Meet Jolokia Aniseed. Once a proud hybrid child of the legendary Virizion and his Ninetales lover, the young male has become quite the different creature. And who can we thank for this strange change of species? Why, none other than good ol' Tizzy.

Jolokia was once half-Virizion, half-Ninetales. An absolute delight to be around, if a little mischievous at the same time. One day, Jolokia saw his father Virizion in a shape quite new to him, and rather an interesting one at that. His father was in a strange shape: half-anthro, half-quadruped.

"Papa?" Jolokia queried. "What's wrong with your body? It's all... long and strange!"

Virizion patted his son on the head and snickered. "Nothing's wrong, dear. I'm what the humans call a 'taur,' and it's a very honorable shape to have. We get to have the best of both of the worlds. Usually I'm just an anthro deer, with two legs and two arms. As a taur, I have four legs for extra speed, and still maintain my two arms for added grabbing capabilities. I can't very well hold things in hooves, now can I?"

Jolokia shook his head and made grabby paws for his papa's arms. "No, but... it's still weird!"

"You'll get used to it, honey." Virizion took his son and cradled him in his arms, giving loving rubs across the hybrid's tummy and coaxing him to sleep. "Trust me, you will..."

************************************************************
Jolokia woke up later that night, nestled into his father's tauric flank as the large deertaur slept peacefully. Being the troublemaker he was, the little hybrid decided to sneak away into the night and search for any more of these strange, yet beautiful 'taur' creatures. He was suddenly intrigued, and wondered if more even existed. His nine Virizion tails waggled happily, even while an unknown entity began to track the youth's every movement.

A few hours had passed. Jolokia's search for taurs had come up empty. The hybrid began to feel rather impatient, and snarled at a passing Caterpie. The poor bug fled like he was about to get torched with an Ember attack. Once the bug-type had found the safety of some nearby bushes, the young foxdeer began to feel a twinge of regret. He hadn't meant to scare poor little Caterpie... he was just angry with himself for not succeeding in his search.

But the tracking figure didn't care. All it'd seen was Jolokia picking on a helpless little bug, and it swiftly swooped in behind the youth.

{You've made a grave mistake, child.} The heavy voice rang through Jolokia's mind, a clear display of telepathy. The young foxdeer's ears whipped up and he jumped at the sight, a glowing, dark-blue figure in the night's backdrop.

{Yes, child, I've been watching you. I know what you've been searching for. And yes, this is telepathy.}

Jolokia shook his head. He began to wonder... an Alakazam? Maybe Darkrai or some other legendary? But no. This was even better. The foxdeer's eyes widened once the figure's true form came into shape.

It was a Lugia-taur. Though, not just any Lugia-taur... it was Tizzy Okena himself. Tales had been told of a large beast, a strange cross of quadruped and anthro Lugias. Jolokia never believed them... but, after seeing his father as a Virizion-taur... it all made sense now... Tizzy was real.

{Clearly, you've been looking in the wrong spots, child~} Tizzy chided, his long tail wagging slowly. {And harassing poor Caterpies. Shame, Jolokia Aniseed.}

"H-how did..." came the foxdeer's stunned reply.

{I'm psychic, child. I know your thoughts, your name... and more than you know about yourself.} Tizzy smiled and eased a forepaw against the stunned youth's cheek. It felt... good. Like a wing...

{You want to be a taur like me, don't you child... strong, graceful and beautiful... well. I'm not so sure I can reward a youngling who abuses the frail. But, perhaps... yes, perhaps I can find an agreement.}

"A-an agreement? M-mister Tizzy?"

{Wh- How did...} Then Tizzy grinned and patted Jolokia's cheek again. {Ah, right... Keluak's son. Of course the Aniseeds would know me.} The taur chuckled and shook his head. {Anyway, all points aside... yes, an agreement. I'll help your wish come true... but at a price.}

"What... price?" The foxdeer leaned into the wing-like forepaw, blushing at just how well it felt against his fur.

{Nothing drastic, dearheart. Just... permanence, duty... and the maintenance of your father's name.} Tizzy pondered for a bit, and left Jolokia to do the same.

Some time later, Jolokia spoke up. "I-I'll... do it. Whatever you want, mister Tizzy."

