Chapter 4:
After hearing that Vulpix wanted to evolve, Tails did some internet research at the Pewter City pokemon center and found out that Vulpix would need a firestone in order to do so. Further research informed him that the best place to find one would be Stone Town, since it's at the foot of evolution mountain where evolution stones are mined. Stone town was a long distance away. Luckily for Tails though, Officer Jenny had volunteered to give him and Vulpix a lift as far as the Safari Zone since she was transferring there anyway.
Two days later Tails walked into Stone Town with Vulpix right beside him. The journey from the Safari zone had been uneventful, but not boring: now that they could understand each other Tails and Vulpix had conversed the whole way and learned a lot about each other and their respective worlds. Vulpix had happily agreed to call Tails "Tails" instead of Miles after hearing his story. Tails had been contemplating how to get a fire stone without spending money and had come up with a reasonable plan in part because he'd seen the pokemon episode "The Battling Eevee Brothers" during his time with Chris. He explored the town and quickly found the mansion he was looking for. Conveniently, the Eevee brothers were having a garden party so Tails could just walk right in. Tails looked around at the guests and spotted a red haired teenage pokemon trainer. He walked up to the trainer and said, "Excuse me, can you spare a firestone?" The trainer gave him an annoyed look and said, "Sorry kid, we don't just give them out." He paused for a moment and added, "I didn't see you on the guest list". Tails replied "Your one of the Eevee brothers right? How about this then: battle my Vulpix one on one and if I win the stone is mine." The red haired Trainer laughed and then said, "I admire your spunk kid... Sure why not, my guests could use some entertainment."
A few minutes later the tables and guests had been moved off to the side to make room for a pokemon battle and someone had even found a referee. Tails and his opponent took their positions and The referee spoke authoritatively: "This battle puts Miles Prower of Mobius Town against Pyro of Stone town. The contestants will now choose one pokemon." At these words Pryo took out a pokeball and threw it into the air calling out "Go Flareon!" as Flareon appeared. Tails responded, "Go Vulpix!" and Vulpix ran forward with a determined look. Pryo made the first move, declaring, "Flareon, Flame Thrower!" Tails responded, "Vulpix use double team!" Vulpix disappeared into illusory copies of itself. The fire hit one copy and it disappeared. Pyro looked unfazed and said, "Flareon, burn them all!" Tails knew Flareon was likely to be more powerful then Vulpix, but it seemed that its trainer was either overconfident or not very smart. "Keep it up Vulpix" he said encouragingly. Flareon burned away several more illusions and then Tails saw an opening. "Vulpix, tackle now!" he said and the attack caught Flareon off guard. Deciding to push his advantage, Tails continued, "Vulpix, sand attack!" Vulpix kicked up sand with its hind legs and some of it got into Flareon's eyes. Pryo called out another attack, "Flareon, Firespin!" Tails quickly ordered, "Vulpix, use agility and dodge it." Vulpix narrowly dodged Flareon's attack since it was slightly misaimed. Tails noticed that Flareon seemed to be tiring a bit and figuring that he had a chance to end the battle, Tails ordered, "Vulpix, flamethrower!" The fire hit Flareon head on and engulfed it. Pyro looked amused and said, "You don't expect that to work do you?" Tails replied, "Correct, Vulpix use take down!" Vulpix rammed into Flareon just as the fire cleared and knocked it into a wall of the arena. Flareon didn't get up and after a few seconds the referee held up a signal flag and said, "Flareon is unable to battle: Miles is the winner!"
Vulpix ran over to Tails and jumped into his arms as Tails said, "Great job Vulpix!" After a moment Pyro walked up to him and said, "It looks like I need to brush up on my battling skills. A deal's a deal, you've earned this." and handed Tails a fire stone. Tails set Vulpix on the ground and touched the Firestone to his head. The stone glowed and so did Vulpix, who then began to grow and change shape into Nintales. When the glow faded Ninetales stood about as tall as Tails's disguise form. Ninetales then spoke, though only Tails and Flareon understood the meaning: "Thank you Tails. This means a lot to me."
After spending a few hours at the garden party Tails and Ninetales walked to the exit of Stone town. Then Ninetales said, "Would you like to ride on my back Tails?" Tails looked surprised so Ninetales continued, "You carried me before so now I'll return the favor." Tails said "Just let me know if you need a break" and climbed onto Ninetales's back.
Author's notes:
1. I'm aware that Ninetales's pokedex entry says its only 3 feet tall, but the Pokemon anime has shown larger Ninetales in some episodes.
2. I didn't check weather or not the moves used in the battle in this chapter were accurate to the games because this is a fic about the Pokemon anime, not the games.
