thing in life is to learn how to give out love, and to let it come in."

• Morrie Schwartz