AN: Hello everyone! Back with Chapter 9! Thanks for the support! It means a lot!
Disclaimer: I own nothing except the characters and the plot. So basically everything not directly related to Pokémon if you catch my drift.
Chapter 9: Extinguishes of a Forming Bond!
Cerulean City. They made it to the city about two days after their run in with Team Evolution. During that time Keygan spent time training her Pokémon especially her newest partner, Clefairy. Keygan was under the impression she would have to work on her moves and strength. Keygan found out that wasn't the case when she was having a battle against Catelin so they both could practice. Clefairy looked cute and packed an even bigger punch. Or more like a Mega Punch. Keygan then decided to ask Clefairy what moves she knew so she wouldn't be surprised anymore. Again, she was packing the moves.
Mega Punch. Metronome. Magical Leaf. Double Slap.
Magical Leaf would come in handy for their next battle.
Jigglypuff was a little scared by her firepower and actually convinced herself to perhaps take this training idea serious. If Clefairy could look so cute and be so tough then...she could too to as much as she wanted too that is.
Vulpix had more respect for the fairy. One, Clefairy put Jigglypuff in her place and Vulpix got to watch glorious front row seats so technically HD since she saw it live. It made Vulpix pretty happy. Two, she proved herself to be strong. She could defend herself and their trainer. No babysitting duty. Three, Vulpix bucked up and talked to Clefairy that night after her capture. Vulpix found out Clefairy didn't real appeal toward evolving. It wasn't that she flat out refused, it was just something she didn't think about. She said she was strong and she liked her appearance. Vulpix could live with someone like that.
"Keygan, what about your gym battle?" Catelin asked as they were sitting around their room at the Pokémon Center that night.
"I think I'll be using Clefairy and Beedrill. Vulpix doesn't need to be in that situation," Keygan answered.
"Pix!" Vulpix shouted in shock. She thought she would a shooing for battling tomorrow. What happened? What situation? Didn't Keygan trust her to fight as hard as she could? She did amazing against Brock and she was at a type disadvantage so that wasn't the issue. Was Keygan losing confidence? How? Was it because Clefairy seemed stronger? She just learned Fire Spin too. Fine, if Keygan didn't have faith then Vulpix wouldn't either.
"Vulpix listen. The Cerulean Gym is a…" Keygan started to explain.
"Pix!" Vulpix barked which was basically her telling her trainer to shut up.
"Vulpix…"
"Vulpix!" She barked again. She didn't want to hear it. So what if the Cerulean Gym was strong, she could handle it. She was a stronger fighter.
"Fine. Don't listen to what I have to say, but you are going tomorrow." Keygan demanded.
Vulpix shrugged her shoulders and turned away. The shrug was to tell Keygan she understood what she said and would at least comply with that much. Keygan sighed. She wanted to tell Vulpix that the gym specialized in water type Pokémon. Vulpix was a fire type and she really didn't like water or at least when it was being used against her. Vulpix didn't mind baths as the water was hot, but attacks or rain was a big NO in the fox's book. That night Keygan looked over at the desk where Vulpix was sleeping. They were doing so well too.
The next morning was quiet except for the casually greetings and affirmations of Keygan and Catelin. Such as good morning and leaving. The walk to the gym was the same. No one talked and the atmosphere around them wasn't happy. Keygan also missed having her partner on her shoulder. Vulpix walked behind them keeping her distance. Her head had two position. Up glaring at the back of Keygan's head or down to the concrete mulling over her thoughts.
When arriving at the gym everything looked alright. Keygan wasn't sure if this gym was aligned with the organization. Whatever they called them. She never got a name. That was what she called them, for now. Anyway, she knew she had to be careful. Keygan went over scenarios in her head and the only thing she could think was after she won the trainer's standing would fall and she'd drown. She didn't know how to swim very well and didn't want to test how well under pressure.
"Hello and welcome to the gym. I'm Misty, the gym leader." Misty introduced herself.
"Hi. I'm Keygan and this is Catelin. I would like to challenge you." Keygan said.
"Great! I rarely get challengers so what do you say about getting started?" Misty said.
"Sure." Keygan agreed. So far so good. Misty didn't seem like a hostile gym leader, but that could be just a lure.
Misty led them to a battle field past the lobby of the gym. It was a pool with platforms floating. Vulpix's eyes widen seeing the pool. Water. The Cerulean Gym was a water type gym. The gym used water type Pokémon and the field was a pool. It made sense.
"I don't want to put Vulpix into that situation."
