Chapter four

The pyro effect

ᄴᄴᄴᄴ

Satan was once an archangel. Then he discovered the fire...

It was Wednesday. Bloody Wednesday. The midpoint in the week. Boring. No Alex thought, feeling the weight on his chest. He opened one eye to see Haley asleep, curled up into a ball on his blanket on top of him. She looked so peaceful asleep… as did all Vulpixs.

'Haley…' He whispered, drawing one arm from his bed and sliding it across the covers to Haley. 'Haley… wakey wakey…'

'Mmm…' Haley swatted out lightly at Alex's hand as it came near her. 'Vulpix…' She could identify his scent now, and knew it was him. She felt Alex's hand on her back. It scratched her fur and shook her a bit.

'C'mon. Wake up girl.' Alex sat upright suddenly, causing Haley to fall of his stomach and into his lap with an "oof" sound, which seemed to be a grunt. 'Can't sleep in or we'll miss school.'

'Vulpiiiiiix…' She whined as she looked up at Alex with sad eyes. Idon'twantto she thought as she remembered yesterday.

'Alright then. You can stay here with my dad.'

'Vulpix!' Haley shot upright. Nonono!Nothim! She thought desperately. She didn't want to be stuck in here with the demon master. She would rather go with Alex. He'snicetomeandhebelievesinmeheshowedmethefire She nodded, putting on a serious face.

'Ready to tackle the day then?' Alex asked enthusiastically as he gave her another quick scratch on the ear.

'Vulpix!' She exclaimed gleefully. She caught onto Alex's enthusiasm and blew a cone of fire into the air. Though she only made it small on purpose, she was ecstatic she could still maintain her intensity she received yesterday. She just loved watching it as the cone sizzled out into a rain of falling embers. Alex had given her a feel for the fire, so to speak. As she watched it die away she felt she could understand it… comprehend its power and its capability. In truth Alex had instilled a seed of pyromania in her from his own feelings. Alex was once again caught by the flames fluttering into the air over his bed, grinning as their light illuminated his eyes. MyPokémoncandothismypartner

'Now that's the spirit.' Alex told her and ruffled the fur on her head playfully. 'Let's get out there and show them what we can do…' Alex tucked his legs in under his blankets and pulled them out from under the covers. He threw them over the side of his bed and jumped to his feet, grabbing his school uniform off the wardrobe beside him, and he got dressed in a hurry. Haley sat on his bed watching him with little regard for privacy, her six tails floating and wagging. When every male you ever met in your life dropped his pants and shoved his cock in you within minutes of meeting you, privacy was a pretty foreign policy. 'All right, come on then.' Alex called to her as he stood up, finished with tying his laces. He slung his bag over his shoulder as he pushed open his door into the kitchen. He ignored his dad at the table and went straight for the pantry, grabbing a few muesli bars and shoving them into his pockets. Haley wasn't bothered with looking at Jarod either, and just waited at the door for Alex.

'What's with all the food?' Jarod asked without much interest. Alex shrugged back as he headed for the front door.

'Breakfast. Some for me, some for Haley.'

'Haley?' Jarod put his paper down, looking at Alex now. 'You gave it a name?'

'Yeah Jarod, I gave her a name.'

'Why-?'

'Jarod,' Alex held up a hand to silence his dad with an excited grin, excited for what today would bring. For once in his life, he was excited about the day to come. 'I'm going to stop you right there before you make some gayass killjoy comment, coz you ain't screwing over my day, you dirty prick.'

'What?' Jarod stood slowly, pushing his seat away with one foot. 'WHAT!'

'Later motherfucker!' The door smashed into the wall as Alex threw it open with full force, the handle breaking through the wall as Jarod furiously raced after his son and Haley, both of the two grinning madly and laughing crazily as they sprinted out onto the sidewalk and bolted away down it, leaving Jarod behind as he stood at the driveway swearing furiously at them. 'That was awesome!' Alex shouted as he ran, looking down at Haley to see her returned grin as she followed beside him.

'Vulpix-vul!' Haley cried in agreement, baring her teeth a bit as she smiled widely. Thatfeltsogood! She felt so alive now, and blew a small quantity of fire as she ran, just showing off a bit in her excited state. She could still feel it. She could still feel that power from yesterday. She knew what she could do, and now all she wanted to do was to make more fire. The way Alex reacted to it; he clearly enjoyed seeing her show. The two just continued running, completely forgetting about the school bus. They arrived at school shortly after the bus, still excited after their run to school and headed to class.

'Alright Haley, stay still there…' Alex instructed her as he held up his paper and pencil. Haley nodded, and sat still atop the stool Alex had placed her upon. Alex's art class was doing a unit of quick sketches. Something Alex was particularly good at it.

'Remember Alex, it's a quick sketch.' A man advised over his shoulder as he watched. A Smeargle stood at the teacher's feet, looking around Alex at his paper.

'Got it prof.' Alex answered with a sharp nod, looking up at Haley once more and thinking. He snapped his fingers as an idea popped into his head. 'Yo Haley, can we get a show here?'

