AN: Hello everyone! Welcome back and here is chapter 7! I need a break from working on finals…exhausting… Anyway, Catelin has joined the group! Anyway let's get going!

Disclaimer: I don't own anything. I own somethings, just not everything.

Chapter 7: Sing for a Truce

Catelin was an interesting character. Keygan admitted that much. Plus the girl wasn't lying; she was helpful. She helped cook and helped as much as she could…almost too much. Keygan didn't want to say it reminded her of a mother. Catelin made sure Keygan was prepared and her Pokémon were in tip top shape. Vulpix hated it or her and tried to avoid the new travel companion as much as possible, but it was near impossible. Catelin wanted to get Vulpix to like her. Beedrill liked the attention he was receiving. Not that Keygan didn't give him attention, it was that this was extra attention he didn't ask for. Vulpix was disgusted by it and Beedrill made a sassy comment to the fox that it wasn't his fault that she didn't like people. Vulpix almost used Ember.

"Vulpix, can you light the fire?" Catelin asked as she set up the fire wood.

"Vul." Vulpix said turning his head in defiance. She had told Catelin no.

"Vulpix…why won't you like me?" Catelin asked the fire type getting a little closer. Vulpix noticed and ran toward Keygan who was coming back with water.

"It might take a while. She didn't take to me right away," Keygan explained looking at her starter who was giving Catelin a dirty look. Did Keygan mention it was nice not being on the receiving end?

"How did you meet?" Catelin asked interested in their story.

"Vulpix is my starter. I applied for to be a trainer and was accepted. I went to Professor Eden and she gave me Vulpix. I'm sure Vulpix wanted to leave me on the road burnt, but after we bonded over shop lifting and thunderstorms she came around." Keygan explained, but saw Catelin looked sad. Vulpix was giving her a dirty look. Yeah, nice feeling was over. "What? She asked and it is the truth."

Vulpix scoffed and glared at her. She didn't like that Keygan wasn't lying. She would have probably lied to her the girl and told they were friends from the start. They were friends now so it wasn't technically lying.

"That's so nice that you connected with her!" Catelin commented happily like she was covering something.

"Do you have any Pokémon?" Keygan asked. Catelin got quite and she turned her head. "Did I say something wrong?"

"No…I don't have any Pokémon. I applied though, but was denied. That was one way I was going to get out of Pewter City, but nothing. Then I met you!"

Keygan thought about what she said. Catelin applied, but was denied. That was heartbreaking. Keygan didn't know what she would have done if she had been denied. She probably would have run away and hoped for the best. Meowth probably would have gone with her so she'd be set…mostly. Catelin didn't have anything set. Keygan nodded to herself and placed the water down before going to her bag. She pulled something out and walked over to her new friend.

"Here." Keygan said holding out the item.

"Huh?"

"Take it. You'll need it when you find a friend."

Catelin looked at what Keygan was giving to her, a Poké Ball. Of course the Poké Ball was empty. Catelin felt a wave of happiness over her. No one had done this for her and it was like she was accept in a different way. She took the ball and jumped Keygan enveloping her in a hug.

"Thank you!" Catelin squealed.

"You're welcome…" Keygan said happy with what she did. She had plenty. She had stopped by the mart before leaving and grabbed items she figured she would need. Keygan also knew that in times of trouble Catelin would need a Pokémon to defend herself with. At one point she might be not with her.

"Vulpix, light the fire would ya?" Keygan asked her fire type.

"Pix!" Vulpix said happy and used Ember to light the fire. Catelin looked hurt that Vulpix listen to Keygan, but knew Keygan is her trainer.

The next morning the two got and would make their way to the Pokémon Center outside Mt. Moon. They planned to stay there for the night before heading out in the morning. As they were walking a narrow walkway Keygan wondered if it was wise to give Catelin the Poké Ball as she was now Pokémon catch crazy. She kept running ahead and looking for them everywhere. Keygan figured she was scaring them. Well Keygan knew eventually she could be the same. She only had two and the gym battles were only going to get harder…and dangerous. She was aware about the next one and she needed to catch another Pokémon soon or she could be in trouble.

"Pix?" Vulpix's voice interrupted Keygan's thoughts.

"What's up Pix?" Keygan asked her starter that was currently on her shoulder. Keygan turned around to see if something or someone was behind her, but no one.

"Vulpix!" Vulpix cried.

"Keygan look out!" Catelin cried seeing what Vulpix did.

