Ash smiled at Gary tauntingly from across the paddock outside Oak's laboratory. He felt far less confident than the smirk on his face might imply. After all he had a young fire type, against a water type that would grow to be one of the best water types native to Kanto. Despite this with all the bravado he could muster he said, "Ready to lose Gary?"

"Ready as I'll ever be. Ashy Boy", Gary replied smugly before expanding his Pokeball and throwing it onto the paddock between the two of them. The ball exploded into a burst of light before returning to Gary's hand. Leaving a small blue turtle in its wake. The turtle was around 3 feet tall in stature and had a tough shell that was yellow on its underbelly and reddish brown on the back with a white ring around it. Despite its relatively small stature it was still much larger in height then his small Vulpix.

This turtle appeared to be as arrogant as its owner as it said, "Squirt, Squirt, Squirtle". Before placing some black sunglasses on its face and smirking in an almost exact manner as his owner.

Ash quickly followed suit, releasing Vulpix out onto the battlefield. Vulpix shouted out its name as it appeared from its Pokeball, "Vulpix". Ash felt quite proud as he looked upon his new Pokémon. Despite the size and type disadvantage it had. Vulpix wasn't shirking away in fear at all, if anything its growls made it very clear that she would like nothing more than to attack the still smirking turtle.

"Let's get this battle started Ashy.", Gary said before pointing at Ash's Vulpix and commanding Squirtle to attack, "Go Squirtle use Bubble on that disgusting Vulpix."

Vulpix growled at Gary referring to her as "disgusting". Ash whispered quietly in response, "Go get 'em Vulpix. Dodge and use tail whip."

Vulpix ran towards the paddock fence successfully dodging Squirtle's Bubble attack. Vulpix continued to run towards the fence and did a back flip off one of the fence posts to avoid the remainder of the bubbles. Ash was stunned at the speed of the tiny Vulpix as she dodged and darted around Squirtle's seemingly tireless attacks as Gary kept order Squirtle to use its Bubble attack. "Your doing amazing Vulpix just keep dodging, Squirtle is getting tired out", Ash yelled out to his Vulpix who was beginning to also look tired from her constant dodging.

"This isn't working Squirtle, your to far back you can't hit the blasted rat from this difference. Use withdraw to heighten your defence and then move in closer and use tackle." Gary yelled out through cupped hands to his tiring Pokémon. Squirtle quickly followed Gary's demands as he stopped shooting out Bubbles and all his limbs disappeared into his shell.

"Vulpix, this is your chance move in close while he's using withdraw and blow as much fire as you can into Squirtle's shell." Ash cried out desperately to his Vulpix, he knew this was an all or nothing venture. If Vulpix managed to get there in time the battle would be ours. The Squirtle line has incredible defences. However, their inner tissue is incredibly soft and if Vulpix manages to catch the Squirtle off guard the shell would act like an oven. Leaving nothing but turtle stew in remains.
It seemed Gary knew what would happen if Vulpix got there too as, his eyes widened as he yelled out, "Squirtle use Bubble from inside your shell."

Just as Vulpix had arrived and leaped up to shoot fire into his shell a mass off water came out knocking Vulpix off her feet. Squirtle continually shot water out of his shell, which made him spin in place shooting water all over the place like a sprinkler. It seemed that his was too much for Vulpix as she fell down on the grass and didn't get back up again.

"Vulpix no", Ash yelled out in worry as he ran to pick up his Vulpix. Ash was just beginning to get doused by Squirtle himself as he approached Vulpix.

Gary recalled Squirtle, who was still spinning, before yelling out, "Smell ya' later Ashy boy. Hopefully next time you'll be able to give me a decent fight". Before he walked away laughing at what he considered to be a funny joke.

Ash didn't even hear Gary's final comments from his position on the ground. As he cradled his semi-conscious Vulpix in his arms. "I'm sorry Vulpix. If only I hadn't told you to get closer, we could have worn out his inner water supply. I promise that next time we meet, he won't beat us again", Ash was almost in righteous tears at this point as he began to take Vulpix to his home to give him a potion.

His mum was in the living room watching a documentary of Ponyta when he arrived, "Mum can you get me one of Mr. Mimes emergency potions please. Vulpix is hurt." After saying this he moved into the loungeroom past his mother as she went to go get a potion. He had just gotten the more lucid Vulpix comfortable when his mum returned with a potion.

