Chapter One

The White Vulpix

I could hear them. They were getting closer to me and I felt weaker every step I took. I couldn't run anymore. None of my muscles were responding to my brain which was screaming and sending to my nerves to leave. I couldn't, not anymore. I wanted to run, but everything was shut down. The cold ground underneath my small, frail body was biting at me, taunting me. It felt nice, but that cold snow just wanted to rip away all my hopes. Those voices were nearing me. I knew it was time. I would try and give one more fight, but I can barely stand my ground. It wouldn't be much of a fight then, heh. How even could I? I tried it once, and I failed with full disappointment. They were stronger than me and my fire was done for. I stared at the little bit of flame that gave me some hope, smiling some and wishing it would just end. My fire was going to be put out. Maybe it would be possible to die before those voices met me. I wanted to continue fighting and running, hoping they'd never catch me. But I failed.

The fire, it warmed my face as the last lights were beginning to fade. The rest of my body was numb and frozen. I couldn't help but feel the smile grow wider as I remembered my friends and family one last time, their faces flashing in my memories as I stared at the flame. Remembering my mothers warm hugs brought frozen tears to my eyes, staining and freezing them. It was too cold for the fire to keep them to run. If only I could stay next to this fire longer, instead of going back to that nightmare of a lab they said would help me. All I could do now was close my eyes and listen to those voices as they became clear and loud.

"Fire!" I heard someone yell.

"That's her! Get her! She can't move, what a pathetic beast."

Pathetic… That word stung. I tried to put up a fight before, but maybe I was just pathetic. I couldn't fight them off. Not all of them. Why couldn't they just leave me here to die by myself? Why did I have to go back to their lab. Hrmph, well, at least now that they will finally capture me they will let my family go. I pray to lord Arceus that they will let them go. I was selfish, not wanting to give myself up for my family. But now that I will be dying, maybe they'll be happy and thankful that I was dead and they could go their separate way. I was the winner now. Father, Mother, you will be saved. I promise.

Everyone has a purpose in life, mine has now been served.

...

...

...

"Where are we going?" A young, dark type pokémon asked with a groan. His fur was unusually well-kept. Most pokémon of his type could simply change it with a thought. He was rather a rare pokémon in this area. Yet, he wasn't any more special than a shiny pokémon, that's for sure. This Zorua, the only thing strange about him were his eyes. Around his pupil, there's a tint of red? It's mostly overpowered by his bright and blue mysterious eyes. He was quite smaller than the other pokémon his age, his best friend who he was chasing after and calling after.

"We're almost there! Brr, it's colder than usual though!" The pokémon's voice rang throughout the trees that lined the snow-covered mountain trail. You could see one's breath with this cold air. "I bet Articuno is in this area!"

"What kind of berries did you get into?" The young Zorua asked, eyeballing his friend from behind. He continued to trudge in the snow up the mountain. The Zorua seemed to be struggling a bit to keep up with his friend. His friend was right though, it was a lot more cold in this area than usual. "Slow down, Rui!" He called out to his friend, growling in annoyance.

The pokémon in front of him, known as Rui, chuckled and quickly glanced over his shoulder and called, "Go faster!" The pokémon then came to a halt and noticed something strange around this area. He dug his claws into the icy-snow below his feet and gazed over his shoulder one more time. This time, his friend wasn't there! "Zoro?" He murmured to himself. The young small light brown, dog pokémon gazed around and flattened his ears in fear. "Zoro, where did you go? This isn't funny!" He called out. The pokémon then lowered his head to the ground, pressing his nose nearly up right on the snow and began to sniff! Every few sniffs, he'd get a little bit of snow up his nose. The pokémon turned around and began to sniff behind him, finally catching Zoro's scent. He began to follow it off to the side with another path that was barely visible. Zoro's scent got stronger as he continued to follow it, wondering where his friend went. Finally knowing exactly the details, he began to run through the snow very quickly up a hill to a clearing.

This clearing was quite large, surrounded by trees and bushes that were all draped by snow. There wasn't a single leaf on any of these trees, and it made the opening very bare. There was a huge boulder in the middle of the clearing, just out in the open with a small statue behind it.

