A/N: I know it's been horribly long since I last posted... . and this chapter's kind of short to boot. But I didn't want the story to die. I hope you enjoy!

"Those ladders are ancient, no wonder it broke on you," the bigger hiker laughed. Selena had learned his name was Ralph.

"So where are you two headed?" Ralph asked. Selena looked at Seth who nodded slightly, indicating it was okay to tell them.

"We're going to Pewter City to battle Brock," Selena said, flinching a little when the hikers gave them a weird look. Kyle, the other hiker, offered her a bowl of stew.

"Getting badges huh? So you two are challenging the Pokémon League," Kyle said. Seth nodded in agreement, excitement in his eyes.

"Me and Kyle here, we battle some but we don't collect badges; too much trouble if you ask me." Ralph emptied his bowl.

"You want to battle?" Selena asked suddenly, causing Seth to choke a little on his stew. Foxfire jumped on Selena's shoulder.

"Are you sure dearie?" Kyle asked, doubtful.

"Foxfire and I can take you," Selena said, confident. Ralph stared at her for a second before laughing.

"All right then, I'll go against you since you only have one Pokémon." Selena and Ralph faced each other. Selena grinned.

"Let's do it."

"One on one then?" Ralph asked.

"Yep. I choose my Vulpix, Foxfire." Ralph unclipped a Pokèball from his belt, holding it up for her to see.

"Then I choose you, Sandshrew!" Ralph threw the ball high in the air. A red beam shot out of the ball, sending a Sandshrew onto the battlefield.

"Sandshrew! Use Poison Sting!" The hiker called. Sandshrew darted forward, shooting small needles at Foxfire. The Vulpix dodged them easily, turning sharply to face her opponent.

"Foxfire! Use Tail Whip!" Selena cried. Foxfire whipped around, sending Sandshrew flying into the cavern wall.

"Good Foxfire! Now use your Ember!" Foxfire ran to Sandshrew, ready to attack.

"Come on Sandshrew!" Ralph called.

"Use your Rapid Spin!" Sandshrew jumped to its feet and began to spin, slowly at first, but then faster; Foxfire's Ember glanced off of Sandshrew, sending small flames flying across the cave like fireflies.

'Maybe if Foxfire burrows underground…' Selena clinched her teeth, thinking. Seth yelped behind her; one of the flares landed on his pants and caught fire. The sight of him running around, trying to beat out the flame sent Selena into a fit of giggles.

"Pix!" Foxfire called, reminding Selena of the battle.

"Right. Foxfire! Use Dig! Burrow under Sandshrew!" Ralph smirked.

"Nice try girlie!" he called to Selena.

"That won't work! Sandshrew! Use Rapid Spin! Counter it!" Sandshrew began spinning again, preparing its attack. Selena meanwhile was searching for her Vulpix, trying to think of a way to victory.

'What can I do? What can Foxfire do?' Suddenly, she had it. A confident smile on her face, she said,

"Foxfire! Come up underneath it! Now!" Selena hoped her little Vulpix could hear her. There was no sign of the fox Pokémon until the ground began to crumble under Sandshrew who was still trying to increase its spinning speed.

Foxfire broke through the earth, sending Sandshrew into her freshly dug hole. Sandshrew got stuck, immobilized by the dirt surrounding it.

"No!" Ralph cried, realizing the trick his opponent had in mind.

"Now! Foxfire! Use your Ember attack!" Selena called triumphantly. The Vulpix complied, covering her now helpless opponent in flames; Selena and Foxfire were the winners. Ralph sunk to his knees, defeated.

"That was great battling!" Seth said, greeting Selena and Foxfire. Selena blushed at the complement.

"It's Foxfire that did all the work; I only coached from the sidelines." Ralph returned to the camp, carrying his now recovered Sandshrew.

"Just take the compliment girlie," Ralph said, handing Selena her winnings. Her mouth dropped when she saw the amount.

"1000 yen? I can't…" Ralph held up a hand to silence her.

"You have skills and you deserve it, so be quiet. You can have this too." He handed Selena a small bell.

Gingerly, Selena took it, examining the little silver bell.

"It's a Soothe Bell, you can give it to a Pokémon and it will help that Pokémon become friendlier faster. You may not need it with that one though." Ralph gestured to Selena's Vulpix. Foxfire cocked her head in response.

"I figure there may be a few stubborn Pokémon who have trouble liking you at first. If you want to be a good trainer, you need to form a good bond with your Pokémon. That's what I think anyway." Selena looked at the Soothe Bell, then at Ralph.

"Thank you, I promise to use it."

Seth and Selena said their goodbyes, heading deeper into the cave. Ralph had warned them that there were stronger Pokémon where they where heading.

"Just be careful! And take care of the Vulpix girlie!"

Selena smiled and waved back.

"Don't you worry! I will!" She called.

A/N: I know, short. Please review and tell me what you think. I hope to post more soon. :)