AN: Here is chapter 15! I hope you're all still enjoying it and will see the after effects of Vulpix's being called back to her ball. Heads up in this chapter there will be translated Pokémon Speech because of a main interaction and that will be in italics, but will return once humans enter back in. Sorry about the delay, life is rough and taking my time away.

Disclaimer: I own nothing related to Pokémon.

Chapter 15

"Please Vulpix…" Keygan said kneeling down toward her.

"Pix!" Vulpix cried as she turned and ran.

"Vulpix!" Keygan shouted as she chased after her starter.

Vulpix skid and turned her shot a Will-O-Wisp at her trainer. Keygan jumped out of the way and the fire type move struck the street. Smoke covered the area and as soon as it cleared Vulpix was gone. Keygan stood there looking at the empty route where her starter once was. Keygan raised her hand to her face to feel the start of tears.

Vulpix ran onto the next route which was eleven. She had made her way into the tall grass and stopped. She turned around and saw no one was following. Her breathing was harsh from running but also in anger. She couldn't Keygan would do that. She knew she hated her Poké Ball. She was prepared to die for Keygan. Why couldn't she let her be the one to help her?

"Vulpix!" Vulpix shouted as stomped on the ground.

"Sand?" a voice said.

"Vul?"

"Sandshrew?"

"Vulpix…" Vulpix growled at the Pokémon who appeared from the ground.

"Sandshrew." Sandshrew shook his head informing the fire type that he meant no harm.

"Vul." Vulpix said understanding that if the ground type was going to hurt her, he would have done it.

"Shrew Sandshrew?" Sandshrew asked her.

Was she a caught Pokémon? That was a good question. Vulpix could be both technically. She wanted freedom, but at the same time if someone tossed an empty ball at her it wouldn't work.

"Vulpix." Depends.

"Depends? You're either have a trainer or not."

"It's complicated." Vulpix answered.

"Not really. Either you have one or not. So which is it?" Sandshrew pushed.

"I don't have a trainer." Vulpix said not looking at him.

"I think you're lying."

"No I'm not!"

"Easy Red." Sandshrew snickered. "That imaginary trainer must be worried and looking for you."

Vulpix knew she was caught in her denial as soon as she snapped about not having a trainer. She could see this Sandshrew wasn't stupid, but rather clever. Plus who sees a Vulpix in this area without someone with it.

"No she won't."

"Why not?"

"She's selfish. She didn't let me save her and be happy about it."

"Doesn't sound selfish."

"You don't get it."

"Then explain it."

Vulpix looked to the ground type who was eying her. She didn't even know this Pokémon and why should she tell him anything. Her problems were her own and didn't need to be said to anyone else. However, it seemed Sandshrew wasn't going to let this go. Plus she didn't want to bottle this up. Curse 'her trainer' as she was making like interacting and talking with other Pokémon.

Vulpix took a breath and began to explain what happened.

"My trainer and I were challenging the Vermillion City Gym. We defeated that moron and the next I knew we were in a dark tunnel ridged to explode. The only way out was to melt the metal walls and swim out. As a fire type I would probably drown. My trainer…she's special. Makes everything tolerable. She's helped me and I wanted to save her in risk of dying. At the last moment she returned me to by Poké Ball. I hate being enclosed thus hate being returned. She made go back to that dark place she promised I'd never return to."

"I think you're right, she's selfish." Sandshrew said.

"Huh? Don't say that!" Vulpix snapped.

"You did."

"Yeah, but…"Vulpix trailed off unsure how to respond.

"You're right. She's selfish in the fact she didn't want to leave you there to die when she knew she could do something. She probably did want to go one without you. Starter?"

"Starter?"

"You're her starter, aren't you?"

"I am." Vulpix confirmed.

"Most special Pokémon to a trainer. Your trainer sounds really great and that she loves you. Trainers are odd like that, ya know? They'll do anything for us to keep us safe, but when we do it, it's frowned upon. It's because they want to protect us. Without you there would be no her. Returning you to your ball is probably out of desperation to save you. She'd rather have you mad at her for not keeping her promise then not have you at all." Sandshrew explained.

"How do…" Vulpix questioned.

"The gym leader is a monster isn't he? He packs more of a punch then the others. In some sense." Sandshrew said.