'Vulpix!' Haley cried with a grin, then tilted her head back and she joyfully blew a jet of flames into the air, startling the entire class. Alex went to work like lightning. His pencil jumped and flicked across the page, sketching the flame in mere seconds and moving onto the body. His eyes moved back and forth quickly across the page as he went, then he stopped, dropping his pencil audibly on the table and spinning on his stool to face the teacher. 'Done.' The teacher shook his head, pulling himself from the brief surprise of the fire. He took the pad and held it up, sitting beside his view of real Haley.

'Remarkable…' He gasped, comparing the real Vulpix to the picture.

'(Amazing.)' Agreed his Pokémon, crossing his arms and nodding.

'(I'll take that as a compliment.)' Haley said as she hopped down from her stool and trotted towards Alex. 'Vulpix?' She asked as she looked up at Alex. Alex heard her and removed his hands from sitting in his lap. Haley jumped up, landing on his lap as his arms wrapped around her and held her. She turned and took a look at the picture for herself. '(Good.)' She said with a little grin, pawing at the pad. Alex had captured her likeness very well, and she was amazed at how much detail he had put into it, especially for a ten seconds sketch.

'Very good likeness.' Mr Merlin said, reaching his hand out to Haley. She spotted it out of the corner of her eye and immediately backed away, her grin upturning as she growled and bared her teeth at the hand. Mr Merlin took his hand away quickly in surprise, feeling stupid.

'She's a little wary of other people.' Alex told him, patting Haley's head as she sat back down, still glaring at Mr Merlin. 'It's okay Haley. Settle down.' Alex crooned as Haley continued to stare.

'It's weird how much she trusts you though.' Alex looked up from his Pokémon to see human Haley approach, Mr Merlin leaving them to see another student's work. 'You've only had her for how long?'

'This is around our forty eight hour mark.' Alex told her as he continued to pat Haley, whose tails were wagging a bit, but still watched her human namesake cautiously.

'Only forty eight hours?' Human Haley's jaw hung a bit. 'She won't let anybody else even come within two feet of her and look at her!' Alex looked back down at the Vulpix where Haley rested. 'She's all cuddled up to you in your lap.' Alex shrugged, still patting Haley. Haley didn't take that as a bad thing. She would have usually taken that as an insult to her independence, but Alex was a nice guy, and so she didn't mind showing a little affection for what he had done for her in the last two days.

'Maybe I have a wonderful friendly personality.' Alex suggested. Haley gagged a bit, laughing sort-of.

'You have a personality?'

Alex bit his lip a bit, his smile falling from his face as he stared at Haley coldly. 'I'll pretend you didn't just say that.' He suggested with a sort of hiss, sarcasm evident though.

'Well you're not usually this talkative. Or social.'

'I'm having a good day.' Alex said as his grin returned. 'I get all high and social.'

'Did you do something with your hair?' Alex shook his head slowly, unsure of where that came from. 'It looks different.'

'Nup.' Alex answered, holding a strand of hair in his fingers. 'Same ginger ninja as usual.'

'Vulpix?' Haley asked with a little confusion.

'I'm being silly again.' Alex told her as he redoubled his petting her. Human Haley just grunted, looking at his hair for a few more seconds and then returning to her own work.

'(She's weird.)' Haley said as she looked up at Alex, leaning back into his scratching hand and murring.

'She's weird.' Alex said. Haley mentally facepalmed.

'(Where are we going?)' Haley asked as she trotted behind Alex across the field.

'It's lunchtime.' Alex said, unable to understand her question. After all, he couldn't understand Pokémon. 'I don't have class for an hour.' Notmyquestion Haley thought with a sigh as Alex sat in his usual spot against the fence. She sat watching him as he unwrapped another sandwich he bought. He pulled the wrapping off and placed it in front of Haley, then went to unwrapping his own.

'Same place Alex?'

'Same place Tracey.' Haley spun around to see the boy from yesterday. She growled as she saw the Poochyena standing beside him, smirking at her.

'(What are you looking at?)' She snapped angrily, still holding a tremendous grudge. She felt something fire up in her seeing the Pokémon's mocking look.

'(Nothing much.)' He answered cockily, causing Hayley to growl louder.

'What are you doing here kid?' Alex asked as he stood up, placing his sandwich on his bag.

'Fire Pokémon don't like losing.' Tracey answered back. 'I thought I'd give you another shot.'

'Vulpix!' Haley called, accepting the challenge readily.

'Are you sure she's ready?' Tracey asked, observing the growling Vulpix.

'Hell yeah!' Alex called with a wild grin, holding a fist up. 'This time we're going to kick ass! Right Haley?'

'(Hell yeah!)' Haley called, imitating Alex's expression as she stepped forwards and blew another jet of fire.

'And Haley?' Haley ceased in her advancing on her opponent and looked at Alex over her shoulder. He nodded to her and shared a knowing grin. 'Feel the fire.'

'Vulpix!' She exclaimed with a nod, spinning back to the Poochyena as she felt that feeling in her build to a greater level.

