So this is a collab that was spit out in one night by me and lionkinglover12
This story has a ton of Serpens in it and gives us a good look at his character.
PDF is included


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The Rise of Serpens: Conversation with a Serpent
By born2beagator and lionkinglover12

Thomas regarded the patrons of the San Diego zoo through the lens of his binoculars. A family walked out of the reptile house. All of them had scaly tails protruding from their pants. It wasn't everyday one saw the occupants of a zoo slowly taking on the traits of different breeds of reptiles.

"So, whatever's going on, it's moved up here." The lean man muttered to himself, running a hand through his short brown hair. First florida had been declared a nature preserve, a swampland fit for all types of reptilian life. Next all of South America had fallen silent, and last he'd heard, had gotten the same treatment.

As soon as he'd entered the zoo, he'd found an easy climb up to the roof of the gift shop. One of the best things about people, they never looked up as long as he was careful not to draw anyone's attention, and had used his out of the way place to watch and observe, looking for anything out of place. Though he was careful to keep watch on his own body. He didn't want to suddenly find himself growing scales or a tail. He hadn't come this far just to end up as a lousy lizard. He wanted the truth, and he was going to find it.

Serpens was in his disgusting human form. He really hated these times where skin was necessary. But until the humans of the area had a good strong reptilian influence in their minds, seeing a massive snake loose would cause a panic. For now, he wandered his new zoo, assisting his patrons. As he wandered, his eyes fell upon a family of three exiting the reptile house, each with a black scaled snake tail dragging the ground behind them and forked tongues flicking out.

"Hello my good serpents! How are we enjoying the zoo!" He called cheerfully, holding out a squirming rat. He bent down to the child's eye level. The little girl flicked her tongue out.

"Mommy? I am hungry...can I?" The girl asked.

"Certainly honey, that is Sssserpenssss. He isssss a friend to all reptiles." The mother said.

The girl stepped forward and took the rat from his hands, popping it in her mouth and swallowing it whole. When she did, she suddenly shrunk into her clothes. Her parents bent down and picked up the small snake with their shriveling hands, and continued on.

Serpens smiled. Not long now before he could return his true form.

Thomas watched the exchange from around the corner, hidden from view by the gift shop he'd just descended from. So, this was the one he was looking for. He shook his head, he had to stay focused on this and ignore everything else. One mistake and he could end up like that girl. He stepped out from around the corner and casually strolled over, stepping past the snake god and stopping right behind him. "Serpens is it, interesting name. It's not often I see perfectly normal humans turning into reptiles." He said with a soft chuckle. "I'm guessing Florida and South America where your handiwork as well?" He asked.

Serpens whirled on the voice, almost shedding his skin on the spot to attack the foolish human. Then he calmed when he saw it was a simple young man. No weapon. He relaxed. "Oh? What makes you think that? I'm just a simple man. I believe you have me at a disadvantage Mr....?"

Thomas raised an eyebrow as he looked at the man over his shoulder before turning around, looking quite relaxed. "My name's Thomas, tom for short if you want Serpens." He said, letting out a soft chuckle. "And drop the act would ya, your reaction gave everything away, no way you'd react like that unless you had something to hide." He added with a grin. He wanted to add a witty comment, to the end of that, but when dealing with powerful beings, it was never wise to give them anything to throw back at you.

Serpens paused. This was a smart human. Cunning. Still worth one more shot. "I have no idea what you are talking about Thomas. I'm just a humble zoo owner."

Thomas sighed softly, running a hand through his hair. "Yes, for reptiles, not for humans." He pointed out. "I heard your little conversation, and I've been following your work, the world is changing." He paused, as though considering his next words. "Honestly, you've likely got more power in the world than any human does, and going by what I just heard, you aren't exactly human, now are you Mr. friend of all reptiles."

Serpens sighed. This human was onto him. There was only one thing to do: get Thomas on his side. He could use a cunning human like this.

The human let his eyes roam over the park, taking in the patrons around them. "So why do all this then? You've got all this power, obviously enough to terraform a whole country, and you seem hellbent on turning us all into reptiles if what I'm seeing here is any indication." The human paused before looking back at Serpens. "So why? Why not just transform all of us instantly, why go through this slow play by play?" He questioned. It was like the gears in the humans head could be heard, trying to solve this latest puzzle presented to them.

"I can see there is no fooling you Thomas. As for what I am? I will show you. But I suggest you do not panic. The humans here are all loyal to me." Serpens flowed into his midnight black, thirty foot form.