"What happened Ash?", his mother asked in a worried tone that only parents have.

"I got into a fight with Gary. We lost. It was my fault. I gave Vulpix poor instructions. But next time, its going to end differently." Ash's eyes burned with determination as he said this. He quickly looked down when he noticed that Vulpix was licking him. When he looked into the tiny feline's eyes, he saw the same look he was sure he was sporting. Determination to win, no matter what it takes.

Flash! Until that moment Delia had gone unnoticed as she had gone and gotten her camera to get a photo of them both. "Mum, you know I hate it when you take photos of me", Ash complained in a whiny voice. Which was quite a change form the mature tone he had been using earlier.

"I know dear. But this is a very special moment. You only get your first Pokémon once you know?" Delia said as she smiled at her son and his knew adorable Pokémon.

Vulpix rolled its eyes before using tail whip on Ash's face. "Ow! Vulpix that hurts", Ash whined. Then he noticed the look Vulpix was shooting at the now forgotten Potion. "Oh right", Ash said in a rather embarrassed manner.

After fixing Vulpix up with the Potion and having a wonderful lunch. The now stuffed Ash and Vulpix were leaving his childhood home. Thankfully Delia had packed his bag with all the gear they would need to start their journey while they were at the Professors lab. Ash was just about to close the door before he heard, "Ash Ketchum don't you forget to change your underwear", his mother yelled out from inside the house. In response Ash slammed the door and ran for the front gate, praying that Vulpix hadn't heard him. He almost daren't look down at the tiny fox. It was only after they were outside the gate that he looked down for the tiny fox. Only Vulpix was still at the foot of his front door on her back laughing at him. "Muuuuuum!" Ash yelled in exasperation before running and picking up the still snorting Vulpix, who had only just begun to compose herself.

It wasn't long before Ash and Vulpix were strolling down Route 21 away from Pallet town. Either most people didn't know, or they didn't care, but you could take a ferry from the docks at Pallet town to Cinnabar Island. But for whatever reason, literally all the trainers went through rout 1 to Viridian city and did a circle around the Kanto region before going to Cinnabar Island last. Ash supposed it could be because it cost $2,000 Poke dollars, which was a lot for a new trainer, but Ash had been saving up for this ferry since he decided on getting a Charmander. Even though Ash had not received the Charmander he had still gotten a fire type. One that he was actually very pleased about, Ash thought as he looked down at his little fox who was chasing floating flowers carried by the wind. Ash smiled, yes, he was very pleased with his starter. Thankfully because Vulpix was a fire type he could continue with his plan to go to Cinnabar Island. Ash thought that it would be best to train under Blaine for a while with his fire starter. It wasn't well known, because it was an old practice, but Gym Leaders can take on apprentices who have Pokémon with their typing and help them raise them. Blaine was clearly the obvious gym leader for Ash given he had a fire type.

As Ash held his Vulpix in his arms while he waited for the small boat to leave the docks. He couldn't help but hope that Blaine would take him as his apprentice. After all, just because the Gym Leaders could take on trainers as their apprentices, it didn't mean they had too. Blaine was also known for being the most eccentric out of all the gym leaders. For the last 5 years, only 7 people that had reached the Indigo League had gotten the Volcano badge. This was because no one knew where it was anymore. League officials were known to be exasperated by Blaine and if it was anyone else, he probably would have lost his gym leadership rights. To this day Ash still pondered about how come the old wizened man could still be a gym leader. He would be sure to ask him when he met him.

Hey Guys!

Next update is out. What do you guys think about him heading to Cinnabar Island?

Thanks to all the people who reviewed the story. I really appreciate it. I hope you guys have noticed that I have taken your spacing comment into account and I hope it makes it easier for you to read. Keep the feedback coming please.

Also thanks to rockingchampif for his idea's about Elekid I think I will take them on board. Also thanks to HPfan7-8 for the Pokemon suggestion of Munchlax. I have put a pole up guys about which Pokemon he would get. If the Pokemon you would like is not on the list I put their just review or PM me and I'll get back to you about it. If your suggestion is as awesome as HPfan7-8's was then I'll definately include that Pokemon

Anyway Guys, thanks for reading.