"Are you?"

"Yeah, I was. I'm wild now. About a month ago my trainer and I challenged the gym. We won thanks to that electric type moves don't affect me. We got the badge and were leaving when it happened. My trainer was electrocuted and didn't survive. I barely managed to escape before I could join him. All because he told me to. He said to run and save myself and I did because that's what he wanted. I owe him my life and he lost his. I miss him every day and wish I could find someone like him."

Vulpix felt like she was going to cry. She could feel the tears starting to form. She knew this mission was serious, but never had she actually seen it all happen. Sandshrew was trainerless because this stupid oppression. This also made her angry and fueled her fire to stop them. Keygan could die and she'd lose everything. To Keygan…having Vulpix with her was everything. She couldn't be replaced. One couldn't go on without the other. Vulpix wanted to find Keygan now.

"Thank you…" Vulpix said as she pushed away the tears. Sandshrew helped her and Vulpix just wanted to repay him. She couldn't have gotten to his point without him. She wouldn't have understood this. This wise ground type was a friend to her almost. Sandshrew seemed to hiding out her and noticed she wasn't from around there thus approached her. She felt so sorry that he was alone in the wild. Then it struck her. "Come with me."

"What?" Sandshrew asked.

"Come with me. Come meet my trainer and maybe you can join us." Vulpix pleaded. She didn't want to leave him there.

"I couldn't. I couldn't handle another trainer that I could lose." Sandshrew explained.

"Then help me so we don't lose another good trainer." Vulpix pleaded.

"I can't…I can't lose another trainer that I'll learn to care about…" Sandshrew said as his dropped.

"Don't you want to help free everyone?" Vulpix asked.

"I do, but I want a trainer that can help and I won't lose…" Sandshrew admitted. He hated that he couldn't take Vulpix's offer and see if her trainer would take him. I wanted another trainer, not to replace his own, but to get another chance. A chance to protect someone else who is fighting for the same cause as his own trainer.

Vulpix thought about what he said. He wanted a trainer that helped the cause, but not the same way Keygan did. Vulpix wasn't sure there was anyone like that.

"Sorry Red."

"No, I will find a way. I won't leave you here. You've been through too much to just not get another chance."

Vulpix wanted Sandshrew to get another chance like her. Keygan gave her another chance when she accepted her as her starter. Technically the door was open when she got caught by Professor Eden. Eden…

"Red, you're trainer is looking for you."

"And so is someone who will accept you." Vulpix said as she then moved behind Sandshrew and began to push him.

"What are you doing Red?"

"Just shut up and let me help you."

Vulpix pushed Sandshrew and the ground type walked reluctantly toward the city. They both made growling noises at each other. Sandshrew wanted to be left alone, but the fire type was adamant. He wondered how a Pokémon like her could be even held down by a trainer. Well, apparently he was about to find out and gave to walk on his own.

Keygan was stood there in shock. Vulpix had run away. Keygan never remembered her doing that when they were on better terms. If this was the start then it would have been more understandable and Keygan wouldn't have been too hurt. Now that she cared so much for the fire type it was heartbreaking.

"Keygan…maybe she just needs some time by herself," Catelin said. "You know how headstrong she is."

Javan wanted to say 'I told you so', but the context wasn't the same he was thinking of so saying wouldn't mean as much except make the girl cry or get pissed off. He couldn't deal with that yet.

"We should start looking for." Javan suggested.

Neither friend got any answer for Keygan. She was silent, but her body language said otherwise. Her eyes were hurt and her hands were in fist trying to keep strong. She was still processing what she should think about the situation or event.

"Keygan?"

"If she wants to go then that's her choice. I'm at least going to keep my promise to let her have her freedom if she wanted."

Keygan would keep that promise. She didn't keep the promise about her ball, but she didn't have a choice. Vulpix would have drown or seriously injured from the water which was almost the same as dying. Keygan swore when she became a trainer that was who she would be. She was the trainer and protected her Pokémon. She put her foot down and made the hard decisions. Sometimes they were questionable decisions, but at the time they seemed like the right ones. Keygan made the right decision to save her partner who saved her.

"Vulpix!" Keygan about cried thinking she was hearing her partner calling for her. The way the imaginary voice sounded like how Vulpix calls to her. Keygan looked up and saw a Pokémon coming from the edge of town.