Keygan looked up seeing a giant boulder coming down toward her. Keygan only had time to react and jump forward. Vulpix reacted to Keygan and jumped off her trainer's shoulder backward or technically forward on their path. It was the only direction she could go or she'd risk getting caught in the impact. The boulder impacted on the ground causing some of the walkway to break off and fall down the cliff side. As the smoke cleared Keygan was relieved that she alive, but horrified she was alone.

"Vulpix! Catelin!" Keygan shouted. "Are you there?!"

Keygan felt her heart racing. She didn't know whether or not they were even there. Her eyes went to the large boulder blocking her way forward…or they could be under there. Vulpix was like her best Pokémon friend and Catelin was her new friend. She didn't want anything to happen to them. It wouldn't be right. Vulpix wanted to help make everything right, while Catelin wanted to teach. It couldn't be over. If she lost Vulpix…she didn't she'd might be able to continue.

"Keygan!"

"Vulpix!"

Keygan breathed out in relief that her starter and new friend were alright. They didn't sound hurt either.

"Are you all okay?" Keygan asked.

"Yeah, we're fine." Catelin answered looking down at Vulpix who was staring at the rock.

Vulpix glared at the boulder blocking her way. She wanted past that boulder. She knew none of her moves were strong enough so she'd have to try another way. Vulpix crouched down before leaping. However, the height of the boulder proved to be a problem as she rammed into. She feel to the ground and shook her head. She glared at it cursing her plan that didn't work and the rock.

"What was that?" Keygan asked.

"Vulpix tried to jump the boulder." Catelin answered. Vulpix turned and glared. Catelin raised a hand to attempt to calm her. "What now?"

"I'll have to go around!" Keygan shouted. They were taking a short cut and a longer path to the center was about a mile or so back. Keygan didn't have any choice. It was too risky to get around the rock and Beedrill couldn't carry her. He tried to pick her up once and ended up dropping her in a second. It wasn't that Beedrill was weak or that she was heavy…yeah, it had to be one of those two.

"Vulpix!" Vulpix cried and jumped again. She couldn't get up the rock and attempted to claw her way up. However, her claws weren't strong and she slid down landing on her butt. "Pix!"

"Vulpix! It's alright." Keygan reassured. "I'll meet you at the Pokémon Center."

"Will you be alright?" Catelin asked.

"Yeah, I've got Beedrill with me." Keygan answered.

"Vulpix Vul Vulpix!" Vulpix questioned.

"You need to stay there and protect Catelin." Keygan answered.

"Vulpix Vul?"

"No I won't have Beedrill switch you over and have him go with her. Vulpix, its fine. You're only about five or so miles from center. I've got a while so I'll get going. Be safe!"

"Vulpix…" she snorted knowing Keygan was going to make her go with Catelin. Vulpix also knew she wasn't going to get a choice and that she would have to protect the girl. One, she was defenseless, but mainly because Keygan asked her to. Mainly that reason. Vulpix sighed knowing Keygan was gone and turned around ready to start her agonizing path.

"Hey wait!" Catelin yelled seeing that Vulpix had left.

It was quiet as the two walked. Eventually they were off the narrow cliff side and to a more open mountain area with some forest. It was nice, but quiet. Catelin knew Vulpix wouldn't be much of a conversationalist for the fact the fox didn't like her and also was a Pokémon. For all she knew she could be saying rude things to her and she wouldn't know. However, it was nice, having Vulpix around made it seem like she had her own Pokémon.

"Hey Vulpix, with it being just us it seems like I'm your trainer," Catelin mentioned to get a laugh.

Vulpix who had been walking a little ahead of her stopped dead in her tracks. Catelin saw the fox just standing there. Vulpix turned and looked at her with the fiercest and almost terrifying glare. It reminded her of a ravage wild Pokémon that was after a prey someone stole. Then she heard Vulpix growl. Catelin admitted to herself she was kind of scared.

"VULPIX!" Vulpix barked in a loud and dangerous tone. Catelin thought she was almost using Roar for a second. Vulpix would have no other trainer than Keygan.

"Sorry…just making a joke…" Catelin said nervously then thought, 'Keygan should has one mean partner…or at least she has a lot of personality.'

"Jigigig…" they heard laughing. They both looked up see a Jigglypuff laughing at them.

"What's it laughing at?" Catelin asked.

"Vulpix!" Vulpix barked again.