Thomas froze as he watched the human before him shift into a thirty foot long serpent. He nodded slowly, a small smile forming on his face. "I've gotta admit, badass, I give you a ten out of ten on that." He said with a warm chuckle, looking up and down the massive snake's form.Their was no reason to panic. If this snake wanted him gone, it'd only take a moment and he'd likely be a bloody smear on the ground. "I think I get just a bit more why you want us to be reptiles." He deadpanned. "But haven't you read the evil overlords handbook at all?"

"Evil overlord? You mean like the idiotssss in thossse awful comic bookssss humansss read?" Serpens gave a hissing laugh. "Human you have no idea what I am." Serpens suddenly swelled to sixty feet, towering above Thomas. he bent down and looked the now frightened human in the eye. "I am a god...born of the constellation SSSSSSerpensssssss. I created the dinosaurs and fell into a deep slumber. Sssssssomething went wrong with the world while I was gone. It issssss now ruled by mammalsssss. I am changing that." Serpens enjoyed the look of fear in the arrogant human's eyes. "Now that you know what I am, how do you feel?"

Thomas took a deep breath, fear was good, fear was what had kept his species alive. However, he knew fear wouldn't help him here, if this being truly was a god, there was likely nothing at all he could do. And thus, he had only one fallback. Being snarky as hell. "I'd say you want to work a bit more on your speech, it's not bad at all, but it's missing a bit of dramatic flare. Sure, the size and all is good, but big, or really really big, I mean, it's just kinda boring." He grinned at him. "Where's the lights, the showmanship, your a god for pete's sake, indulge in some theatrics," He told him, crossing his arms in front of him. "Also, for your information, the evil overlords handbook is all about taking over the world without making some stupid mistake." He muttered under his breath.

Serpens shook with laughter. "Human...I like you. You are very good at keeping up appearancesssss. That ssssaid. I am a reptile. I can sssensse your fear. Drop the act and tell me how you really feel what is happening." Serpens opened his mouth and let his massive fangs extend, dripping venom.

Thomas let his hands drop into his pockets as he gave a small shrug. "Honestly, what I said was all true. Am I terrified? I'm facing down a sixty foot long snake god who is probably older than our planet, ya, just a tad." He muttered softly. "If you wanted to just wipe me out, I very much doubt I can do anything to stop you, so why fight against something I can't change." He grinned at the snake, looking up into his maw as the venom slowly slid down his fangs. "Nice touch by the way, I like it, I'd suggest adding that into your speech next time." He suggested. Sure, he couldn't do anything against Serpens. But he'd be damned if he didn't make this serpent remember him at the very least.

The snake god could barely keep himself to doubling over in laughter. This human was different. Very...reptilian. Even with intense fear clouding his mind, he was still cracking jokes. Yes he could use this human. He shrunk back to his normal thirty foot size and brought himself to eye level. "Tell me Thomassss...do thessse humanssss look dissstressssed?" Serpens pointed with his tail to the family he had just talked to, then around the zoo.

Thomas slowly looked away from the imposing thirty foot serpent and allowed his eyes to roam over the rest of the park, passing over the patrons faces, noting the changes. One smaller boy was rapidly growing a thick, green reptilian tail, the appendage having ripped through the child's pants to sway from side to side. From the boy, his gaze traveled to the child's father. Thomas saw he had no hair, instead his whole head was covered with pale green scales that almost seemed to gleam in the light. His eyes turned a deep shade of gold, and his ears were gone, replaced instead by two flaps of skin over the holes they had formerly rested at. There was no mother...at least not human. An alligator walked alongside the two changing humans, the tatters of clothes on various parts of her body.

Indeed, all around him many of the humans were exhibiting changes. While some had only grown a few patches of scales, others had nearly become full blown reptiles. Yet not a hint of panic existed among these happy zoo-goers. They acted as though this was perfectly normal.

Thomas slowly looked back at Serpen and chuckled softly. "You've got me, everyone looks happy as can be." He told him. "Your doing I'm guessing?" He questioned slowly. "Humans tend to panic over every little thing, and I think normally, having a tail isn't something we'd be used too."

"Thomassss...that isss where you are wrong. All humanssss have a reptilian soul buried inssside. All I am doing isss bringing it to the surface. All of my ssso called victimsss are happier in their true form. In fact...you have a reptile inssside you somewhere as well." Serpens said with a hiss of laughter.

Thomas regarded the serpent for a few seconds silently. Letting his words play over in his mind. "So what then?" He asked slowly, his gaze flickering down his thankfully still normal hands, then back at the god. "Are you going to be doing the same thing to me as what your doing to them then?" To be honest, he wasn't entirely against it. Scales would look pretty awesome. But he rather enjoyed having thumbs.

