AN: Hello! Welcome to the next chapter! I hope you enjoy this chapter. Sorry about the long delay. Life me myself on a silver platter and haven't quite recovered. Hope you're all still here.

Disclaimer: We know by now what isn't mine, right?

Chapter 18: The Loyal Fire Type Partner

"Come on! You guys are so slow!" Keygan shouted back at her friends as she raced down the hillside of cycling road.

"Vulpix!" Vulpix cried as she sat in the basket happily feeling the wind brush through her fur. This was incredible. She couldn't even run this fast.

"Keygan slow down!" Catelin shouted as she attempted not to lose control.

"No you hurry up Slowpoke!" Keygan cried as laughed.

"I bet he takes offense to that!" Javan yelled at her when he thought to his partner who was an actual Slowpoke. However, Slowpoke didn't react much toward anything until it was well said and done so he probably wouldn't even care.

"You're gonna…" Catelin started to say as she then witnessed Keygan's bike topple over and Vulpix jump from the basket safely landing on road. "Fall."

"Come on. We better go help her." Javan said pulling up beside her.

"Are you okay?" Catelin asked as she looked at her friend who was flat on her back.

"I'm fine. Just some scrapes and probably some bruises." Keygan answered and then looked to her partner. "Are you okay?"

"Vulpix!" Vulpix replied she was. She looked over her trainer and only saw what she said she had, just some scrapes and what looked to be bruises later on. Vulpix let out a sigh in relief, but then glared at her. Keygan needed to stop being careless. Vulpix was aware she was enjoy the high speed cycling, but all she could ask is for to be careful.

"Why do you have to be so careless?" Catelin asked.

"Vulpix!" Vulpix barked at Catelin. Vulpix didn't know what about her question just seemed rude to her. None the less she looked to her trainer to see if she was going to give an answer.

"Do I have any reason not to have a little fun?" Keygan asked as she got up and slowly picked up her bike.

"You can, just I want you to be careful. I'd hate to see you get hurt." Catelin said.

"I know. Thanks." Keygan said not wanting to get into an argument in the middle of the cycling road.

"Growwwl!" a voice cried as the bushes shook and a shadowy figure jumped out.

All three trainers jumped and gave a small frightening screech. The figured landed in front of them and looked at them with puppy dog eyes.

"Growl?"

"It's a Growlithe." Javan said taking in its appearance. He looked around and saw no one around. "What's it doing here?"

"It has to belong to someone, look!" Catelin said pointing to the collar around its neck.

The Growlithe then slowly walked up to them and eyed each of them. He then looked to Keygan and sniffed at her.

"What's it doing?" Keygan whispered to her friends. Before either one could answer her the fire type licked her hands. "Eek!"

Growlithe stopped a moment then looked up to her and whined. Keygan's heart broke hearing the poor Pokémon whine at her. She then looked to her hands and saw they were scraped up when she flipped as they took most of the fall. She then realized what he was doing.

"Growl."

"Aw. Thank you." Keygan said as she sat on the ground and rummaged through her bag looking for her medical supplies. She scratched the Growlithe on the head and sat proudly beside her.

Vulpix glared at him. She wanted to attack the other fire type, but knowing her luck it probably wouldn't work. She didn't want to take the chance of them having the same ability. Plus she would be scolded and Growlithe might retaliate thinking it was attack. It sort of was one.

"I wonder who it belongs to." Javan questioned.

"What do you mean?" Catelin asked.

"Obviously it is a well-trained Pokémon. It comes close to people and doesn't seem to be afraid. Also wild Growlithe aren't known to these parts and this area is near very populated places so I'm speculating it has to belong to someone." Javan explained.

"Makes sense." Catelin echoed. "Why isn't it leaving to go back to its owner?"

"I don't know."

"We can take it with us down and see if anyone can place it."

Before anyone could discuss about what to do with the Pokémon they heard motor bikes revving and shouting. They all looked around and could tell the sounds were coming up the path. They all looked to one another and nodded. As they completed their nod they hopped on their bikes and raced down the hill. As they got toward the bottom they saw a biker gang harassing a group of young trainers. They looked to be first starting off with their starters fainted in their arms.

"You already kiddos. Give up your money and supplies!" one of the bikers said with a laugh.

"Leave us alone!" one of the trainers yelled nervously.

The bikers began to snicker as they circled the trainers. Whenever they attempted to run one of the biker would ride by them and push them back toward the others.

"Hey! Leave them alone!" Keygan yelled as she rode up toward the group.

"Help us!"

"You think you can beat us child? Weezing go!"

"Muk go!"

"Electrode!"

"Arbok!"

"That's not fair!" Catelin shouted. "Go Poliwag!"

"Poliwag!" Poliwag shouted and bounced around. It had been a while since Catelin actually used him in a battle and he was ready to go.

