AN: Welcome back to the next chapter of Burning Dream! I'm putting a focus on my more successful stories right now and this is one. So enjoy the chapter allowed by the free time I have today!

Disclaimer: I own nothing related to Pokémon.

Chapter 16: Definition of Protectors

"Venooo!"

"What was that?" Catelin asked hearing the high pitched scream. The noise could have come from anywhere as it echoed through tunnel.

"Sounded like a cry for help…" Javan answered.

"We need to find it." Keygan said.

"How?" Catelin asked. She had a point. They were in the middle of Rock Tunnel and everyone was right when talking about how dark it was.

"I know!" Keygan said sparked with an idea and prayed that it would work. "Go Beedrill!"

"Bee!"

"Can you find the sound of that scream?" Keygan asked her bug type.

"Bee." Beedrill nodded that he would try. Beedrill closed his eyes and listened. He understood why Keygan asked him. She knew he had a great sense of hearing and should be able to detect sounds better than anyone else could.

"Ven…" a tiny voice entered his ears.

"Bee!" Beedrill's eyes snapped open and ran off toward the sound knowing his trainer and companions would follow.

"Come on!" Keygan said running after her Pokémon.

Beedrill led them down multiple paths not missing one or having to turn around. He was focused and knew exactly where he was going. Keygan was made a mental note about to have him help find the way out of the cave. This side trip only prolonged them admitting that they were lost.

"Nat…"

They all stopped to see a small Venonat sitting in a corner of the cave. The poor bug type shook with fear and injuries covered his body. Beedrill levitated near the bug type attempting to speak with it. The Pokémon shook its head and huddled more into the corner. Vulpix jumped from Keygan's shoulder and joined her friend.

"Vulpix Vul."

"Venonat…"

"Vulpix vul pix vul."

"Nat?" Venonat turned to the fire type.

"Vulpix." Vulpix nodded.

"I'm not going to hurt you." Keygan said getting closer, finally having the chance to look at him. "He's hurt."

"Can you treat it?" Catelin asked.

"Not here I can't. I can't anything. I don't want to risk messing up or worse." Keygan answered as she coaxed Venonat to allow being picked up.

"Well we need to get out here then." Javan said.

"Beedrill." Keygan said to her Pokémon.

"Bee." He nodded and began looking for a way out.

They exited Rock Tunnel not long afterward to find themselves outside Lavender Town. They immediately went to the Pokémon Center where Nurse Joy could treat the Pokémon. Keygan felt better having a professional treat Venonat than her. Now they patiently waited outside to hear about the process.

"You'll happy to know that Venonat will be fine." Nurse Joy told them about an hour later.

"Oh that's great." Catelin said.

"What will happen to it now?" Javan asked.

"Well, he doesn't seem very wild which is why I'm against releasing him. I'm probably going to send him to the Pokemon Orphanage in Azure Town."

Vulpix took noticed in how Keygan's head perked up upon hearing the nurse.

"Will it be okay there?" Catelin asked.

"Oh yes. All the Pokémon there are well taken care of and sometimes even find themselves with adopted by trainers eventually. I'll take it down later this week…"

"We can take it for you!" Keygan said. Everyone turned and looked at her suspiciously. "I mean it won't be much trouble. It's an easy couple hour walk from here west."

"Oh that will be a great help. I'll prepare Venonat for travel then call the owner and let her know you're coming. Thank you." Nurse Joy answered.

"Oh no, no problem at all." Keygan said smiling.

"Alright spill, why do you want to go to Azure Town?" Catelin asked Keygan as they walked out of town.

"I don't know what you're talking about." Keygan avoided the question with Venonat in her arms.

"You're exhibiting signs of lying." Javan said.

"Fine. Azure Town is my hometown and the orphanage is where I spent if not all my time at since I was ten years old. I want to go back and see how it is." Keygan admitted.

"And this gives you the perfect reason." Javan added.

"No, I was going to go whether I needed one or not." Keygan answered.

Vulpix snorted a laugh at her trainer. A pit of excitement entered her mind. She was going to get to see where Keygan grew up at and where she liked to be. Would she meet Keygan's parents? Did she have any Pokémon around her as a child? So many questions and Vulpix was eager to find the answered.

About two and a half hours later they were outside the Pokémon Orphanage. Keygan's smile was bright as she felt like she was home. Keygan then knocked on the door and went inside. This surprised everyone, but they went along with it.

"Hello! We're here with the Venonat!" Keygan said hoping to surprise Diana and the others.

"Oh just a second!" A familiar voice to Keygan said. Vulpix felt a warmth in her heart seeing Keygan smile grow. An older woman came out and saw the girl who left a few months ago.

"Keygan!"

"Hi Diana."