Serpens touched the tip of his tail to Thomas' arm. Green scales slowly began to spread outward from the contact until Thomas pulled his arm away. "I don't know Thomassss...isss it what you want?"

Thomas couldn't stop the gasp from escaping him as he saw those scales forming over his arm. His instincts causing him to draw his arm back and away from Serpens touch. The human couldn't tear away his gaze as those scales slowly receded away, leaving only a few dark green scales along where that tail had touched him. "That's...wow." He whispered out, his other hand gliding over the cold smoothness of the newest additions to his body. He glanced up at the massive snake. "Gotta admit, I'd be lying if I said I was totally against it." He looked down at his formerly scaled arm. "I'm just a tad worried about turning into an animal though."

Serpens had him. He'd seen the disappointed look on the human's face as he watched the scales recede. The serpent decided to pose a simple question. "Why?"

Thomas paused as he really considered the question. "I suppose, really, that'd I'd be giving up part of who I am in a way." He said as he looked up at Serpens. "Sure, I might have a soul of a reptile, but I'm still me, I'm still a human being though too." He told him, trailing off for a few moments. "And I'd really rather not give up thumbs, they come in handy from time to time." He added with a weak smile.

"Hmmm...a rather assstute obssservation Thomasss. I've quite enjoyed this talk. You are the firssst human that has dissscovered me before I wanted them to. I tell you what. Follow me. I want to ssshow you sssomething." With that Serpens slithered off towards the reptile house. It was time to show off his latest works of art. He pushed the door open with his nose, and backed away for a moment to allow a new iguana to scurry out. "After you." He said to Thomas.

Thomas couldn't resist the urge to smile at the compliment he got from the serpent. How many other people could say they got complimented by a god? He began to follow after Serpens as he led the way to the reptile house, glancing at him as he was beckoned to enter. "I swear, you say you haven't read it, but I keep getting overlord vibes from you." He deadpanned before stepping inside, letting his gaze drift over everything.

"Nothing so cliche Thomasss. I am not enssslaving humanity. I am improving it." Serpens said. "I want you to look at the two lizardssss in thisss enclosssure. The mountain horned dragon issss Casssson. The frilled lizard issss Jack. Tell me what you ssseee." Serpens looked into the enclosure.

Hanging from a tree was a hissing orange creature. A frilled lizard, just under three feet in length, with an orange neck and opal eyes. It flared at Thomas to keep him at a distance. Right next to the strange looking lizard was a smaller, green lizard that Thomas couldn't put his finger on. It was standing close to the frilled lizard, as if they were protecting each other.

Thomas eyed the two reptiles, raising an eyebrow as that frill lizard flared up at him, cracking a small grin towards it. He looked over at the other, smaller reptile within the enclosure. Either Serpens was the greatest reptile trainer on the planet, or something major was up with these two. "So, don't reptiles normally fight?" He asked, glancing back towards the snake god. "They should be enemies, not best friends right? I'm guessing you did something to help them get along with each other?" He tried not to think about how it was likely that these two reptiles in front of him likely used to be people. Cason and Jack were unusual names for lizards. Despite his bluster around Serpens, it still scared him to imagine that.

"Thomasss. I am a reptile god. Of courssse I did. The dynamic between reptilesss has changed. No reptile will ever harm another. Sssso, no warssss...ever. That isss sssomething you humansss have an issssue with." Serpens said slyly. "Sssso tell me again Thomasss...why are you worried about becoming an animal?"

The human remained quiet for the next few minutes, lost in thought as he observed the two reptiles in front of him. "Sure, you bring peace, but at what cost Serpens? Sure, we might be mammals and not what you wanted. But we've developed some pretty cool things as well." He let out a deep sigh. "Sure, we aren't perfect, we mess up, we make mistakes. But what you're is also wiping out humanity too. Just like how the dinosaurs went extinct all those millennia ago." Thomas glanced back at the serpent god. "I'm honestly not against it, lord only knows how often I've wanted to get away from the stress of life." He gave a weak shug. "It's just hard to describe to a god like you. You're so much more powerful than we are."

Serpens was about to correct the human about dinosaurs being extinct when he got an idea. He really liked the wit of this human...why not test him? If he passed then maybe Serpens would easy up on his "Velociraptors only" rule about dinosaurs. "Thomassss? Would you like to take a reptilian body for a tesssst drive as we tour the resssst of the zoo and obssserve how terribly sssad everyone issss to be becoming animalssss?"

Thomas raised an eyebrow as he listened to Serpens. "The snark is strong with this one." He muttered, though his smile would take any sting out of his words. "I suppose I should, after all, I would like to get in good with our new reptile overlords." He told the god with a nod of his head. "Let me take my new body out for a spin."