"Zoro!" Rui called out into the clearing, his eyes falling on the small Zorua who was a few feet away from the boulder. Rui growled in question, "What did I tell you about running off?" The pokémon began to walk towards the pokémon, glaring at him with anticipation for his answer and then stopped beside him.

"Oh get over yourself, Rui. I can take care of myself. You'd never guess what I saw though! I saw him!" Zoro replied quietly, taking a look at the sky.

"What?!" Rui demanded. He rolled his eyes and nosed the Zorua away from the boulder. "You're just cold and crazy, Zoro. I'm sure you didn't see anything."

Zoro growled, glaring at Rui. "Don't touch me! Your muzzle is cold and covered in snow. Besides, you'll mess up my fur. Do you know how long it takes it to get it as perfect at it is?" Zoro shook his head and sighed, looking up at the sky. "I'm serious though, look up there on the boulder. It's a pokémon! Articuno was guarding it!"

"You're absolutely—" Rui, the Rockruff, muttered and continued to shove Zoro away from the large boulder.

"I said stop!" Zoro snapped, pawing away the pokémon and taking a leap forward. "You're cold. I already had to come out on this stupid cold mission because of you. I don't need you're coldness leaking over to me anymore."

The light brown dog pokémon looked a little offended when Zoro pawed him away. He took a step back, which allowed Zoro the opportunity to dart back up to the shrine.

Zoro stood up best he could to try and look over the boulder at the Articuno Shrine. However, he was still a little too short! Huffing, he pushed away from the boulder and went around to the back. The dark-type then crawled up the rock and to the top. Staring down at his feet, he frowned at the body that was laying there. It was indeed a small pokémon, laying on the rock. "Look," He demanded from his friend.

Rui rolled his eyes and walked up to the boulder and leapt to the top, which was easier for him because he was slightly taller with longer legs than the Zorua. The top of the boulder was flat, and he nearly stepped on the pokémon that was below him. The smells that covered the area made him wonder if Zoro was telling the truth about Articuno. Rockruff's have a very strong sense of smell, and one of the smells was the pokémon by his feet and another strange smell. He gazed at the motionless pokémon below him, seeing she was slightly breathing. This pokémon was a small, snow-white female pokémon with more than one tail. Her paws were dipped a light gray color and so were her ears.

"See?" Zoro grunted in satisfaction. "I told you there was a pokémon."

"Do you see that?" Rui asked, taking his cold rocky paw to the pokémon's furry chest and pointing to a small mark that was there. He gasped, "It looks like a flame!" The puppy pokémon leaned forward to get a better whiff of this pokémon. "She's got a strange smell on her though, the same one I can faintly smell in the area."

"That's Articuno," Zoro replied with a wide grin. "I saw him and you didn't! He then flew away when he noticed me."

Rui rolled his eyes and chuckled in amusement, "I highly doubt it. Articuno hasn't been seen in decades. No one has seen him return here in moons!" The Rockruff then lifted his right front paw and poked at her back hind leg. She didn't even flinch.

"You weren't here, you wouldn't know what I saw," Zoro huffed, sticking his muzzle into the air with sass.

"Whatever," Rui muttered and tilted his head in curiosity at the pokémon below him. He asked, "Do you know what pokémon this is?"

Zoro shook his head and shrugged. "I'm not from a city area and was born and raised with other Zorua's. I'm not sure what half the pokémon in this world are."

"She is a Vulpix. A white Vulpix."

"So, shiny?" Zoro asked.

"No, she's an ice-type Vulpix," Rui explained, recollecting his knowledge from Rescue Classes. "She's an Alolan Vulpix, rather rare in this area. The guild has a regular Vulpix, that's a fire time, but this one is ice."

Zoro glared at him sideways, "I knew that… But how is that even possible?"

"I don't know," Rui replied, "But she's like Master Marowak."

Without saying anything, the Zorua shifted into a fire-type Cyndaquil. He at least knew what a Cyndaquil was. He's seen one in the guild before. He began to use the flames he was able to generate to at least warm the area and hopefully awaken the frozen Vulpix.

