AN: I hope you enjoyed the first chapter! Thank you to my two followers! You're awesome! Wanting to let readers get better views of the new stories I decided to add the second chapters right away! Here's the second.
Disclaimer: I don't own anything you recognize nor the cover picture!
Chapter 2: Catching Fire
Run. She had to run. She couldn't let them catch her. She'd been lucky she wasn't the only one they forced thus weren't stocked for her. They would lock her up in a small cage. She'd never get to let her tails stretch freely. She would have to wait and she'd wait forever. She didn't mind waiting forever as long as it wasn't there. All the halls looked the same. White with an occasional picture or plant in the corner. She went to a window to see she was too far up to break the glass ad make a jump for it. Death almost seemed like a better alternative.
Keygan was honestly surprised that Vulpix had followed her. She didn't think the fox would, but rather leave her there alone, Pokémonless, and burned. Vulpix kept her distance all the way to Viridian City. When they walked into the Pokémon Center everyone gave the trainer weird looks as to why her Pokémon was outside her Poké Ball and not next to her. Keygan didn't want to tell these people that her starter hated her. Keygan knew she would get through to Vulpix eventually. It would take some time. A part of Keygan hoped Vulpix was obedient, but she knew she wouldn't change. Vulpix's attitude toward her would change with time and it would make their relationship better.
When they got to the room Vulpix went to the chair to sleep instead on the bed. The room had only one bed and Vulpix knew Keygan wasn't giving up the bed to her. She didn't see why not. The girl had a sleeping bag, why not put it to good use? Keygan offered that she could sleep with her, but Vulpix gave her a look that told her she'd rather chew one of her tails off. Keygan had to remind herself...time.
Keygan placed her bag at the end of the bed. She was going to put it on the desk chair, but it was already occupied. She took off her belt that had Vulpix's Poké Ball attached. Vulpix had one eye open as if to keep an eye on her. She growled seeing her ball. Keygan put her hands up in defense and put it down gently. Keygan then got ready for bed before she went to turn off the light. She looked at the fox to see she was already asleep. She smiled and turned it off.
A noise pulled Keygan from sleep that night. She looked at the clock to read three-thirty in morning. She had a few more hours of sleep. What woke her up? She listen for the noise again. Then she heard. It was a whimpering. She looked toward the door and saw nothing. Then she thought about the Pokémon in the room. She turned to see Vulpix in the light of the moon with a scrunched face. The sad sounds were coming from her. Keygan swung her legs out of bed and to the floor. She then carefully walked to the fox.
As Keygan stared at the fox she wondered should she pet her. It may help calm her and their relationship. On the other hand, Keygan didn't want to get bit. Vulpix proved she was resourceful. Keygan sighed and took a chance.
She felt something brush her fur. She turned and looked around, but couldn't find the source. It felt nice though. Calming actually. The scene changed as Vulpix found herself waking up. She slowly opened her eyes to see Keygan was petting her.
"Vulpix!" Vulpix snapped as she stood up in a standing position. She tried to take a bite out of Keygan's hand. The trainer had good reflexes as she pulled her hand away. Vulpix then growled.
"Well excuse me for caring…" Keygan snorted before she stood up and went back to her own bed.
Vulpix watched her as she got comfortable and attempted to go back to sleep. The fire fox then hopped on the desk and stared at her trainer then out the window. She thought about her dream. How long were these nightmare going to plague her sleep? They were horrible. They made her look weak in front of a human. That was another question she didn't have the answer to. How long was she going to put up with this one? She only went with her because she didn't have anywhere else to go and she respected the words that came out her trap. They reminded her of her Ember attack. They burned into her mind just like the last ones. She cared about her. Vulpix shook her head of the thought and laid down hoping to fall asleep.
Vulpix woke the next morning with the sun in her eyes. She turned and looked around and saw that the human was nowhere to be seen. That Arceus, psychic type knock off for a human being left her. Just like she thought she would. Vulpix should have known. She then heard the door knob turn and the door open.
"Oh, you're up," Keygan said coming dressed. She also looked like she'd shower too. Vulpix began to growl. Not because she entered the room; it was because she was wrong. Keygan didn't need to know that. She just ignored the growling and went on to packing her supplies. "I hope you don't mind, but I'm going to the mart today. We need supplies for the road. Pewter City is a little farther than Pallet to Viridian so the trip will be longer. You can come if you want or you can stay here," Keygan explained.
Vulpix thought the offer was tempting, but she really didn't want to be cooped up inside the room all day. She'd be bored. And sleeping wasn't on her to do list. It was last. At least she could see the place they were at. It might be fun. She hopped off the desk and walked over to the door. He sat down and waited. Keygan nodded and picked up her bag to head out. As they left Keygan said she'd be back later as they were staying another night. Vulpix wondered why. She didn't question it.