'Ember!' Haley threw her mouth open and a stream of fire gushed forth. The Poochyena was taken off guard by the sudden increase of intensity from her attack yesterday, and jumped out of the way at the last second. 'Slam Haley!' The Poochyena had barely landed before the Vulpix was upon him, fuelled by some unknown energy as she moved like lightning. She leapt into the air and spun, hitting him across the face and sending him flying. He had greatly underestimated his opponent. 'Again Haley! Keep on the offense!' Haley leapt towards her fallen opponent full of energy.

'Bite Poochyena!' The Poochyena dodged sideways as Haley's tails swung through the air, then dived in from the behind.

'Vulpix!' Haley cried as the Poochyena bit her shoulder.

'Shake'm off Haley! Use that spirit!' Alex called with a grimace. Haley pried her eyes open, ignoring the pain, she threw her body sideways suddenly. She slammed herself and the Poochyena into the ground. The Poochyena released her upon impact, and the two jumped to their feet facing down, on opposite sides from their trainers.

'Hyper beam!'

'Ember!' The two Pokémon opened their mouths simultaneously. Tracey's dad was a rich guy, and had no doubt bought him a hyper beam TM to use on his Pokémon. A flash of white light exploded from the Poochyena's mouth as a jet of fire came from Haley's. The attacks met in the middle with a sudden burst of orange light, the Pokémon holding their attacks against each other. The hyper beam however was slowly burning through the ember attack. Haley clearly had more special attack ability than Poochyena, but hyper beam was significantly stronger than ember. Haley panicked seeing the hyper beam cut through her attack, and redoubled her efforts. 'Come on Haley! Give it all you have!' Alex cried out to her. 'You can do it! I know what you can do!' Haley opened her mouth more, inspired by Alex's comment. The flame grew larger, holding the hyper beam off a bit better, but it still cut through.

'That was a bad move.' Tracey commented as he watched the two battle, their wills pitted against each other. 'Your attack is too weak. You would have been better to dodge my attack.'

'Fuck you Tracey!' Alex yelled back. 'Don't listen to him Haley! You can win this! I know you can because you're better than this!' Haley heard that thing again. That strange thing which echoed in his voice, that inspiring touch, suddenly fuelling that fire she felt. 'Flamethrower!'

'Flamethrower?' Tracey laughed. 'She can't use-' Haley had finally had enough. All her life she had been told she was weak. Told her she was expected to be nothing more than a good little cock-sucking bitch. Told what she could and couldn't do. And now, finally, somebody had encouraged her. Showed her what she could do… and she had realised her potential. She couldn't let Alex down. Alex felt the heat again, before the attack emerged. As the massive inferno exploded from Haley's mouth, he realised he had overlooked something vital. As the massive wave of fire exploded forth, fuelled by Haley's burning spirit and consuming the terrified little Poochyena as he tried to dodge unsuccessfully, the tornado of fire continued.

Towards him.

'(ALEX!)' Haley screamed, releasing her flamethrower after realising what had happened and charging into the dying blaze. Fear mixed with horror and guilt clouded her head as she ran, tears streaming down he face. Tracey ran also, yelling something as he ran for Alex's previous position. OhnoohnoohnoIkilledhim!

*just before flamethrower impact*

Alex stepped back, but was paralyzed by the thing. That surging front of fire surging towards him, those sparkling flames lighting his view as a golden haze. The sheer beauty of the thing captivated him more than anything else he had seen in his life. The wave surging for him. As the massive vortex approached him, something happened. His hand extended, out in front of him to face the approaching attack. Then he spoke. The words just rolled over his lips from nowhere, of their own accord.

'I am alpha.' The blaze utterly consumed him. His eyes were filled with a dark fantasy-like world of fire, scorching and twisting like the vortex which had enclosed him in his dream. And he could feel nothing. He could feel the flames touch his body, licking at him and swooping over him, but he felt no pain. His clothes fluttered in the wave, but didn't even singe.

Haley stopped, her heart skipping a beat as she was confused by what she saw. Alex looked upwards slowly, looking up towards the sun in the sky, and smiled. He was intact. His clothes were intact. He had no burns at all.

'Alex what the hell!' Tracey bawled, looking from Haley to him with disbelief. The grass where the flamethrower had hit was still alight, leaving a trail of fire from where Haley had stood to where Alex was, and past. Alex looked down to the trail of fire, then to Haley, still smiling.

'I felt it Haley…' He whispered just loudly enough for Haley to hear as she ran to him. 'I felt the fire…' Alex's voice drifted out. His eyes began closing, and his legs buckled all of a sudden. He fell to his knees, then onto his front. He lay there unconscious as Haley leapt to his side.

'Vulpix-Vulpix!' She cried into his ear, nudging him with her snout as Tracey knelt opposite. 'Vulpix!'

In a bush nearby, a arm was held straight and rigid towards Alex. Black energy hovered in the air around the hand, and fizzled out eventually and the arm was retracted. A single pair of eyes leered through the foliage at the boy as he fell to his knees, then onto the ground. The man smiled.

'Good boy. The fire is good…'