"Agreed! Slowpoke let's go!" Javan said. Javan then looked down at his partner. Slowpoke's reflexes and attentiveness had gotten a lot better since capturing him. He was took commands still rather sluggish, but he was still faster than what he used to be.

"Ready Vulpix?" Keygan asked. Vulpix nodded and jumped in front of her trainer ready to battle.

"Growl!" Growlithe shouted as he joined by Vulpix's side as if he was ready to be under the command of Keygan. He wasn't going to let the trio be outnumbered if he had to do anything about it. Vulpix glared at the puppy and the glare only became harsher as she saw he was unfazed.

"Weezing use Sludge Bomb!"

"Dodge it!" Both Pokémon jumped out of the way and into the air. "Flamethrower!"

Both Pokémon responded to the commanded and attacked the poison type with Flamethrower. Although their opponent was struck with both attacks he still remained able to battle despite the burn marks that littered his body.

"Electrode use Spark!"

"Slowpoke Confusion!"

"Poke!" Slowpoke cried as his eyes glowed and lifted Electrode off the ground.

"Explosion!"

Without being told Slowpoke then tossed Electrode back toward the other trainers' Pokémon where it exploded. The area was covered in a thick smoke that one could see that spread both up and out. After some of it cleared Electrode was fainted and so was Weezing. The other Pokémon however, had taken heavy damage.

"Poliwag use Bubblebeam!"

All the bikers shouted in frustration as all their Pokémon fainted and so easily. Partially of their own fault, but they weren't ever going to admit that.

"Let's get out of here." The leader grumbled. He was tired of these stupid kids anyway. Kids were no good except to steal off of and make some extra cash.

"Hold up!" a voice yelled.

The three turned to see a woman in a blue outfit holding out a badge. Flanking her were two other Growlithe.

"Officer Jenny!"

"Growl!"

The police officer then jumped in front of the children and stated, "In the name of the law stop right there. What you're doing is harassment and attempted theft. I'm taking you in."

"You'll have to catch us first! Let's go boys!" the leader said as he returned his almost fainted Pokémon and prepared to escape on their bikes.

"Growlithe melt there tires with Ember!"

"Growl!" The two yelled and attacked shooting embers at them successfully melting their tires.

"Run for it!" the leader cried but no one moved. "You spineless cowards!" The leader then took off in a sprint running for the hills.

"Growl!" The Growlithe that had been protecting them then jumped up and tackled the leader with Take Down while the other two surrounded the other keeping them still by growling.

"Get off me you mutt!" the leader cried and then gasped as the officer then cuffed him.

"Good job Growlithe." Officer Jenny said as she cuffed the three men.

"Growl!" Growlithe barked happily as he wagged his tail.

All the bikers groaned and whaled as they were led into the back of a police van by the backup officers and Pokémon that arrived on scene moments ago. They were going to transported to Celadon City. The rest was up to the police force. The three trainers smiled proudly that they helped those trainers and the force.

"Are you kids okay?" Officer Jenny asked them as the van pulled away with the arrested bikers in the back.

"We're fine!" Catelin said and her friends nodded.

"Sorry you got caught in our affairs."

"It wasn't a problem." Keygan said.

"Even if you hadn't run into those bikers this Growlithe is one of my team so we would have crossed paths. He likes to run off, but whenever he does we always get who were after or someone's in trouble."

"Then that explains it." Javan said.

"What do you mean?" Catelin asked and Officer Jenny nodded her head for him to continue.

"Keygan fell off her bike earlier and next we knew Growlithe was by her side. He is very well trained to his surroundings. A perfect fit for the force." Javan concluded.

"Thank for assisting us in the investigation and stalling those criminals until my arrival. Please allow me to escort you to Fuchsia City." Officer Jenny said.

"Thank you."

"Growl!" Growlithe said overjoyed and walked up next to Keygan.

"Vulpix!" Vulpix snapped as she jumped into Keygan's arms and gave the Pokémon a growl. Keygan's eyes widen at her partner's response.

"What was that for?" Catelin asked just as surprised. Javan opened his mouth to answer but was caught off guard and stopped by giggling.

"Oh Pix." Keygan said as she hugged her fox.

"Vulpix?"

"There's no need to feel threatened or jealous. You'll always be my partner. I would never replace you and pick you every single time. I don't how many times I have to stay it to get through your stubborn, thick head silly." Keygan said.

Vulpix looked down at Growlithe and he nodded. Yeah, she found a good one and he was being that loyal dog type to show her that. He was man's best friend in a sense and she needed to show her best friend that's what she thought. Keygan was all hers...except when she had to share with two others. Vulpix shivered at the thought of sharing Keygan with any other Pokémon especially if she couldn't intimidate them. She'll cross that road when Keygan decides to add to their little team.

AN: Relatively short, but I wanted to get this updated ASAP. Hope you all liked it and will be here for the next one! Please leave a Review and/or favorite/follow in the meantime! It means a lot! See you next time! Bye friends!