"Jigglypuff!" the Pokémon said hoping down off her rock and in front of them. The Jigglypuff has this smug look to her. "Jig Gly Puff Jiggly Ly Puff!"

The Jigglypuff was singing! Vulpix's eyes dropped as did Catelin's. Vulpix being closer to the sound dropped first falling asleep. Catelin didn't know what would happen and in her sleepiness she grabbed Vulpix and made a drowsy run off away from the Pokémon.

As Catelin ran she slowly began to wake up. She found it lucky that her mother at one point own a Chansey that use to put her to sleep with Sing. It was almost she was slowly getting used to it or it just took a little while longer. Catelin stopped underneath a shady tree and laid Vulpix down. The fox was out. It was cute to see her sleeping. She wasn't so menacing. Catelin took a chance and petted the fox.

Vulpix felt a hand brushing her fur. It wasn't relaxing…it wasn't Keygan. She knew Keygan's touch. Only Keygan was allowed to touch her. She opened her eyes not to see Keygan…but her…

"Vulpix!" Vulpix snapped getting up.

"Sorry!" Catelin replied.

"Vul." Vulpix didn't like she apologized a lot. She simply turned her head and set down waiting.

"Vulpix…that Jigglypuff is going to be there and I don't think it will let is pass. We might have to work together…" Catelin informed.

Vulpix mewled over her options. She had a point. That Jigglypuff would still be there on the route to the center and they couldn't go the other way. Plus the tone deaf balloon needed to be muted and Vulpix was looking for a little revenge. Win. Win. If that wasn't enough Vulpix knew the popstar wannabe stood in the way of her getting to Keygan. So yes, Catelin had a point.

"Vul." She turned and nodded.

Carefully the two made their way back to the where they encountered the Jigglypuff. Vulpix made it clear beforehand that she wasn't taking any orders from Catelin. Catelin wished she would, but that wasn't the case. Vulpix would battle and Catelin would stand there and be quiet. Vulpix knew how to battle effectively like if Keygan was there.

"Vulpix!" the fire type called out to the normal type.

"Puff!" the normal type answered. The normal type then took a deep breath and began, "Jig…"

"Pix!" Vulpix roared scaring Jigglypuff. The move didn't scare her off, but it silenced her attack. Vulpix felt a little pride she got to mute the singer after all.

"Puff!" Jigglypuff grunted and then charged Vulpix with a Pound attack.

Vulpix dodged it before she attacked with her Quick Attack. Jigglypuff hit the ground and got up glaring at her. The fire type got her all dirty. Jigglypuff jumped at Vulpix using her Rollout attack.

"Pix!" Vulpix cried jumping up to dodge. Jigglypuff stopped realizing she missed and turned to see Vulpix. "Vuul!"

Jigglypuff looked into Vulpix's eyes that glowed purple. That was her mistake. Vulpix was using her Confuse Ray she learned a couple days ago after the gym battle. She had already used it a couple times for fun, but got in trouble. Keygan said she couldn't do that no matter how funny it was to watch Catelin attempt to sleep under a rock. It wasn't nice. Vulpix couldn't help but think that she wasn't nice nor did she think she would be.

"Jiggly?" the Jigglypuff waddled around confused.

"Pix!" Vulpix cried as she unleased an Ember attack. Jigglypuff cried out taking the damage and landed on the ground weaken. "Vulpix!" Vulpix turned and shouted at her.

"Huh?" Catelin wondered.

"Vulpix Vul!" she barked.

"Oh!" Catelin said realizing what she was saying. "Go Poké Ball!" Catelin through the Poké Ball at the Jigglypuff and watched as it sucked it in. The ball landed on the ground and began to shake. One. Two. Three. Click. She caught it. It took a minute for to sink in and then Catelin realized she had a Pokémon of her own. "Oh my goodness! I got a Pokémon! I'm a trainer! Oh thank you Vulpix!"

Catelin almost hugged the fire type and Vulpix jumped. Vulpix knew why she told Catelin to catch the Jigglypuff. It was selfish. Vulpix didn't want to be stuck babysitting her again. That or next time she'd make Beedrill do it or just leave her, whichever came first.

Catelin went up and picked up her now used Poké Ball. Her grinned became twenty times bigger and she released her new Pokémon.

"Jiggly." Jigglypuff said confirming to Catelin that her new partner was female.

"Hi Jigglypuff." Catelin introduced herself.