"I don't know if we should do that, Zoro," the Rockruff whined, flattening his ears and frowning. "If Articuno really was here, maybe he doesn't want us to wake her."

Zoro shook his head and lied down next to the Vulpix, hoping to use these imaginable flames to hopefully wake this pokémon up. He murmured quietly, "He was going to take her."

"Hrm," Rui murmured and sat down on the other side of the Vulpix, gazing steadily at this white pokémon. He frowned and let out a soft sigh. This poor pokémon was just lying here, and Alolan vulpix's were not common in this area at all. At least, he's never seen one here before. There were rumors that Alolan Vulpix's were sacred to this area due to the weather, so this Vulpix had to be special. Worry sat in his chest. If he was to awaken her, how would she react? Maybe she was sleeping here for a reason, especially if his friend Zoro claimed that he saw Articuno over her. Perhaps Articuno was just protecting her until someone came along.

"There!" A voice called from the bushes. "This is where Articuno's shrine is!"

"Shh, you idiot!" Another voice hissed.

Rui sniffed the air after hearing the voices, letting out a low growl. He jumped off the shrine and gave a sharp glare in the direction of the smell. The smell of the pokémon approaching the three of them, bothered him very much. These pokémon were trouble, and he knew it.

"Aww! Look who we found! It's the lovers of the Guild, Zoro and Rui!" A conniving voice giggled from the bushes.

"Oh wonderful," Zoro groaned. "It's them. I don't have time for this nonsense." The Zorua transformed back to his normal form and stood tall on the boulder.

"Why are we here again?" A young, female grass pokémon asked as she followed the leader.

"You know why, Ivy," The salander pokémon replied with a sharp growl.

"I see no point in freezing to death, Flint, just to see if Articuno was here," Ivy, the Roselia pokémon replied. She was tightly hugging herself with a huge scarf around her neck.

"Oh uh, h-hey Ivy," Zoro grinned slightly, feeling his cheeks warm up at even the sound of her lovely voice.

She was quite the sight, however. She was a very different Roselia and Zoro found it very unique and pretty. She was different, not shiny, but her roses were different. This Roselia was different from any others. As snooty as Ivy was, she was a very high standing member of the guild and her group. The reason she is so special is because of her hands growing a special flower that is more than just the average rose. She grew a flower known as a Gradenia, but only one every season during New-Leaf. No one knew why of this, but she treasures that special flower and doesn't let anyone near it or touch it.

"Ugh, hello freak-show," Ivy muttered to Zoro.

"Heh, my name is Zoro, but freak-show works too," he chuckled slightly, flattening his ears and staring at her with a smile.

Rui rolled his eyes and then turned back to the fire/poison pokémon known as Salandit. "Flint, why are you here?" The Rockruff demanded.

Flint shook her head and demanded, "Why is that even your business?" She scrambled forward on the hard-ice snow, burning it as she walked. "We heard a rumor, and we wanted to see if it's true. I hear you get lot's of treasures by getting one of his feathers." She scrambled even closer to Rui and the shrine, gazing around the area. "Kabuto, search," She demanded the third pokémon that their group was with.

Rui felt his entire body tense up in curiosity as he watched the swift pokémon scramble through the snow. "What's you real game?" He demanded, turning back to Flint.

"You know, you're quite annoying. Not charming at all," Flint sighed and shook her head. "Articuno was here, and we want his feather."

"Feather? You really think his feather is worth anything?" Rui demanded, growling.

"Uh, yeah? Duh? He's a legendary pokémon, you idiot."
"Oh Ivy!" Jax gasped, "I saw Articuno!"

"That's nice," Ivy muttered, rolling her eyes. She then froze a second and her eyes grew wide, "Wait, what?"

"Look!" Zoro said, happily pulling a feather out of the satchel that was around his body. The feather was huge, glorious a nd blue.

"Zoro, what the Distortion World?!" Rui snapped, gazing at his friend.