"Okay. This may feel a little sssstrange. When I touch my tail to you, you are going to rapidly become an iguana. Oh...before I do, you might want to remove your clothesss. I am going to return you to your human body at the end." Serpens readied his tail over Thomas.

Thomas nodded his head as he slowly began to remove his shirt and pants. "You really need to work on that line, I'm sure I can make some kind of joke with it if I really tried." He said with a chuckle as he began to arrange his clothes in a nice pile near the door. Soon he was stripped and standing before the reptile god. "Alright then, reptile me up." He said with a grin. He had nothing really to worry about, after all, Serpens had even said that he could go back to being human at the end.

Serpens was taken aback once again. This human was...different. Serpens had intended to leave him just another semi intelligent iguana in his world. But that would be a waste of a wonderful wit. In fact, he was sure that Tanith wouldn't mind having someone like this around. Oh yes, this was one lucky human. But first he needed to see how dedicated he'd be to his cause by the end of this tour. He touched his tail to Thomas' forehead.

Thomas gasped as he felt the serpent's tail touch his forehead. He felt the cool scales rapidly begin to spread over his body from the point of contact. The cool green scales overtook every inch of flesh of his face as it began to morph and change slowly. His face pushing out slowly into a reptilian muzzle, his eyes turning from brown, to a deep gold.

Thomas shivered, flaring his nostrils as the sudden intense smells reaches his nose. His ears sealing over by flaps of green skin. His now forked tongue slipped out of his newly created muzzle, tasting the air and the wonderful, hidden scents that he'd never had any idea of as a human. Thomas glanced down as that wave of scales progressed, and with it, his body was rapidly shrinking. Within a few moments, the formerly six foot tall human was merely two feet tall. A row of spines formed from the top of his neck, and traveled down to his newly grown tail, which lashed from side to side. Thomas couldn't help but laugh as he looked back at the swaying appendage, having a tail was awesome.

The human let out a soft grunt as his hands and feet began to change, his fingers growing claws as he slowly shifted, suddenly feeling very uncomfortable standing on two legs. He let himself fall forward, catching himself on his newly shifted hands. He let out a pleased hiss. Oh yes, this was much more comfortable than that stupid two legged posture.

All it had taken was a minute for the changes to complete. Where once a human adult had stood, was now stood a proud looking spiny tailed Iguana.

Serpens looked down at the iguana and tried not to laugh. The lizard was chasing his tail. Oh yes. He was keeping this human as his own. He thumped his tail to get Thomas' attention. "My speech is much more clear to you now that you are one of my children, and you can talk too. But be warned, stray too far from my side during this tour and the iguana instincts that are now yours will become much, much stronger. Your reptilian soul longs to let go of the human mind and be what you truly are." Serpens said. "So tell me. What do you think?"

Thomas jumped as he heard that heavy tail thump. Halting his chase of his new appendage as he turned to look at Serpens, he listened intently to his words. He glanced at his newly minted body. What could he say? It was amazing, but words simply couldn't convey the emotions he felt. "It's.....breathtaking, I feel so different, my senses are off the charts, I can smell things I never even knew existed before. I can feel the heat, and it's so much better then when I was human." He looked at Serpens. "But, honestly, I think the best part is." He paused, taking a deep breath. "I've got a tail now."

"Yes. So many humans seem to enjoy the tail the most. Its very amusing to me." Serpens said with a chuckle. "Now for the rest of our tour. I want you to take a look at the patrons of this zoo and see if you can still question whether my motives are pure. Remember, stay close to me, unless of course you are ready to let go of your human mind. " Serpens slithered off into the zoo.

Thomas made sure to stick as close to Serpens side as he followed him out into the zoo. He wasn't quite ready to go that far, tail or no tail. The large iguana looked around at the patrons of the zoo as they left the reptile house.. He glanced at one man, who from the waist down had gained the body of a powerful boa constrictor. His arms were rapidly withering away into his body as he slithered past them like the Naga's of old, his eyes a beautiful shade of gold.

To the iguana's left, a pair of teenagers walked. Beautiful green and black scales were beginning to cover their bodies. The male's head had already shifted, becoming much like Thomas's own, if only larger. While the female was already sporting a wicked set of claws, and a wonderfully swinging tail. He watched enraptured as they walked past him. Rapidly losing size with every step, until they too were on all fours.

