Disclaimer: Alright people, listen up. I do not own Pokémon in any shape or form, and if you choose to believe so and try to sue me anyway, that's your own problem. I don't have money for you.
Summary: Your handy trainer's guide on how to look after your Pokémon. This guide contains knowledge on the care, temperament and needs of the Pokémon you're looking after, and what to expect when keeping them.
Fire Pokémon are often considered to be the hardest of the three types of starter Pokémon to train, not only for their destructive power and dangerous elements, but also their fiercely dominant natures. They are not usually recommended as a trainer's first-time Pokémon, and are best managed by confident, more experienced trainers.
Name: Vulpix.
Classification: Fox Pokémon.
Type: Fire.
Number: #125 (Kanto/Hoenn)
Evolution: Vulpix – Ninetales (by use of a Firestone)
Height: 2′00″ (0.6 m)
Weight: 21.8 lbs. (9.9 kg)
Habitat: Old forests/open grassy plains/cities and towns.
Description: Vulpix is a small, fox-like Pokémon that has a red-brown pelt and six gorgeous orange tails. Upon birth, Vulpix only possesses one tail that is snow-white in colour, although several weeks after birth, the tail deepens in colour until it becomes a fine red-brown, and begins to split into six separate tails. Several months after birth, Vulpix has six tails, although will slowly grow more as they age and evolve. Within its body is a small gland, not unlike the type of gland found within Flareon, which is hollow and contains volatile gases that react violently upon contact with oxygen. This gland is surrounded by powerful muscles that the Pokémon can control at will, as they use various Fire-type moves such as Flamethrower and Fire Spin. They are also able to use Will-O-The-Wisp as an attack and control small balls of flame, despite the attack's Ghost-type heritage. Vulpix are found in few places across the world, although are quiet common to where they are found, even to the point of being pests to rural and city folk. In captivity, Vulpix are good with humans and can be very popular in various fashion contents of appearance, battling and obedience sessions. They evolve via the use of a firestone, which must be used by their trainers in order to activate evolution.
Ninetales is a large, fox-like Pokémon, which is covered with a thick, luxurious golden-white fur, as well as possessing nine flowing tails. Each tail is which is tipped with a rich burnt orange, although in some alternate colorations (such as 'shinies', they can appear blue or even silver). Ninetales also have a fluffy crest atop their heads, which is luxurious to the touch and highly appealing to people who enjoy Pokémon fashion contests. An unusual trait of Ninetales is that after evolution, they can live up to one thousand years, whereas their pre-evolutions, humans or even most other kinds of Pokémon (save Legendaries) succumb to the passage of time with nary a struggle. It is perhaps due to their longevity that Ninetales can often seem vain or arrogant towards others, for a single Ninetales can watch a parade of people and Pokémon alike come and go during their lives. Ninetales are also very vengeful, and have been known to curse those who mistreat or even offend them. They are highly intelligent Pokémon that can understand human speech, due to the fact that they live long enough to learn much of the world around them and become more intelligent with every passing year.
Behaviour: For a Fire-type Pokémon, Vulpix is quite easy to manage providing they have been raised by humans at a young age and have been socialized well amongst others. They enjoy playing with others more than Ninetales, and are frequently friendlier, less domineering and gentler than their evolution. The nature of the firestone provokes fascinating, if sinister changes within Ninetale's psychical and behavioural biology. Unlike other kinds of Pokémon, Ninetales is far longer-lived than almost any other kind of Pokémon, and frequently consider themselves nobility above 'common' trainer's Pokémon, considering themselves to possess more of a 'legendary' status. How can they consider others to be anything else other than inferior, when they watch so many others enter life, grow old and die, while it can resist the ravages of time and become stronger and more intelligent with every year they survive?
They can live for well over a thousand years, although only the females are capable of reaching such impressive ages. Male Ninetales do not long live for as long as females, and are generally lucky to be able to live half as long. Exactly how long a female Ninetales can live for is a matter of some debate amongst scientists, and some people claim that they can live forever. What little is known however, is that upon the twilight of their many years, the coat of a Ninetales shimmers and burns like white-gold, eventually becoming a fine silver all over their bodies. The oldest of Ninetales have coats that seem almost like molten silver, shimmering like the full moon even during the day. They resemble their 'shiny' counterparts to some extent, but glow far more illustriously and with a resplendence that most shinies cannot match until they too reach such a grand old age.