Flint's eyes grew wide.
Ivy smiled sweetly and took a step towards the small Zorua. She shoved Rui out of the way and looked up at the Zorua with big, pink eyes. (yes, her eyes are pink. "You know something, Zoro?" She whispered quietly to his ear in a sweet, sing-song voice. Slowly, Ivy reached up with her hands while captivating Zoro's gaze, and her other hand was gently resting underneath his chin, forcing him to look at her. "If," She whispered, "You give me that feather, I'll give you a kiss."

Zoro's eyes grew wide as he stared into her pink, soft gaze. He felt his entire body warm up and he whispered to her, "I'll g-give you anything."

"WHAT?!" Flint and Rui replied in unison.

"That's a good-boy, Zoro," Ivy whispered in his ears.
"Don't you dare, Zoro!" Rui growled.

…

…

…

More voices, unusual voices which rang in my ears. A sweet voice, a mean voice… A mixture of everything. These voices, they were disturbing my sleep. Oh how this sleep was the best in my life that I could remember. I wanted to sleep more, but my body began to stir in annoyance to these voices. I could feel my legs stretch out and I could hear my heartbeat once more. It was a nice thumpity-thump noise that made me smile. However, these annoying voices made it very hard to keep that voice. They were getting louder and more clear as I began to fully awaken. Honestly, they were more annoying than a Magikarp. How much more rude can these guys get? Disturbing a girls sleep! How rude!

My body was finally warming up and I could finally more my legs once again! My arms felt strange, but I could move them at least. My eyes fluttered open to an unusual scenery of snow and trees. Truly an area I am not familiar with. I moved my head slightly to see where these voices were coming from. My gaze rested on a small furry, dog-like pokémon. He was on the ground, tackling another pokémon who was fighting back. I frowned. Why were these pokémon fighting? Perhaps it was food or shelter? I absolutely hated when pokémon fought. I don't know why either! I knew something wasn't right.

My mind was boggled and foggy. I couldn't remember what I was here for. I can't remember anything at the moment. None of these pokémon looked familiar. I painfully moved my stiff neck to look at a small brown round thing that was stuck to a branch. Perhaps a berry? No, it was moving.

"Let go of me!" A pokémon growled.

"Rui!" A loud voice boomed over everything.

A yelp sounded and suddenly, Rui the dog pokémon was lifted into the air by another pokémon. I looked at the gorgeous white and blue pokémon, who had picked up the pokémon known as 'Rui.' I know I've seen a pokémon like her before! She was a Froslass, a ghost/ice pokémon. I couldn't recognize the two pokémon that were fighting. They were new to me, and I was very well trained in pokémon… This was so weird, but I stayed still on the flat surface I was on. I couldn't feel too much of my body yet.

"Rui, what is going on in your head?" The sweet-sing-song voice of the Froslass spoke. "You run off and get into a fight with Team Whisper?!"

"But Zya-" Rui whined, before getting cut off again.

"No Rui, no butts!" She sighed and the pokémon set Rui back on the ground, shaking her head. "Honestly Rui. Why can't you be calm like the others?" She turned her head and motioned to three other pokémon.

I blinked and stared at the Froslass. Why was I able to understand her?

"Hey Zyana," Another voice sounded above me.

I was so scared, why could I hear these pokémon? My entire body was stunned with shock, yet there was a bit of excitement hidden inside me. I was able to understand all these pokémon loud and clear.

"There's a pokémon here. She looks injured."

Suddenly, I was laying in front of a huge, black-bird. My gaze grew wide in fear at his random appearance, and I opened my mouth to scream. I was so shocked and freaked out, that nothing came out. A huge Honchkrow was hovering right in front of me, his beady eyes staring into mine full of fear.

"A pokémon?" I heard another voice reply.

The Honchkrow landed on the huge boulder, nearly on top of me. I tried to scramble away, but I felt pain seeping through me. "Get away from me," I tried my best to utter. What is going on!
"Ah, it's an Alolan Vulpix!" The Froslass, known as Zyana, said as she came up to me at the boulder. She raised her hand and set it on my forehead. "But… She's different,. Look at her eyes. They're the same as a regular Vulpix," The ice/ghost type pokémon grabbed a strand of my hair and looked at me softly. "Her fur, look at it," She whispered.

