My eyes were dead set on the little sketchpad that was laid on a tiny table. Nate was sitting across from me, with a pencil on hand, tapping his forehead with it. The two of us had been sitting like this for at least an hour now, Nate trying to think of something to draw, while I sat waiting to see what would be drawn out. The child looked up at me for a second before groaning. "I don't know what to draw…" he pouted. "Well, there are plenty of things you could draw, you can try and remake the living room," I suggested. Nate's eyes met mine and got a bit confused. "But that's not cool! I want to make something that looks cool…" I could tell he got an idea that came to mind while he was looking at me.

"Hey Ninetales, can you take a couple steps back?" I nodded, obeying his request, and sitting at an angle. I did not think anybody would find me cool, but if Nate wanted to draw me, then I wouldn't mind. I did my best not to move while the boy moved the pencil across the sketch book, here and there, like he was taking his sweet old time with it. Nate pulled out a crayon here and there and held it up. I did not know why he did so, but I suppose art needs color to it. My legs told me that I should lay down, but I sat, keeping the exact pose I took a while ago.

Nate dropped a yellow crayon on the desk as he basked in his little drawing of me. "I assume you are happy with the result," I walked up to the desk, and tried getting a view of what had been made. Quick to figure out what I wanted, Nate spun the drawing around, and showed it to me. It was very crude, it was very clear that Nate likely wasn't good at sketching yet, but there was always room for improvement. Then again, I am merely a Ninetales, I wouldn't know what would work well in art, and what wouldn't if it hit me in the face. "I like it," I said. There was no sugar coating to it, the child put a lot of work into it, and it showed.

With a smile, Nate ruffled the tuft of fur on my head, before taking what he had made up to his mother. Daisy was sitting in the same chair she and I had cuddled in, reading a different book. In a heartbeat, the woman put her book aside, then gently took Nate's creation. A small smile came to her face. "It's good dear," she said, before getting up. Daisy walked into the kitchen with it in hand, and I was confused as to what she was doing. Both me and Nate walked into the kitchen, to see her putting the sketch on the fridge.

I had never really taken a moment to see what was on the fridge, but what was there was a mix of various drawings and awards for Nate. I didn't think the front of what is just food storage, would ever be used to display a child's accomplishments. In fact, I wasn't used to seeing accomplishments being recognized at all.

"Also Ninetales, you remember your Flareon friend from the park?" Daisy said after turning to me. "Of course I do, I wrestled him over a ball," I said. "Well, I got his trainer's phone number while you two were cuddling in the grass. I'm willing to bet that you want to see Flareon before you leave." I nodded. "Of course I would, did you ask his trainer if she could bring Flareon over?" Daisy grinned. The sheer joy that jolted through my body as I ran to thank this woman nearly made me knock her on the ground. "Thank you!" My tails flailed through the air when a knock on the door interrupted my Vulpix-like joy.

"You need to control your excitement, Ninetales." Daisy stumbled while regaining her balance. "Otherwise you won't have somebody to open the door." she added. "I'm sorry," I sat down, and waited for Daisy to open the door. Outside stood Flareon, or at least I assume it was the Flareon I knew. The trainer standing in front of him looked like the same trainer from the park. "Hey Ms. Deutsher!" the girl greeted. I poked my head out from behind Daisy's legs. "Oh, hello Ninetales!" Flareon's tail started vigorously going from side to side.

Daisy and I stepped aside to allow our guests to come inside, and as soon as the door closed, Flareon was very quick to sit right in front of me. "It's nice to see you, Flareon," I said, trying to contain my happiness. "Hey Ninetales!" the Flareon invaded my personal space and quickly licked my cheek, before backing out. I glared at my friend as he grinned. "I'm going to gut you," I said before trying to lunge at him.

Within an instant, Flareon was sprawled out on the floor, I held him down, and laid my head in his fluffy mane. "AI thought you said you were going to gut me, not cuddle with me!" he said before laughing. "Don't test yourself," I said. The two of us stayed like this, cuddling together, since there wasn't enough room to wrestle or play tag. Not without breaking something in the process at least. Plus it was just nice to simply remain quiet in the other's embrace.

"So when will you be back?" Flareon asked. "Your trainer told you I was still a wild Pokemon?" the Flareon nodded. "Well… I am hoping to make my way back here some time next year, and you don't have to worry about me getting killed before then, I will be back. Flareon nodded, and sighed. "Well, thank you for letting me play with you at the park. Most of the Pokemon there find me scary because of how I'm an evolved Pokemon and all. I'll miss having you around most of the year."

"People find you scary? You're just a big fluff ball to me," I said. Flareon's expression told me everything. Nate, after realizing a Flareon was in his living room, he very quickly ran up to the two of us, and started petting him.

A flash nearly blinded me as something clicked. "Are you sure you don't want Ninetales to be your mate Flareon?" Jane teased. Daisy was standing beside her with a camera. "That one is getting framed," she said with a huge smile. Flareon tried to bury himself in my fur to hide his blush. I rolled my eyes and chuckled as Jane practically begged to have a copy of the photo that Daisy just took.

After what only felt like a couple of seconds, Jane and Flareon had to go, only after Flareon and I were pulled apart did he actually leave. As his trainer led him out the door, I emitted a whine, and Flareon had as well. The next time we see each other, I will play with him until he physically cannot anymore. As the door closed, I only then noticed that the sun was setting. "Has the day passed already?" Daisy nodded sadly. "Well Ninetales, when you leave tomorrow, just don't forget to stop and visit every now and then alright?"

Daisy sat on the couch and beckoned me to join her, which I happily obliged to do. Nate quickly joined us on the couch. "Do you really have to go, Ninetales?" I nodded. "I set out to explore the world, and I would like to keep doing it. Maybe after a while though… I will settle down here." Daisy smiled. "So at some point, we can expect you to want to stay here in our home?" I nodded. "Just know that I will be back." I turned to Nate. "I still must thank you for keeping me from getting captured. I am in your debt." the child shook his head. "You were scared!" I rolled my eyes as both humans buried their faces in my fur.

I made sure to stay awake for as long as possible, I was cuddling with my favorite humans, and I wanted to enjoy it as much as possible this last night.

End.

--author's note--

So. This story is basically done. All that is left is the epilogue, which is still being worked on, and me going back and fixing any grammatical errors, adding a bit more meat to the story here and there, and I should be done with it. I put the more care into this story than any other I had written in the past, and i hope it shows.

Anyways, see ya in the epilogue, and thank you for reading.