Disclaimer: I do not, have never, and most likely will never own Pokemon in any way shape or form. This story is just for the personal enjoyment of those that read it and does not, nor ever will, receive any monetary funding. Thank you.
As I walked through the woods I couldn't help but fiddle with the new pokeball in my hand, pressing the button repeatedly just watching it expand and contract. Expand and contract. Expand. Contract. It was an incredibly calming action, a constant reminder of my parents blessing.
I contract the ball one more time before tearing my attention away from it, still keeping it grasped in my hand. Wouldn't want to walk into another tree. Even if no one else was around to laugh it still hurt.
Turning my head to the sky I shaded my eyes with my hand as I checked the angle of the sun. It had only been a few hours since I had left and the sun was still shining brilliantly, breaking out from behind whatever clouds dared to try and cover it. Judging from the angle it couldn't be more than 8:00 or 9:00.
Hearing a whoosh and seeing a flash of red in the corner of my eye I quickly turned to my left and gaped at what was in front of me.
A young Vulpix surrounded by several Weedle that were closing in on it, they appeared to have evaded the small ember attack sent at them. Based on the single white tail and the short tuft of fur sticking up on its' head the poor fox pokemon couldn't have been more than a year old seeing as it hadn't even grown into its most recognizable characteristics.
There had been rumors before I left of a Ninetales raising a litter of Vulpix somewhere in the forest, but I didn't put any stock into it at the time. Ninetales were notoriously rare and fiercely guarded their young. As a consequence very few people had seen, much less caught either of them. Furthermore rumors like this one popped up every now and then in a small village, usually to give the townsfolk and bored children something to talk about. I think the last rumor claimed that a Clefairy was granting the wishes of whatever person found its home the woods.
I couldn't help but grin despite the situation in front of me. A Vulpix would be a fantastic addition to my team and given how rare Fire Types are in Kanto it would definitely give me an edge this early in my trainer career. I was broken out of my fantasies by the yelp the small fox made as the Weedles peppered it with poison sting. Right, I could think about that latter, first I needed to save it.
"Rattata use tackle" I shouted the command as I released her from the pokeball on my waist. She charged forward and tackled one of the Weedle to the ground, breaking the ring that was trapping the Vulpix.
Seeing the break in the enemies defence the Vulpix let out a small ember, hitting another Weedle and causing it to retreat, the other downed Bug Type following its' lead. With another command for tackle and a quick attack Rattata reduced the number of Weedle by two and with a surprising show of strength the Vulpix had taken out another one with a tackle using its' small body.
The Weedle that were left tried to trap Rattata and the Vulpix using string shot, but an ember quickly burnt through it and another 3 Weedle were sent running with bruises and burn marks covering their bodies. Vulpix and my Rattata seemed to be getting in the swing of things and were quickly bringing the battle to an end
Looking at the battlefield I saw Rattata and Vulpix picking of the last of their enemies and I knew this was my only chance. During the fight Vulpix had recovered and was begun to actively participate in the battle. If I didn't try and catch it now the fox was going to get away. With only 2 Weedle left Rattata shouldn't have any trouble fighting without Vulpix by her side.
My mind steeled I pushed the button on my only pokeball causing it to expand, took aim, and throw it at the Vulpix. It almost seemed to happen in slow motion. I watched as the ball spun, its aim spot on. I felt the excitement in my chest try and explode as I tried to keep quiet, not wanting to startle the Vulpix.
Then I watched in horror as the Vulpix moved, tackling the Weedle in front of Rattata. My excitement froze in my throat and I could almost feel it as it plummeted into my stomach. But the pokeball didn't stop moving, its aim was true and I watched in disbelief as it hit the Weedle that had been directly in front of the Vulpix when I threw it. I prayed for it to spit the Weedle back out but my hopes were crushed when the mechanical click echoed out of the pokeball and into forest around us.
I couldn't believe it. As I stumbled over to the pokeball and picked it up with my shaking hands I was only vaguely aware of Rattata and (not my) Vulpix finishing off the last Weedle together.