"S-stop!" I growled to the pokémon, giving her a cold look.

"Hrm," Zyana, the Froslass, murmured, ignoring my warning as if I was no threat to her.

"I said stop!" I earned her for the last time. "I don't know why you're calling me a Vulpix, but remove your grubby, petty hand off me!" My tone was low, dark and threatening. I was not a girl you wanted to mess with.

She finally removed her cold hand, giving me a disgusted look and replied, "Oh please. You're all Vulpix. An ice type Vulpix, if I must explain myself to your term." She turned her back to me and paid attention to the clearing. "You three, get back to the guild," She demanded, pointing at the Kabuto, Roselia, and Salandit.

"But, our feather!" The Salandit, Flint, whined to her.

"An order is an order, Flint. Ivy, return the feather to Rui," Froslass ordered with a flick of her wrist. "Rui, you and Zoro are both in charge of the Vulpix." She turned her attention to the Honchkrow and added, "I shall return to the guild shortly. Let Guild Master Marowak know I am investigating. Also, make sure Team Whisper return to the guild without causing my trouble."

"Yes, Zyana," Honchkrow replied, with a slight bow and dip of his head. He stretched his wings and took off into the cold sky.

I watched him leave before turning my attention to two known as Rui and Zoro. Surprisingly, I recognize the Zorua but not the other one. I focused them as I was picked up by Zyana. I demanded, "Where are you taking me?"

"To get help," She replied with a sigh. "You are injured and have hit your head too hard while climbing Articuno's Shrine."

"How dare—" I was cut off.

"Shh, sweet one," She whispered and I was then set down across the rock-pokémon's back.

This was embarrassing. How dare this pokémon lay her hands on me, trying to control what I do! I couldn't even fight back, I was unable to move. Weak and injured, I laid across this pokémon's back, growling. I don't remember how I was injured, but somehow I was. I didn't want to leave though. I wanted to stay here on that boulder where I woke up to these voices. I needed to investigate! Why does the Froslass get to? Who does she think she is?

"Now leave," Zyana ordered the two small pokémon.

"But Zyana, this pokémon shouldn't leave!" Zoro argued, glaring up at her. The small Zorua locked gazes with her, steadily and trying to match her competition but she simply flicked her hand and shrugged.

"She needs help, a lot of it, Zoro."

Zoro shook his head, glaring at this pokémon. "Articuno was helping her!"

"He's not helping her anymore, obviously. Wouldn't he have taken her and taken care of her if he was helping her? Why would he just leave her here?" Zyana questioned the small pokémon.

Zoro fell quiet and frowned, turning to leave the area.

Rui shook his head and began to trudge after his friend, leaving Zyana alone in the clearing.

I was beyond irritated right now. The pokémon's steps were rough and bouncy, making this trip more annoying and embarrassing. The fur around his neck was rough, and I noticed it was sort of like a rock. I wanted to roll off of him, but something about this felt right. Like, a voice telling me these guys are really here to help me. I could say I felt somewhat secure, however, I was beyond unhappy. I was being called a Vulpix, understanding a pokémon's words, and now riding the back of a small pokémon? I looked to the snow covered ground and watched Rui's paws leave tracks in the snow. I then noticed a gray pay just hanging on the side. Curious, I went to go touch it with my hand, but the paw just moved. That… That movement was from me. I moved my fingers, only to see my toes on the paw moving.

"AHHH!" I yelped loudly, and forced myself off of Rui and into the snow. I saw my furry body moving because of me! I was controlling this small, furry white and gray body. I looked towards my behind and noticed I had tails! TAILS COMING OUT OF MY BEHIND! I could even move them!

"What…" I murmured and rolled in the snow to my other side. I could move my tongue against my teeth, feeling the sharpness of them. I began to dig at the snow and I could wiggle my EARS?! I could even smell pokémon! You can't smell pokémon! I mean, if they were dirty, you could but I could smell everything! Berries, pokémon, snow, and even weird scents!