TRAINER'S NOTE: Although Vulpixis innocuous enough, Ninetales can be exceedingly dangerous. They can be extremely vindictive to those who offend them or their loved ones, and have the ability to curse those who have slighted them in some way. Showing bad manners, using offensive language or threatening their trainers may result in being cursed with various ailments, such as pox, insomnia or simple bad luck, although more serious offences, such as yanking one of their nine magnificent tails can result in a thousand year curse for the offender and their descendants, or even result in death for the one who laid hands upon the Pokémon in question. Yanking one of their nine tails is considered by the Pokémon to be the worst insult possible, and will not easily forgive transgressions against them. It is unknown if touching the tail itself is simply enough to curse you, or if Ninetales itself deliberately lays its curses upon others,but it is best to never offend a Ninetales in the first place and to always be courteous towards them. True repentance can lift the curse of a Ninetales however, although it can be difficult to nigh on impossible to break the curse. If you can show the Pokémon that you are truly sorry for what you done, it may decide to revoke its curse in forgiveness. Few Ninetales are gracious enough to lift their own curses, and many even seem to relish inflicting punishment on those they believe deserve it.
Diet: Typically carnivorous in nature, Vulpix and its evolutions enjoy eating fish, meat and dairy products like cheese, although in the wild they will devour berries, honey, insects and anything else they can find or kill, making them omnivores in truth. They prefer living prey, or prey that once lived before, although in captivity will eat a specialised 'kibble' made especially for them. Cooked poffins or pokéblocks often suffice from trainers, and can be easily made by collecting berries, which feeds the Pokémon as well as adding to their fur's lustrous sheen. Ninetales requires a diet higher in protein than Vulpix, and trainers must ensure that they purchase special oils and vitamins (made specifically for Fire-type Pokémon) in order to keep their Ninetale's coats as healthy and shiny as possible. Adding some ground-up charcoal into their diet will increase the power of their flames, which after evolution becomes extremely hot and powerful.
With Children: Not usually recommended with young children. Both Vulpix and Ninetales are not usually very playful, and do not enjoy the antics of younger children. They are good house Pokémon however, and frequently enjoy the company of older children, teenagers and adults alike, and can become loving pets towards their trainers. They prefer to spend most of their free time grooming themselves and perfecting their looks, and do not like to be untidy. They are popular with people who frequently attend Pokémon fashion contests, due to their beauty and obedience, as well as their capacity for battle.
Within the trainer's home, they are quiet and prefer to relax, rather than run around and play with other people or Pokémon. Amongst their favourite past times are being groomed by their trainers, and delight in being brushed, having their fur styled or even being washed (which is unusual for Fire-type Pokémon). Well-trained Ninetales will tolerate being examined, prodded, measured or handled, although they despise others touching their many tails (unless they're being groomed) and will not hesitate at showing their displeasure by hissing or spitting at the offender. The most well-trained of Ninetales will allow their tails to be touched by people without a sound, although their eyes will smolder with fury and disgust beneath their calm visages. Most Pokémon judges are well aware of Ninetale's attitude, and will avoid touching their tails at all costs in order to keep the Pokémon amiable.
Breeding: Breeding Vulpix and Ninetales is actually a simpler affair compared to the issue of breeding other kinds of Pokémon than many trainers actually realize. Being mainly female, any offspring of Vulpix or Ninetales will in turn be the same species of their mother, no matter what kind of Pokémon the 'father' is. They get along best within their own species, although will not usually object to other mammalian Pokémon of similar personalities and natures to their own. Ninetales remain fertile throughout the entirety of their lives, and can raise many litters throughout their time. In captivity, they rarely lay more than one egg at a time, preferring instead to invest their energy into battling and performing for their trainers. They rear more young in the wild, although fewer offspring tend to survive to their adult years than they would in captivity, as other predatory Pokémon such as Mightyena, Arbok and Skarmory can prey upon younger, weaker Pokémon in their vicinity.
Difficulty Rating: (Quite difficult) 5/10. Vulpix and its evolution can be difficult to look after, in that they can be picky, vain and self-centred. They also require much grooming by their trainers, and though they are capable of grooming themselves, their trainers are better suited to the task of brushing and combing their Pokémon's long fur. They require specific diets in order to keep healthy, although may persistently refuse food that doesn't meet their high standards. When raised by a good trainer they respect, Vulpix and Ninetales are extremely loving and loyal Pokémon, and will defend their loved ones with their very life. It must be noted that Ninetales are extremely long-lived, and will almost always outlive their trainers. They can grieve for the loss of their beloved human friends, and as a result may stop eating in depression. This is best prevented by their trainers raising Ninetales within their family, so that once their trainer does pass on, the Pokémon can be raised the next of kin who is related to the original trainer. Although they will miss their old trainer, Ninetales can substitute their old trainer with their new one who bears significant resemblance, and are less likely to become depressed. Trainers must also be aware to never touch any their Ninetale's many tails under any circumstances, least of all pull one as a joke. It may just be one of the last jokes they will ever get to play again.