Chapter Two - A Tale of Two Vulpixes
We were under way! My parents and I had called Professor Elm to inform him that I, Joseph Ehlle, along with my Vulpix, Flamefox, would be arriving in a few days so that I could get my official trainer's license. Professor Elm had been one of Professor Oak's top students for years, and I could see why - I don't think he once looked up from his research during our entire conversation! Anyway, I waved goodbye to my parents as Flamefox and I left Crimson Town. They looked so proud as I headed off - and Mom told Flamefox to take good care of me! We headed into Brushfire Woods. I felt more secure walking through these woods now that I had a Vulpix to protect me from Beedrill. Just the same, I put on some repel before I left home. Despite the long walk and having to sleep in a sleeping bag on the cold, wet floor of the woods, I was enjoying this because I had Flamefox walking beside me. And when we slept at night, he slept curled up on my chest, which kept me very warm. It was clear to me from the beginning that he was very fond of me. Anyway, we passed near the area where I was attacked by Beedrill yesterday. I wanted to make sure we stayed away from that tree! I thought I heard something rustling in the bushes, but I didn't hear it again, and we continued ahead.
We finally reached the borderline of Brushfire Woods and Ilex Forest. I was excited. We were now officially in Johto, and I was that much closer to beginning my Pokemon journey! We started crossing the border, when I heard something moving in the bushes behind us. This time, Flamefox heard it, too. "Vull" he said, as he ran over to the bushes. Out from the bushes came another Vulpix! He looked to be the same age as Flamefox. Flamefox ran up to him and they began to chase each other around and wrestle. "This must be his brother", I thought to myself, "They must have come from the same litter". I watched them playing together, so happily, and worried that Flamefox would change his mind about coming with me. Then, their wrestling got close to me, but when this new Vulpix looked up at me, he jumped back and took an evasive stance. Flamefox looked surprised at him and said something to him in Vulpix. Then he came over to me, looked back at the second Vulpix, then back to me and said, "Vulpix vul pix vul", as if introducing us. The second Vulpix then slowly approached. "I won't hurt you" I said as I reached into my pack for some Pokemon food. I stretched out my right arm and showed him my palm, full of food. Flamefox spoke to him again, as if to say it was okay. The second Vulpix slowly came up to my hand, sniffed it, and started to cautiuosly eat, but when I started to reach my left arm out to pet him, he backed away. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to scare you. I won't try to pet you again" I said to him, still holding out my handful of food. He approached cautiously again and ate the rest of the food, before moving away from me, keeping his distance. I decided it was time we moved on. I wanted to be halfway through Ilex by sunset. "It was nice to meet you" I said to the second Vulpix, as he sat 12 feet away from me and just looked at me. I pulled out one more handful of food and put it on the ground for him. "There you go. See you later!" I said as Flamefox and I walked away. Flamefox spoke to him once more before we left. I looked back every once in a while, but he stayed sitting in that spot, watching us, until we were so far away that I couldn't see him anymore. I walked, Flamefox beside me, miles ahead into the forest. I was glad he stayed with me, my loyal fox Pokemon friend.
I set up camp in the middle of Ilex, as planned. Everything was going right on schedule. Flamefox happily ate his bowl of Pokemon food. I had my headphones on, playing some CDs while I cooked some canned stew over a fire for myself. After a while, Flamefox looked up. We had company - there, entering our campsite, was the second Vulpix! I took off my headphones in disbelief. "Well, hello!" I said to our visitor. He lay down just a few feet away from us. I decided not to try and approach him, but instead to see if he'd stay the night. I lay down to sleep later, Flamefox curled up on my chest. He looked over at the second Vulpix, as did I, who was still lying down, but observing us. We then both fell asleep.
The next morning, I awoke to find not only Flamefox on my chest, but the second Vulpix asleep next to me. I gently petted each of them, which woke them up - and the second Vulpix awoke with quite a jump! He backed away again, but not too far, and then he let me continue to pet him. I told him, "You're welcome to come along with us if you like. Any friend, or brother, of Flamefox is a friend of mine!" He just looked at me, like he was thinking it over. After breakfast, I packed up and was soon under way again, Flamefox at my side, and this second Vulpix following us a distance behind. Flamefox always stayed at my side, but the second Vulpix kept running off and picking fights with the local woodland Pokemon. He was a lot more fiesty than Flamefox, and acted like he had something to prove - it was like he lived to battle. He was pretty impressive, too. He also knew flamethrower and wasn't afraid to show it off to any unfortunate Pokemon that crossed his path! Caterpies, Pidgeys, Weedles, Ledyba - he even sent a stantler running off! I wish I would have had my pokeballs then. I could have captured a dozen easily. I decided that if I'm going to keep both of them, I needed to level them up evenly, so I got Flamefox into a few wild battles, as well. The difference was that Flamefox liked to battle for me - this second Vulpix went looking for battles, trying to prove something; the question was, was he trying to prove himself to himself, to the other Pokemon, or to me? They were both very impressive against untrained wild Pokemon. The gyms wouldn't be so easy. Anyway, since the second Vulpix was always so anxious to show off his fire power, I nicknamed him "Firestorm". He seemed to want to stay with us now - maybe to prove himself against stronger, trained Pokemon? One thing I knew for sure; this was wild! I didn't even have my license yet and without even really trying, I already had 2 strong Vulpixes! I definitely had some kind of rapport with Vulpixes.
After one more night in the woods, we reached Azelea Town the following morning. Here, I could clean up, get my Pokemon checked out at the center, and continue through town, then to Violet City, Cherrygrove City, and finally to New Bark Town. I couldn't wait to get my license and pokeballs so I could finally start capturing some of those wild Pokemon my Vulpixes were so good at beating. I was now more psyched than ever!