I stared at the pokeball containing my new partner and stilled my hand. Why? Why did Vulpix need to move? Why did that Weedle (my Weedle) need to be right behind Vulpix. Why did I have to waste the ball that Dad game me on something like a Weedle? Feeling something rubbing up against my leg I signed, clipped the pokeball to my belt and looked down.
To my utter shock, amazement, and guilt I found the very Vulpix that I had failed to catch nuzzling my leg. It happly yipped at my feet and ran towards to woods before stopping and looking back. Seeing that I wasn't following it ran back and bit the leg of my pants, trying to drag me along.
I stared in disbelief. It didn't even know what I had tried to do. As far as it seemed to be concerned I was its friend who had helped it when it was in danger. It didn't realize that I had tried to capture it, to take it from its home and family.
Realizing what I had almost done guilt took hold and I thanked the Weedle that I had caught. The Vulpix really was young. Nothing more than a baby. Even if I had caught it I wouldn't have been able to use it in battles until its' tails fully grew in which signified their maturity and could take years. All that I would have done was taken it from its home, and from its family prematurely.
Unsure of what to do as the Vulpix continued to tug on me I found myself looking at Rattata for answers.
She clearly realized that I had done. She was also less than impressed with how I had done it. But looking at the baby Vulpix, still trying to drag me further into the forest, she seemed to come to a decision.
She walked up to the Vulpix and helped him try and drag me.
Slightly worried I decided to relent and began to walk in the direction they were tugging me.
As soon as I took my first step both pokemon released me. Rattata heading off into the woods in the direction that we were apparently going. Vulpix yipped in excitement, circled me, then took off in the same direction as Rattata.
Slightly baffled I allowed my curiosity to smother the guilt I felt and continued to walk, following the two pokemon as the stayed just a ways ahead of me.
As we walked deeper into the forest I tried to keep a lookout for any territorial markings or wild animals. I had already been chased by one swarm of bugs today, I wasn't about to let that happen again.
We had to stop a few times and skirt around a few pokemon nests but it wasn't anything like the Beedrill from before, mostly just Pidgeys and a few Caterpies. Nothing serious.
I'm not sure how long we walked for. We were away from the path so the canopy formed by the tree tops blocked out much of the light making it nearly impossible to check the angle of the sun, but it couldn't have been more that an hour.
Eventually we reached what looked like a clearing, hidden away in the depths of the forest. It was small, not much wider than a house all the way across with trees hiding it on all sides. If you didn't know it was here than it would have been incredibly difficult to find. There were a few large rock scattered around and a small stream running close to the tree line near us. Off to one side, near the edge on the opposite side of the clearing as us was a small hole in the ground.
With a happy bark Vulpix dashed across the clearing and zipped into the hole.
Caught off guard I found myself standing there, unsure if I should proceed toward what appeared to be the Vulpix's home.
A few moments passed and Vulpix stick its head out of the hole, seemed happy that we were still there, then walked out and sat down on the ground not to far from its hole.
As we began to walk over to our recent companion I found myself stopping in shock.
From out of the fox hole came a majestic white fox. Her ruby red eyes glinted with the fire she held inside as she walked towards her cub. From right behind her came a trio of fox cubs that looked around the same age as the one we had found. They must have all been part of the same litter.
I watched as the Ninetales walked over to her cub and leaned her head down, touching noses with the young Vulpix and flicking one of her tails and making a quick yip. The Vulpix responded with a loud bark and did a quick circle around its mother before trying to touch noses again.
The Ninetales let out a short and then slowly walked across the clearing leaving the Vulpix to the mercy of its litter mates.
As She stalked across the clearing I felt a chill go down my spine and a drop of sweat down my face. Rattata, feeling threatened and nervous, hissed at the white fox and dashed in front of me.
Ninetales stopped halfway through the clearing and looked directly at me. She snorted and lifted up each of her tails, spreading them apart and lighting the tip of each one. With a slight growl she began to slowly advance towards us again.
I started walking backwards, away from the fox and her cubs with my hands in the air, hoping to ease away from her. Then Rattata stepped forward apprehensively to meet the Ninetales and I finally realized what was going on.
Oh shit.
She wanted to battle us.
Vulpix
As it develops, its single white tail gais color and splits into six. It is quite warm and cuddly.
-Pokemon HG Pokedex entry