"Oh what a pleasant surprise." Diana said giving Keygan a hug who had passed Venonat to Catelin. Strangely Venonat wouldn't go to Javan. He offered to hold it on the trip over, but the bug type refused. They assumed he had something against males. "What are you? The Venonat. Well dear were happy to have you."

"Venonat." Venonat said still a little unsure about this as he was placed on the floor to roam around as he pleased.

"Now Keygan tell me everything."

"These are my friends Catelin and Javan." Keygan introduced them.

"Pleased to meet you." Catelin said.

"Likewise." Javan added.

"My name is Diana. I run the home here. Now who is this?" Diana said taking interest in the Vulpix that was currently on Keygan's shoulder.

"Diana, this is Vulpix, my starter." Keygan said.

"Vulpix!" Vulpix said.

"My, what a spirited one. Reminds me of…"

"Meow!"

A blur of white came out of nowhere and into Keygan's arms. Vulpix jumped off her trainer's shoulder to the floor and looked up at what had caused her to move. She growled at the Pokémon that was currently…rubbing its face on hers.

"Hi Meowth." Keygan said petting him and rubbing his face with her hands.

Meowth purred as he was overjoyed with Keygan's return. He had missed her greatly. She was his first and best friend here. However, her leaving had been good for him as he opened up to others in the house and made new friends. The other Pokémon even looked up to him. Instead of being the one to be protected from, he was the protector.

"Everyone this is Meowth. He's my best friend here." Keygan said.

"Pix?" Best Friend? Vulpix thought she was Keygan's best friend. What was this feline? Her replacement? That wasn't going to happen. Vulpix then let out a small flame that nipped Meowth on the tail.

"Roaw!" Meowth hissed.

"Woah! Vulpix! That wasn't nice!" Keygan yelled. "Say you're sorry."

"Pix." Vulpix turned defiantly and walked off.

"Sorry Meowth."

"As I was about to say your Vulpix seems a lot like Meowth when he first arrived." Diana finished.

"Don't I know it? She hated me at first. You thought the scratches were bad. She bit and burned me." Keygan added to the point. "But, I wouldn't have any other starter, but her. How are things here?"

"Better and then not so good. I've gotten some Pokémon recently taken from bad trainers and they share the same qualities." Diana answered. "Without you here I don't have as much help."

"We can help you. Right guys?" Keygan said then asking her friends.

"I'd love too!"

"As would I."

"That would much appreciated."

For the next few hours they all helped out Diana clean and take care all of the Pokémon. Vulpix seemed avoid Keygan and Meowth. She mostly sat in the corner and watched and refused to help when asked. Every time Keygan tried talking to her starter she'd just move away. Keygan gave up after one try knowing Vulpix was in a mood and that eventually she'd come around.

"Catelin, Javan, I've got some orders to pick up at the mart. Do you mind coming with me while Keygan watches the house?"

"Sure." They all replied.

"Be back in about an hour."

"I've got it." Keygan said.

As soon as the door shut all hell broke loose. Keygan heard a hissing and cries. She ran to the back where the Pokémon interacted by playing where she saw some Pokémon being cornered by a Machop.

"Hey! Leave them alone!" Keygan shouted.

The Machop turned and looked toward her with rage etched across his face. This Pokémon must have been the one Diana mentioned that picked up on his trainer's bad ways. Must get something out of picking on small and weaker Pokémon. Keygan thought best to handle peacefully then battling. She wouldn't want to risk injuries or damages.

"Hey you're okay." Keygan said in a softer tone.

"Machop!" the fighting type shouted.

"There's no need for that. Is there something I can do?" Keygan asked.

"Key!" he shouted in higher volume. "Ma…Chop!"

Machop then made a jump at Keygan looking like he was going to use Karate Chop. Keygan went to move out of the way, but stumbled backward. She covered her face with her arms, but then felt a heat pass by her. She uncovered her face to see Vulpix in front of her growling. Vulpix must have used a fire type move to defend her.

"Vulpix!" the fire fox shouted at the fighting type. No one touched her trainer.

"Machop!" Machop shouted then pulling a cheap move and grabbing Vulpix and used Seismic Toss to throw her into Keygan. Both fell back again against the padded floor. Keygan looked up again to see Machop was coming at them again with Focus Punch. Keygan covered Vulpix with her body and braced herself.

"Meow!"

Meowth came from behind them and struck Machop with Fake Out. Machop couldn't complete his attack and got up glaring at them all. However, in his eye was a twinkle and a smirk on his face.

"Vulpix…" Vulpix said to Meowth as she got out of Keygan's arms.

"Meow." Meowth said putting his paw out. "Meowth Meow Murow. Meowth Meow Meowth.