They walked over to the all-purpose mart. The place had everything from people to Pokémon supplies. Keygan had a mental list what she needed. Food, water, Potions, antidotes, and some other healing items. She didn't think of much else, but she have to look. It wasn't that she didn't have money. Her foster parents made sure she'd be okay with funds.
Vulpix stood next to Keygan in the mart. Partly because Vulpix didn't want anyone picking her up thinking she was up for grabs or a doll. It was actually unusual to see a Pokémon outside their Poké Ball. Also making connections with trainers seem to less and less over the years.
Vulpix looked around and something caught her eye. Scarves for Pokémon. She always wanted one or some. She thought she would like having accessories around her neck that made her stand out and comfortable. When she was on the street in the city she saw a few pampered Pokémon with them and liked them. She looked around to see if anyone was looking. She reached up and clasped her mouth around a navy blue one. She then started to sneak off and wait for Keygan.
"Hey!" a manager shouted. Everyone turned to look and Vulpix knew she was caught. She couldn't run away. "Whose Pokémon is this?!"
He was angry and Vulpix knew she'd be alone. Keygan would never take responsible for her. The manager walked up to her in just a few steps. Vulpix let the scarf go and backed away. The man frightened her. He reminded her of them. She didn't want to go back. She closed her eyes and shook.
"She's mine," a voice said. Vulpix felt a presence in front of her. Vulpix opened her eyes to see Keygan. "I should have been watching her. I didn't think she'd take anything…"
"You should have kept it in its ball!" he shouted. Vulpix didn't like the way he was yelling at her. She didn't know why, but she felt a burning inside her to protect her.
"I'm sorry, but we just met each other wanted to shop together…" Keygan tried to reason.
"That Pokémon is still a thief!"
"How about this? I pay double the price of this one and…" Keygan said before she leaned over and picked up green striped one that alternated between dark and light, "buy this one too."
The man's eyes looked as if she was thinking over the option. She seemed reasonable enough. She was paying more than normal and seemed sincere. Plus he really didn't want to call the cops. That was a mess of work he didn't want to get into. He sighed.
"Alright." The manager surrendered.
Keygan smiled and went to the check out. She also knew she wasn't going to come back anytime soon. The atmosphere was uncomfortable now. Vulpix stared up at her and kept thinking about the trouble she was going to be in later. She hoped Keygan wasn't too mad or she might wish the manager got to her first.
"Thank you sir…" Keygan said very grateful and paying for the items.
"Just keep an eye on that Pokémon of yours. We don't need any more criminals," he replied handing her the bags.
"Come on," Keygan simply said to her Pokémon as they walked out.
Vulpix knew she was in for it when Keygan led them to a secluded place near the center. Keygan didn't look happy as they went. She wished she had not of done it, but she was use to stealing. It seemed second nature. Vulpix thought of the worst outcome. Keygan was going to release her. That's why they were going somewhere no one could see. Keygan got to a bench and sat down. She patted the bench to signal for Vulpix to hop up. Vulpix decided best to listen.
"Vulpix…" Keygan started. Vulpix looked up at the human. "I'm disappointed, but forget about it."
"Vul?"
"I figured you weren't born into having a trainer. You take what you want. Well, you don't have to do that anymore." Keygan explained.
"Pix?"
"I'm your trainer and I care about you. This means if you want something I will listen and get it for you…within reason. Like yesterday, you want freedom and I'm willing to give it to you."
Keygan then reached inside one of the bags and pulled out the scarves. Vulpix saw the trash can next to Keygan and figured she was going to throw them away. It made sense. She didn't deserve them. Vulpix put her head down in shame. She then felt something brush by her and catch her eyes. Keygan was putting the scarves up to her like she was comparing them.
"Vul…"
"I like both of them, but the striped green on better on you," Keygan said placing the navy one down and wrapping the green around Vulpix's neck. She tied it and looked back to you. "Don't you look like a pampered fox?"
"Pix…" Vulpix growled.
"I'm kidding, you look nice," Keygan said raising her hands to defend herself. "Come on you, let's head back to the center."
"Vulpix?"
"I'm going to thunderstorm tonight so I thought it best to stay one more night," Keygan explained getting up, grabbing the bags, and heading back.
Vulpix looked down at her neck at her new scarf. She then looked at Keygan and thought about what happened. Keygan was showing signs not being like the others. She defended her without question. She gave her what she wanted. She wasn't heavily scolded, but was stern. She tried to understand her. No one ever did that.