"Vulpix…" Keygan said in disbelief.

"Vuuulpix!" Vulpix said as her eyes showed glee.

"Vulpix!" Keygan said sprinting toward her starter. However, as she reached about three feet from her she stopped. Vulpix's head tilted in confusion. Shouldn't she be trying to breathe from a bone breaking hug?

"Vul?"

"Vulpix, I'm sorry…"

"Vulpix…Vul!" Vulpix said shaking her head and telling that she was.

"I couldn't go on without you and I didn't want to lose you. I thank you so much for saving my life and don't know if I can repay you."

"Pix…" Vulpix cooed as she rubbed against her trainer's leg.

"Vulpix…" Keygan said as she picked up her starter and hugged her. Her warm body…she missed it. She missed getting Vulpix to open up and becomes a truly great Pokémon both physically, mentally, and socially. Keygan was ecstatic that she returned and wouldn't let anything happen to her.

"Pix."

'This marks the first time Vulpix licked me.' Keygan thought as she smiled remembering to right it down later. 'Earlier it marked the first Vulpix saved me.'

Vulpix thought the same thing as she licked her trainer. Nothing would happen to her as long as she was still around.

"I love you…" Keygan said hugging her.

"Pix." Vulpix said before turning toward a tree. "Vulpix!"

"Huh? What's wrong girl?" Keygan asked. Keygan then saw what Vulpix called for. A Sandshrew came out from behind a bush. "I see you made a friend."

"Vulpix!"

Keygan kneeled down and put out her hand as she moved Vulpix to her shoulder.

"Come here bud." Keygan said putting out her hand.

Sandshrew cautiously walked toward Keygan and kept an eye on both her and Vulpix. Keygan's smile was inviting while Vulpix dared him to run. Too bad he knew Dig and could get away if he wanted. If. He wanted to try. Eventually Sandshrew got close to Keygan and she petted him. Her hands were soft and yet rough at the same time. Sandshrew thought it said a lot about her personality.

"Vulpix Vul Vulpix Pix Vulpix Vul Pix Pix!" Vulpix attempted to explain what all Sandshrew had told her and what their plan was.

"I think I got what you mean…Sandshrew I'm sorry to hear about your trainer and I bet that I could talk to the professor." Keygan said as she picked up the ground type. A part of her wanted to keep him for herself. She liked Sandshrew. He was so cute and she wanted to give him a chance with her, but she needed to respect his wishes.

As soon as Keygan explained to her friends and got back to the Pokémon Center she called the professor. After a few rings a mid-twenty to late aged professor picked up. Sandshrew looked at this woman and thought she looked like a trainer more than a professor.

"Hello Keygan. What can I do for you?" Professor Eden asked then saw Sandshrew. "Oh, is this your new friend?"

"Um…not exactly. I have a question for you." Keygan said before explaining what she got from Vulpix. "So…would you want to take Sandshrew? I would take him, but he doesn't want another trainer that competes."

"I understand and I would love to take him if he wants. I actually only own one Pokémon so adding another would be perfect," Eden told her. "Sandshrew, would like to come live with me?"

"Shrew!" Sandshrew agreed. After speaking with the professor the ground type liked her and she seemed wise for her appearance of age. This way he'd get to grow up not for pickings in the wild and get to see his new friend.

"Pix!"

"Looks like we agree." Keygan said.

"Great. I'll send over an empty Poké Ball for him right away." Eden said as she picked up and empty ball from her desk.

"You're gonna have a great life Sandshrew. I know you will and we'll all see each other again soon." Keygan said giving the Pokémon a hug before picking up the Pokémon's new ball that just arrived.

"Sandshrew shrew." Sandshrew told her before going to his new trainer. His new chance to live in the name as his true trainer. He would always have a special place in his heart for him, but he could find room for this Professor Eden.

Vulpix blushed, yeah, she did have a great trainer.

AN: That's the end of the chapter! I didn't think this was going to long, but hey, this is a time I'm glad I'm wrong. Anyway, don't tell my teachers, but I wrote this during class and posted it so our little secret. Don't keep a secret Review, Follow, or Favorite from me though! Bye friends!