Vulpix looked to the normal type in shock. She thought Meowth was trying to take her place, but now. Meowth had told her 'She's his friend too and he owes her right now since she gets to protect her every day. Now he gets to.'

"Meowth!" Meowth cried as he then glowed. Everyone's eyes widen upon seeing the light show that came from Meowth. His body glowed then morphed as he grew larger and sturdier on four legs. His ears curved while his whiskers grew out and lower on his face. His coin shrunk into his face and the light grew brighter before breaking out to reveal the new Pokémon. "Persian!"

"Chop!" Machop cried not caring that he evolved; he was still going to beat him down. Machop charged Persian going for a Cross Chop.

"Persiaaaan!" Persian cried out using Screech. Everyone covered their ears at the sound and Machop backed off, but as soon as the sound stopped he charged again. "Sian."

Persian turned his body and struck Machop with an Iron Tail attack. Machop slammed against one of the cushions and laid there. He looked up and glared at Persian before he nodded. He then slouched down and stayed there, defeated. Despite type advantage, there was no point in continuing the fight. He got what he wanted, a battle. He wanted some way to express out his rage for his trainer being such a moron and being defeated made it better to give him the wake-up call he needed.

"Persian…you evolved." Keygan said unsure what to say.

"Merow." Persian said as he nudged his head his Keygan's and began to purr.

"Thank you."

"Vulpix Vul…" Vulpix said.

"Sian. Persian." Persian shook his head. No apologies needed. If he was a starter then he might have done the same. Plus, he could tell a Pokémon who had to rough before finding peace.

"Oh my! What happened?!" Diana cried having come back from her errands with the others.

"It's kind of a long story." Keygan grinned at the two Pokémon who nodded.

After explaining what had happened to Diana she was revealed to find out everything turned out alright. She felt horrible not warning Keygan about Machop before leaving, but part of her hoped that the trainer would be able to calm him down. Actually Machop was quite calm after battling with Persian. He would still need some work, but he didn't seem to be a threat anymore. She was thrilled to see Meowth had evolved into Persian.

"Keygan, if you're so close to Persian why not take him with you?" Catelin asked.

"I couldn't do that." Keygan said.

"Why not?" Javan asked.

"Because dear, he's finally warmed up here and is quite the perfect Pokémon here." Diana mentioned as Persian preened at the praise. It was true. Diana and Persian well liked each other now and Persian acted like a permanent resident who helped newcomers. Without him the place would fall apart. He was like another owner along with Diana. The orphanage wouldn't be what it was without Persian.

"Persian's perfect here." Keygan said petting him.

"Merow!"

"That's too bad. He would have a great addition." Javan said.

"Maybe, but I need to find other Pokémon too." Keygan answered.

"So where are you going off to next?" Diana asked.

"Celadon City. There's a gym badge there with my name on it." Keygan said.

"Good luck dear and be safe."

"Wait, Keygan!" Catelin said having a thought about if this was her hometown. "Aren't we going to see your parents?"

The room got silent. Keygan, Diana, and Persian's eyes wondered down away from everyone else. Vulpix tried looking into Keygan's eyes, but her trainer kept moving them away. What about her parents? Vulpix could sense something was wrong.

"What's wrong?" Javan asked.

"Was it something I said?" Catelin also asked.

"Um no…not exactly. You see, my parents didn't want me and I've been in foster care since I can remember. My foster parents live here, but I don't want to see them. They gave me enough money and kind of tossed me out the door the day I left to be a trainer." Keygan explained. "They had plenty of kids to look after."

"I'm sorry Keygan, I didn't know…" Catelin said trying to make this look like it was her fault.

"No, I didn't tell you." Keygan said. "But that doesn't matter now. What matters is the right now. What and who I have with me."

"Agreed!" Catelin said smiling.

Vulpix looked at Keygan. She didn't even know. Keygan never told, but she guessed that wasn't information one really shares with their starter unless they plan on going home eventually. What was she planning to do? Travel the rest of her life? Not that she had a problem with it. Vulpix felt like she could connect her on her personal level. She couldn't remember much where she came from either. All she could remember was getting capture all the time. Well, they could find home within each other. Vulpix jumped to her shoulder and moved her face close to Keygan so she could feel the heat of her fur. Keygan turned and smiled to her starter. She understood. They'd be there for one another. That's what partners did.

"Oh yeah, did you ever hear anything from Nurse Joy about the Venonat?" Keygan asked Diana just randomly thinking about and to also change the subject.

"Yes actually, she thinks that it was attacked by Team Evolution."

AN: That's the end of this chapter 16! I hope you all enjoyed it and will come back for 17! In the meantime I hope you'll leave me a Review, Favorite, and/or Follow! I'll catch you all later! Bye!