Keygan was right. There was a thunderstorm coming and it hit a couple hours later when they were getting ready for bed. First it was the rain, then the thunder. Vulpix didn't like the rain. She really didn't like the water period. She was a fire type after all. She'd take a bath, if she had to. Thunderstorms were horrible. She hated thunder too. The loud unpredictable noise and the move she was well aware of that hurt. A flash lightening cracked across the sky followed by the boom. Vulpix jumped as she had associated the sounds with bad experiences.
"Vul!" she screamed.
"You okay?" Keygan asked being woke up. Keygan put it together she didn't like their current whether. Keygan got up and picked up her ball. "Vulpix…do you to be return so you're not out…"
"Vulpix!" she snapped. Keygan felt a tinge of fear through her as Vulpix snapped. She thought Vulpix was going to attack her. She really didn't like her ball. Every time she saw it in Keygan's hand she growled.
"You hate your Poké Ball and thunderstorms…" Keygan figured out. Thunder rolled again and Vulpix turned to look outside as the flash crossed.
Keygan saw her chance and grabbed Vulpix. Vulpix was too freaked to notice at first. Keygan walked over to the bed and sat on it cuddling her frighten fox. Then Vulpix noticed Keygan was handling her.
"Pix!" she yelled as she tried to squirm her way out of her arms. Vulpix noticed that Keygan wasn't going to let her go any time soon. She had to use other tactics. "Vul!" She bit Keygan's arm. Vulpix heard Keygan grunt as her teeth sunk in.
"Ow…" Keygan whispered to herself. She figured this would happened. She was prepared for it. Despite that Vulpix really clamped on she wasn't going to let go. That's what she wanted her to do. This time Keygan wasn't going to accept the request.
"Pix!" Vulpix cried releasing a small Ember attack in her face. She careful to burn anything else, but Keygan.
"Vulpix…" she said in a calm voice as she petted her. "It's alright…you don't have to be alone. I know I said I would give you anything, but this I can't. I want to comfort you. I want to be here for you. Whenever you're scared, hurt, or just need someone, I'm there."
Vulpix listen to the human as she struggled. Keygan wasn't like the others. After what she had seen of Keygan today she was sure. Keygan was…her human, her trainer, and more importantly, her friend. The only real friend that Vulpix was sure she had. Keygan had done so much for her and Vulpix didn't even ask or manipulate for it. Keygan wasn't like the ones who held her captive for so long. She didn't leave her trapped in a cage to listen to the whimpering sounds of the Pokémon near here. She didn't have to listen to the thunder and rain outside. She didn't have to listen or see the others forced to undergo what they had a choice over. Keygan wasn't like any of that. Vulpix decided to settle down and sleep in her arms. She'd decide in the morning.
Keygan woke up to her watch beeping. She looked down to see Vulpix resting in her arms. She was sleeping peacefully. She found out so much about her starter last night. She hated storms and hated her ball even more. Keygan decided she wasn't going to make her return to it if she didn't want to unless under certain reasons. She'd hold like this every storm if she had too. She could the tiny burns on her face sting, but she'd care for those later. She turned to look out the window at the bright sun. It was perfect to start their journey. However, she wanted to sit there with Vulpix a little longer. Eventually she'd have to get up.
Vulpix woke up to the sound of a door. She felt comfortable on the bed. She looked to see Keygan coming in. Her trainer looked like she had a cream rubbed into her face. Vulpix kind of felt guilty about that. Last night was pretty rough for both of them.
"You okay?" Keygan asked with a smile. Vulpix nodded silently.
Vulpix wondered would Keygan want a Pokémon with baggage. She had plenty of it. She watched as Keygan gathered everything into the bag. Eventually a zipping noise brought her out of her thoughts. She looked to see Keygan putting her bag on her back.
"Vulpix?" Was she allowed to go to? She wanted to go. She wanted to stay with Keygan.
"Are you coming Pix?" Keygan asked with a smile.
"Vulpix!" she cried not a menacing tone, but happiness.
Realizing the playfulness and the short nickname that Keygan would only use occasionally Vulpix broke into a smile the first time with Keygan. Sure she would still be wary of her, but she knew she could trust her. Keygan gave her every reason. Vulpix was overjoyed that she found a human she can trust and love her and answered Keygan by jumping to her shoulder to show her loyalty and friendship.
AN: And that is Chapter 2! Sorry that Vulpix is over herself quick, but don't worry, she doesn't like everyone. She only likes Keygan and still unsure about their relationship, but wants to give what she does. Anyway, hope you like it so far. Please Review! Thanks and see you next time!