Mathrara: Vulpix, brown eyes, normal Vulpix appearance (Kawaii!). His personality doesn't match his looks, however.


Chapter Five: A new companion

Chris and Kani finally walked out of that forest. It had been a day since they had said goodbye to April. Kani was stronger, because of all the Beedrill that kept on attacking them. In fact, Chris wondered if she was going to get new attacks soon. Even the less than poke-crazed people he hung out with had talked about that. So he knew the rudiments about how pokemon became stronger – fighting often, and gaining new attacks to inflict more damage (gained by fighting).

He was still thinking when he almost tripped over something. He just realized what he was going to do a moment before, and fell backwards trying not to hit it.

(Boss? )

"Kani, stop that. What is it?"

Kani walked over to the bleeding red form. (It's a Vulpix. Fire type, very cute. Evolve when exposed to a Fire stone.) Chris looked it over – six tails, kinda cute, even though it was hurt, and the brown eyes…

"How close is exposed? I've got one in my bag."

(Touching distance, I believe.)

"Thanks." Chris shifted his position, and touched the still red form. It flinched at the touch, it's eyes blurred.

"It's in pain. Bad juju. Kani, try to get though to it, tell it I'll do what I can."

(It'd heal faster if you tossed a pokeball at it, you know. In there, it's perfect conditions. Even your tricks for healing would still be slower.)

"Well, then, ask it if it wants to be put in a pokeball, and healed."

(You're a nice guy, you know? I wonder why you never got a girlfriend…)

"Shaddup."

A minute passed, as the injured Vulpix made up his mind. Eventually, it agreed to be caught, finally.

(I don't know, Chris. He's in a lot of pain. He might not know what he's doing.)

"Does it matter? I'll free him at any time, so long as it's safe. And why didn't you tell me he was a guy?" He started digging in his bag, as he said his last comment.

(I didn't know until I spoke with him.)

He pulled out a pokeball from his bag (after some digging, he'd buried those on the bottom), and set it next to the Vulpix. He nudged the ball, and was enveloped in a red light, entering the ball.

The ball didn't even shake; the poor guy was so tired.

Chris sighed, and picked it up. "Kani, how long until he's healed?"

(Not too long. They designed the things so injured pokemon heal in there. I'd guess half a day, maybe more. The wounds were bloody, but not TOO deep.)

Chris looked up. It was about mid-morning. "Noon, then." He then looked over at Kani again. "And does it matter if the ball touches a stone?"

(No. He has to.)

"Good. No reason to force evolution on the poor guy." He stashed the ball (in full size mode) in his bag.

Chris slowly began walking again, with Kani easily keeping pace.


At noon, Chris pulled out the ball from his bag, and tossed it up. With a flash of red, the Vulpix came out, looking far better than last time – now he just looked tired, and hungry.

"He ok now?"

Kani spent a moment conversing with the vulpix, then replied (More or less. Just tired, and hungry. You could just ask him, you know… but you couldn't understand his response. Your gift hasn't developed enough that you could understand anyone besides me.)

"I could understand pokemon?"

(Telepathically, more or less. The strain of too many voices would overload you. You'd be 'translating' their talk into human… it's hard to explain. Basically, yes.)

"How long until that?"

(Quite a while, Chris. However… I could… no. That's painful.)

Chris snorted "pain's no big deal. I ache every time I walk, at least. What were you going to say?"

(I could FORCE it to develop. I've gained enough skill to manage it.)

"How?"

(You don't want to know.)

Chris nodded grimly. "Well, that would be convenient. What happens if you force it?"

(I'd say you set up camp first. The Vulpix here wants to eat, then sleep some more.)

Chris sighed, and did as she bid. He fed everyone, then set up camp.


"Well?"

(Lay down Chris. Get comfortable, I think I might knock you out.) Kani's voice was quiet – he almost didn't 'hear' her.

Chris slowly found a comfortable spot, and set up his bedroll. "How do you know this stuff, anyway? I never have seen a Vulpix, and I don't think you have either."

(I don't know HOW I know this stuff. I just know I do.)

Chris shrugged, then screamed as Kani began her work. He passed out quickly – his nervous system overloaded from too much pain.