Dai: I decided to have dream sequence/flashback chapters so you learn about Ninetales' past before anyone else does. Besides, it introduces the others faster.

Tsukaimon: Trust me, we own nothing.

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She remembered the day she had evolved from Vulpix. Every Pokémon remembered their evolution. There was just something that made it impossible to forget.

The four had gone to Celadon City, and were in the Department Store. She eyed the Sylveon beside her jealously. If she evolved, than she could probably train as a psychic with telepathy and everything.

It probably didn't help that Sylveon weren't common in Kanto anyways. That was the thing with the Eeveelutions. Some were more common in certain regions than others, with the Hoenn region being the only one where they weren't native Pokémon. Of course, any trained Eevee could evolve however they wished.

That kind of power over the elements made the young Fire Pokémon feel outclassed, despite them being on the same level.

So she decided to check out the Evolutionary Stones.

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There it was. A Fire Stone. Just what she needed. It was sitting on a pillow, the only one in the store.

And it was a necklace.

It still worked. She could feel it's power from where she stood. But affording it was something else altogether. After all, the necklace was pure gold.

Now, if she had been an Eevee who wanted to become Vaporeon, there was a Water Stone necklace made out of silver. So she wasn't the only one suffering. She put her paw on the glass.

"You want it, huh?" She nodded, not at all surprised by the voice behind her. Of course, not that the voice's owner could afford it. At least, not without putting a serious dent in their funds, which were mainly for food supplies. After all, staying on the road, one would get hungry. Especially with four travelers.

"How much for the Fire Stone necklace?"

"Only eighteen thousand PokeDollars."

"I'll take it." And there she was, just blatantly ignoring that there were four of them who needed to eat. At least they could live off of Berries or something.

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After leaving the store, the Fire Stone was removed from the necklace. The necklace itself was kept as so not to be a waste of money. It was probably too late for that, however.

She reached out for the stone, touching it with her paw, reveling in the power it promised. She drew strength from it, allowing the glow of evolution to cover her.

When she emerged, her body was changed. Her inner fire seemed stronger somehow. And more than that, there was something hidden, something that she could just sense.

Ninetales had amazing psychic potential, but few ever realized that dream. She made it her goal to be one of those lucky ones that did.

And, as everyone knows, she succeeded.

If only it had been enough for the others.

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Dai: Short, but it's meant to be.