Vulpix remembered what Keygan said. Situation. The situation of having to battle on the field of fears. She hated the large body of water. That wasn't a bath and it was far from it. Vulpix felt guilty. She should have known. After all they've been though…Keygan would never do that nor would she ever lose faith in her. Keygan wanted to protect her like she said she would.
"Vul…" Vulpix tried to talk her trainer.
"Misty calls Staryu!" Misty said calling her Pokémon.
"Clefairy I choose you!"
"Staryu use Swift!"
"Magical Leaf to counter!"
Vulpix didn't get a chance to talk to Keygan. She wanted to apologize for being rude and not listening to her. Vulpix stood behind her looking up. Not glaring, but apologetic. She needed to make up for this.
"Water Gun!"
"Dodge it!"
Quick Staryu use Tackle!"
"Hya!" Staryu cried tackling Clefairy who fell out of the air and landed on a platform. She quickly got up and prepared to counter.
"Start jumping around on the platforms!" Keygan commanded getting an idea.
Clefairy nodded and began jumping from platform to platform. She really didn't understand what her trainer was doing, but was going to go with it.
"Staryu into the pool so we can keep track!" Misty called. Staryu gave an affirmation cry and jumped into the pool. They didn't see Keygan smirk. Trap. Set.
"Clefairy Mega Punch on the pool!" Clefairy jumped into the air and her fist glowed. She then slammed her attack down onto the pool. Misty attempted to call Staryu out, but it was too late. The Mega Punch's power rippled through the pool and pushed the Star Shape Pokémon out in midair. "Magical Leaf!"
Clefairy launched the never missing grass type move and hit Staryu. The power pushed the water type and slammed it against the wall. Misty called out to her Pokémon as she watched it slide down the wall blinking. It fainted.
"Staryu return and thank you. You're good, but I'm the best. Misty calls Starmie!"
"Clefairy start with Magical Leaf!"
"Rapid Spin!"
Keygan's eyes widen as she saw the Rapid Spin deflect the Magical Leaf. Starmie then attacked her Clefairy sending her up toward the ceiling. Clefairy wasn't meant to fly and she was freaking out. The unexpectedness of battle wasn't what she signed up for despite battling was fun.
"Clefairy!" Keygan cried.
"Water Pulse!"
The Water Pulse launched and slammed Clefairy sending her back up toward the ceiling. Apparently she hit the ceiling and then fell toward the pool. The water broke her fall and she then reappeared…fainted.
"Clefairy return. Nice job. You did awesome for your first gym battle. Now…"
This was her chance. Vulpix analyzed the situation. Beedrill had a chance of winning, but Keygan would have to play her cards right. However, Misty had the field on her side. Sure Vulpix wasn't a fan, but that can be taken care of. Keygan needed win. She didn't want to think about if she ever lost. Keygan, the person who would put an important battle on the line just so she could be safe from harm and fear.
"Vulpix!" the fox cried as she jumped next to Keygan.
"Vulpix?" Keygan questioned. Wasn't her starter hating her? Now, she wanted to fight. Keygan looked down at her starter to see determination looking back at her.
"Pix." Vulpix voiced and nodded to her trainer.
"Alright. Vulpix, you're up!"
"Ha! You're going to use a fire type? Well then, this will be easy. Starmie Water Pulse!" Misty said calling her attack in hope of finishing the battle then.
"Dodge it with Quick Attack!" Keygan called and Vulpix jumped in a white flash jumping from platform to platform until she struck Starmie.
"That trick again…Starmie into the pool!"
"Pix." Vulpix grinned. That was what she was hoping. "Vulpix!" she called to her trainer and released a flame from her mouth hoping she got the message.
Keygan nodded understanding. "Vulpix Fire Spin!"
Vulpix dug down deep and produced the hottest Fire Spin she could. The plan had to work. She launched the spinning vortex of fire and it struck the water instantly causing a steam to produce. The steam covered the field as the water evaporated. As the steam cleared calmed the pool was reduce to a kiddy pool that Starmie was standing in.
"Oh no!"
"Oh yes." Keygan smirked. She would have to thank Vulpix for that one. They were a team. "Vulpix Confuse Ray!"
"Pix!" Vulpix cried as her eyes glowed and Starmie began to teeter.
"Starmie Swift!" Misty called, but the Pokémon launched the attack and the swift either was destroyed or hit back at the water and psychic type. However, the back slash cleared the confusion. "Great! Recover!"