The Pokémon Zoro gazed at me weirdly, sat down and whispered quietly to the brown puppy. "Is she okay?" He asked quietly.

I turned on Zoro, surprised I could understand him too! "Whisper again!"

"Uhh," He dropped his voice even lower and whispered, "Is she crazy?"

"I-I can hear you!" I gasped!

"Yeah… That's how pokémon communicate. We listen and understand each other," Rui replied and walked up to me. "Get up," He said quietly to me and tried to help me up with his cold nose.

"Get away from me you freak!" I growled, scrambling away from him. I was freaking out and could even feel my ears flatten against my head. MY chest was pushed into the ground as I touched my head with my paws. Yup, those were ears.

"Hey, relax," Rui replied, stepping closer to me and frowning. "We're just trying to help you." The rocky pokémon put out his paw towards me as if he were extending a hand to me.

I was tempted to reach for it, but I shook my head. I demanded, "Why am I a Vulpix?!" My heart was thudding in my chest and I was breathing heavily, my entire body nervous.

"Rui, give the crazy pokémon some space," Muttered Zoro. "Vulpix, friend. You need to relax, we aren't here to hurt you."

Ignoring him, Rui stepped closer and talked to me more, "What is your name?" He asked, his voice calm and soothing, relaxing me slightly.

I starred into his bright blue eyes searching for something. His gaze was relaxing and full of curiosity. Something in me told me I needed to trust this pokémon. I had to. I spoke softly, locking gazes with him, "My name is A-Aria." Staring into these eyes of me reminded me of someone else's gaze, a calming one.

"That's an interesting name," Rui replied softly and was now only merely inches away.

I could feel his warmth breath, and I knew something about this pokémon was good.

"Now lets get you up and moving," He said quietly, taking a step beside me to help me fully up on my paws.

The other body of Zoro was on my other side, now helping me stand up straight too.

"I heard Articuno say her name, but I didn't hear Aria. It was something different… Too quiet for me to hear. It started with an R." Zoro explained to us, gazing ahead.

"Interesting, are you sure your name is Aria?" Rui asked.

I nodded in agreement, replying, "Yes." I then lowered my gaze to my new paws. I guess maybe I really did hit my head. Have I always been an Alolan Vulpix? The last I remembered was a warm fire. That doesn't explain why I though understanding pokémon was weird though. Maybe because I unconscious or maybe I just hatched? Who knew.

"Are you sure you heard that Zoro? You're starting to sound more crazy than she," Rui chuckled and rolled his eyes.

"Yes, I'm serious, Rui," The pokémon growled on my other side as they guided me to walk. "I'm not an idiot."

Rui laughed again and nodded slowly, replying in a sarcastic voice, "Okay Zoro. I mean, because you didn't almost give up our feather to a girl."

"HEY! That is not my fault!" Zoro growled at Rui, glaring at him. "I was…. Charmed! She tricked me! I didn't even get my kiss. I will never fall for her stupid trick again," Zoro growled, looking away in embarrassment.

"If you say so.."

I frowned, listening to them bicker on either sides of me. They were loud and very annoying. It's just their voices. My head still hurt from all of this too. I didn't know what to believe. I was just right now grateful someone had found me. I wasn't at first, but maybe this is a good thing. Maybe I'll be able to figure out what's going on.

"She's cold," Rui stated the obvious.

"She's an ice-type," Zoro replied, giving him a weird look. "Of course she's cold."

Rui rolled his eyes and shook his head and replied, "Give he your blanket."

"What? NO! I refuse to pull that out."

I looked over at Zoro with sad eyes. A blanket did feel needed right about now.

Zoro caught my eye and then sighed, "Ugh. I'm a sucker for girls with big eyes. You owe me, new girl." Pausing for a second, he dug into the satchel that was around him and muzzled his way through to grab a blanket, and pull it out of the bag. He then attempted to drape it over me. We continued to walk in the direction of wherever they were taking me. I sure hope this was the right decision.