{Good child.} Tizzy scooped Jolokia up into his forepaws, tossed him to his arms and cradled him, much like Virizion. Except... Jolokia found this set of arms... much bigger than the last. And... furless? Yet... strangely, even more comfortable, and even warmer. {Close your eyes, dearheart... rest your soul for the change about to take place.}

Jolokia nodded, letting out soft, rumbling purrs at the stroking hands running across his small frame. "Y-yessir..." came the groggy reply, and within minutes the foxdeer youth was out like a light. The last thing he remembered was Tizzy's soft, gentle chuckles...

************************************************************

Morning broke. Jolokia's muzzle opened wide in a big, well-rested yawn, eyes opening up to the world around him. He looked at his surroundings... a beautiful forest clearing, full of gorgeous pink flowers and several Butterfree, Beautifly and other bug-types fluttering between the trees. The youth felt strangely at home here... and his ears flicked softly as a Ninjask zipped by his left cheek.

{Jolokia...}

Jolokia blushed. Tizzy... could it be? Or was this some strange dream, and the echoing of his name merely his father trying to wake him up? He looked up, trying to find the Lugia-taur anywhere.

{Look down, dearheart...}

Dearheart. It HAD to be Tizzy. Papa never called him that name. He did as instructed, and yelped in surprise. What was once his brush-like, green fur had become pure white, and stuck out in several long, spiky tufts near his... forelegs? Really? He then looked back.

"Gaaah! W-what..."

On his right side, there was a red-pinkish flower, large and scarf-like. Behind it, his body kept going. It was about as long as he was tall... maybe moreso. His body ended in a stumpy white tail, which was wagging furiously in delight. All four feet ended in green sock-like patterns, down to his four toes. And his fingers did the same, all five on each hand. His ears were gigantic, reminding him quite a bit of Eevee, though fluffier and more wing-like. Perhaps... antler-esque. His eyes shone the most gorgeous of emerald shades, beneath a mohawk of green-tipped white fur, leading up to a canid snout that sat above a greyish mane of fluff.

"Arceus above... I'm..."

{A taur. You're welcome. To be precise, a tauric Skymin. Except... I believe you're not affected by nightfall or freezing temperatures like a normal Shaymin. At least, you didn't revert to land-forme at all last night after you were transformed...}

Jolokia blushed, ears and tail flickering as he picked a flower and put it behind his left ear. "T-tizzy... I feel gorgeous. Thank you so much. I don't think I'll ever be able to repay you." He took a moment to sniff his fur, getting a distinct aroma of peppermint.

{Yes you can. Be yourself and love all your fellow Pokemon. Spread joy and love to everyone. Your minty scents alone should do most of the trick.}

"But what about..." Jolokia began.

{Keluak? I visited him while you slept. He's fully on board with this plan. In fact...}

Jolokia's eyes widened when his father strode into the clearing, in full Virizion-taur shape. The deertaur then strode up to his son, took his arms and forelegs around the smaller grassy Poketaur, and grabbed him in a massive embrace.

"Son... you turned out beautifully," Keluak said, beaming with delight. "And you smell like a walking bag of aromatherapy candles."

Both father and son laughed at that, and kept embracing for a while. Eventually, the Skymin-taur let his father go and blushed. "Papa. I love you, and I'll do you proud. I'm going to bring sweet smells, flowers and joy everywhere I go, just like mister Tizzy asked me to. In fact..." As he finished his statement, Jolokia took the pink flower from behind his ear and handed it to Keluak.

"The Gracidea... oh, Jolokia..." The legendary deertaur blushed and smooched the Skymin-taur on the snout, purring happily. "You'll do fine. Go on, dear... make me and Tizzy proud."

And the Skymin-taur strode forward, with a new shape, a new purpose... and a completely adorable bounce in his step...

This happened when Jolokia was only ten. Now he's eighteen, and a fully-grown adult. He's been spreading minty joy for the past eight years, but where does this leave him in our story? Well... anywhere you go... if you smell a strong minty presence... you might find this Skymin-taur... and perhaps he'll let you ask him yourself...

---

Love this image? Give love to the original here!

---

Art ©
Thumbnailer © and
Story, Keluak Aniseed, Jolokia Aniseed, Tizzy Okena ©
Skymin/Shaymin, Virizion, Lugia, all Pokemon species names © The Pokemon Company, Nintendo