"Jig." She simply replied. She was caught and she would accept that. However, this trainer needed to earn to be liked first. Her other Pokémon was horrible so that might be something to go off of.

"You're my very first Pokémon and I hope we'll be friends." Catelin said.

"Jiggly?" she questioned. First? What about fire fox?

"Oh Vulpix isn't mine. She belong to my friend you'll meet later." Catelin explained.

"Jiggly." Jigglypuff affirmed making a fist like 'yes'.

"Pix!"

"Puff!"

"Hey, why don't we all just get to the center so we can wait for Keygan," Catelin said to appease the two.

"Pix." Vulpix turned walking the now cleared path. It was the best news she heard all day.

Keygan was tired when she arrived at the center that evening. Luckily she arrived just before the sun went down. Now she saw why people took the short cut and risked getting pancaked. It was long and cliffy, but it was quiet. She missed Vulpix and absent weight on her shoulder was sad. She couldn't wait to hold her partner in her arms again. She walked in and breathed. Bed sounded like a good idea after a shower, but first she needed to find her partner.

"Vulpix!" she heard and saw a familiar fox running down the hall. Vulpix jumped and landed in Keygan's arms. "Pix…"

"Hi Vulpix. It's alright now," Keygan said petting her while she held her close. Keygan smiled happily acknowledging that this meant Vulpix missed her or well missed her so she didn't have to be with Catelin. It was hard to tell, but Keygan went with the first one.

"Hi Keygan! Glad you made it!" Catelin said happy to see her friend safe.

"Thanks. I guess everything went alright?" she asked. She was nervous about leaving Vulpix with Catelin, but she thought it would be best and might make Vulpix like her. She almost caved back then and switched Vulpix and Beedrill, but then what kind of trainer would she be if she didn't put her foot down every once in a while and allowed her Pokémon to grow other methods?

"Better than alright! Look!" Catelin said as she pulled out her ball and released Jigglypuff.

"You caught a Jigglypuff!" Keygan said surprised. Keygan first thought on how she caught was it must have been while it was sleeping.

"Yeah. It was blocking our way and Vulpix battled it. She then told me to catch it and I did! Isn't it awesome?" Catelin exclaimed.

"Helped her huh?" Keygan asked Vulpix.

"Pix." She snorted.

"Are you like her now?" Keygan asked with no necessarily a hopeful voice.

Vulpix turned and looked at her like she was crazy. Hell no. She didn't think she was ever going to like her. There were too many personality clashes between the two.

"Vul." She shook her head.

"I didn't think so either," Keygan said knowing her partner well enough and her dilemma with people. "Tolerate?"

"Pix." Vulpix nodded.

Well, that was a start. Keygan knew Vulpix wasn't going to like other people as quick as her or even at all. Vulpix wasn't their trainer so it was different. Toleration was good start so at least Vulpix wouldn't be so mean or at least tone it down.

"Oh…I don't think Jigglypuff and Vulpix like each other…" Catelin mentioned.

Keygan looked to the newest member of the group to see that Catelin was right. Jigglypuff was glaring at Vulpix. She wondered what happened. She'd have to ask Catelin. Catelin told her everything that happened and Keygan was sorry she missed it. Sounded like more fun than she had. Keygan appreciated that Catelin helped Vulpix out in trouble and thanked her for it. Catelin then told Keygan how Vulpix battled play by play. Keygan realized that Vulpix made the same moves she would have commanded. Keygan smiled. They were more like than they thought. It made her happy that it could a bond they shared.

Keygan then pieced together why Jigglypuff didn't like Vulpix. Vulpix roared at her to shut up. Keygan smiled and let out a small amused laugh. They would hopefully let it go and Vulpix would stop rubbing Pokémon they caught the wrong way. First with Beedrill and now Jigglypuff. It was going to be fun and it seemed like another Pokémon to get used to. Keygan couldn't wait until the next one.

AN: And chapter 7 is done at 4:12…am. With that said I should go to bed because it is finals week. Anyway! Jigglypuff has joined the group and Vulpix tolerates Catelin. Next we enter Mt. Moon and discovery! I hope to see you for the next chapter! In the meantime I hope you'll review, favorite, and/or follow! Thanks and see ya!

In case you're wondering here is a move list:

Vulpix: Ember/ Roar/ Quick Attack/ Confuse Ray

Beedrill: Fury Attack/ Poison Sting/ String Shot/ Twineedle