Speaking of tails, it seemed like a human was just getting his. Remembering his excitement about his own tail, Thomas focused on this human. His legs were covered in the thick, yellow scales of a crocodile. But his pants were still on, and they were tented obscenely behind him. The man had his hands on his knees and his behind thrust behind him. He appeared to be straining. With each pant, his pants tented further, until finally with a loud rip, his crocodilian tail spilled onto the ground behind him and the man wandered off towards the swamp area of the zoo.

Yet as the former human watched each person lose that spark of humanity as their inner reptile made it's presence known, he couldn't help but feel the happiness and joy that practically seemed to fill the zoo. It grew ever stronger with each newly minted reptile that was added to it's ranks. These were people who would never have to worry about being mocked, about being belittled for how they looked, how they acted. Nobody would harm them, take their lives simply because they could.

Slowly, Thomas looked towards Serpens, a deep respect gleaming within the iguana's eyes. "These people are so happy, no worries, no fears. You're taking those away, you're bringing real peace to this world." He looked back at the reptiles that were rapidly starting to fill the park. "These are people who will never feel like outcasts, never feel like they don't have a place in this world." He said softly. He turned his attention back to Serpens. "Thank you, for letting me see all of this, for letting me experience it." He told him softly, bowing his head to the god.

Serpens gave a deep hiss of pleasure. Yes. The human had passed his test. "We are back at the reptile house now. I need you to return to your human form and get dressed." With that, he slithered up into a tree to wait.

Thomas slid into the reptile house, feeling his reptilian features slide away, like the mist before the dawn. As he stepped in to grab his clothes, he was once again fully human. He gazed forlornly down at his hands. The pink skin that met his eyes couldn't' compare to the beauty and strength of the scales that had once adorned his form. He rolled his shoulders, pulling on the tight, restrictive clothing. His body felt so weak, his senses dull. Thomas actually began to shiver as he hugged himself. He wanted it back, to feel those cool scales adorn his body. To have that beautiful tail swaying slowly behind him. He wanted it all back.

Getting himself back under control, Thomas finished getting his clothes back on before practically running out of the reptile house. He needed to talk to Serpens, he needed that back.

Serpens had dropped down out of the tree and was waiting. "Well, what did you think Thomassss?"
'
Thomas looked at Serpens, his eyes pleading as he gazed into the serpent's orbs. "Please, I don't want to be like this anymore Serpens." His gaze dropped to look at his hands. "I want to be a reptile again, I want to be strong, powerful, beautiful again not like......" He threw his hands up in disgust. "Not like this."

"I undersssssstand. Your reptilian sssssssoul is wide awake now and feelsssssss out of place in that human sssssskin." Serpens said with a nod of his great head. "I have one more revelation: Dinossssaurssss are not extinct."

Thomas nodded his head as Serpens spoke before freezing as that god dropped the metaphorical bombshell on the reptile-souled human. "Wait, what? Dinosaurs are alive? Can I be one?" He asked excitedly.

"That isss actually why I had you turn back. You sssee...me and my mate are in need of a bodyguard...and I happen to find your wit very amusssing. It would be a ssshame to waste it. Have you ever heard of Deinonychus antirrhopus?" Serpens asked.

Thomas stared for a few moments, his mind going blank for a few moments as it tried to process exactly what he was being told.....and failing spectacularly. Finally, his brain seemed to catch up as he began to start jumping up and down, as though he'd just won the lottery. "You want to turn me into a deinonychus to protect you and your mate." He cheered out like an over-enthused child. "Best. Day. Ever!"

"Yessss. But you have to earn it. I do not make many dinossssaurssss. Only a sssselect few get that honor. In Panama City there are two young loverssss that I would like to sssee join our world. What I want you to do isss go there and change them for me. I'll imbue you with ssssome of my power. I want the change to be a work of art. Be creative with it." Serpens said. "Before you go...a parting gift, a taste of what you have in your future." Serpens touched his tail to Thomas' right arm.

Thomas gasped as he felt his god's power flow into him, watching as a patch of skin began to morph and shift into beautiful tan scales. "I won't let you down my lord, I promise." He said with a grin, bowing deeply to the serpent before he turned and started off, his gaze locked onto those scales. They looked so beautiful, and soon he would have a proper coat of them. But first, he had a flight to book and a pair of lover birds to show the light too. A grin formed on Thomas's face. Oh this was going to be fun.

Serpens settled down for a nap as he watched his future bodyguard rush off. He really liked Thomas. While Sauriel was extremely intelligent and would be his second in command, the raptor had an issue with being a little too harsh away when away from his mate. But Thomas...he was for lack of a better word, funny. Tanith and their young ones would certainly enjoy his company. Surrounded by the sound of changing humans in his zoo, he dozed happily.