"Oh no." Keygan whispered as Starmie began to heal. She needed to do something to cut the healing process down or she'd be in trouble. If Starmie was close to full strength it could still give a run for their money. Damage. Constant damage. "Quick Vulpix Fire Spin!"
Vulpix nodded and attacked. The Fire Spin hit the water evaporating more and circled Starmie. The Mysterious Pokémon gave little cries as it took fire damage. Vulpix then jumped and her paws hit the bottom of the pool…which had about a few inches of water still. Keygan eyes widened at this. Vulpix actually got down in the water filled pool so she could be on an even level with Starmie.
"Starmie Rapid Spin!" Misty called in hope to clear the flames.
"Vulpix bounce off the wall and into Quick Attack!" Vulpix turned and launched into Quick Attack. She used her momentum to make the attack faster and stronger. Also Starmie's Rapid Spin helped the fire fox. The spin gave Vulpix more force to strike causing the Pokémon to be slammed into the siding of the pool. The starfish like Pokémon slide down and into the left over water…blinking.
"Starmie is unable to battle! Vulpix is the winner!" the referee said. "The winner of the match is the challenger!"
"We did it!" Keygan cheered as Vulpix jumped up and in front of Keygan.
"Pix!" she cheered herself as she sat in front of her trainer. "Pix?"
Keygan got on knees so she could see her Pokémon. She had the biggest grin on her face.
"You were amazing. I'm so sorry I doubted you. I just wanted to protect you. I know how you don't care for water and I didn't want you to get hurt or discouraged. I promise Vulpix I'll communicate better if you do too. We're a team and we make a pretty good one." Keygan said as Vulpix listened intensely.
Vulpix was right. Keygan just wanted to protect her. Vulpix thought more about it. That act seemed like it meant so much to her. The fact it was done out of love made it better. Vulpix still wasn't sure about this trainer to Pokémon relationship yet. Wasn't she supposed to protect Keygan, not the other way around? Well…she guessed it went both ways.
"Pix?" Vulpix questioned as she was picked up and enveloped in a hug. A hug? This wasn't forced…by a human she hated. This was given by a human she cared for. "Vulpix."
Vulpix put her head on her shoulder and hugged her trainer back. They weren't destroying their bond, they were building it.
Keygan smiled and would remember to write this down later. She was keeping track of her partner's progress. One for a keep sake and another to show the professor how far the fox had come. Well in terms of with her trainer. Keygan wasn't sure if she'd ever like or trust another human being besides her. Only time would tell. She'd have to read over her notes.
Today marks the first time Vulpix hugged me back.
"Keygan. That was an excellent battle. I learned a lot from our battle. I present you with the Cascade Badge." Misty said giving her the badge.
"Thank you." Keygan said accepting the badge.
"I also want to thank you for what you're doing. Please be warned from here out is where most of the gym leaders will do anything their power to stop you. And I mean everything." Misty explained with the severity of her voice.
"Don't worry. I'll help make sure nothing happens!" Catelin's voice interrupted hearing what the water type gym leader said. "I'm sure Vulpix will too."
"Vulpix!" Vulpix snapped. She wasn't agreeing with Catelin on anything even if it was true. Gym leaders weren't concerned about Pokémon. It was trainers.
"Thanks Catelin." Keygan said clipped the badge to the inside of her bag. "You too Vulpix. It's good to know that I have people to back me up."
"Don't forget it!"
'But I will do everything to make nothing happens to you either.' Keygan thought to herself. They might use her friends or even her partner against her. She give up everything for them. They didn't need to collateral damage for a cause someone else could also strive for.
AN: And that's chapter 9! Keygan has her second badge and the corrupted gym leaders will arise soon! The mentioning of the notes Keygan has about Vulpix I thought about posting a little later or after the series is over so it can be seen. Anyway, I hope you enjoyed the chapter and I hope you'll leave me a review, favorite, or/and follow! See you!
P.S. I found a great shaming picture of Vulpix the other day and I thought it fit Vulpix to a T. I loved it and thought I'd share it. Whoever made it awesome! I almost made the story picture, but it wouldn't fit…
The picture had a Vulpix with a rainbow scarf of blue, purple, pink, and orange and Vulpix had an innocent yet devious smirk. Anyway, the shame said, "Sure, I'll help in the forge. Hurt my partner, I know where to hide the body."
I'm not sure if I understood it right, but I interpreted that way. I thought it was cute and wanted to share it with you guys. If you want to see it yourself look up 'vulpix shaming' in google images and it is like the first picture.
See you next time!
