Totodile and Croconaw

The Endangered Pokemon Adoption Act was an enormous success. The Pokemon on the list had been driven to near extinction due to habitat loss, over-hunting, or even overuse in illegal death matches. Certain approved breeders were authorized to breed the listed Pokemon for distribution to new Trainers as starters. Because these were 'first Pokemon', their Trainers quickly grew attached to them and helped in the efforts to preserve their kind.

One of the approved breeders was the Stanton family. They were allowed to breed their favorite of the list, Totodiles. It was readily apparent that they took their job with pride. Their backyard had been turned into a flowery swamp, which the reptiles loved. The Pokemon were free to roam around most of the house. And everything was kept clean and functioning, for the health of all.

Two of the young Totodiles, ready to be sent off in a couple of weeks, were in the kitchen. Two of the humans, the mother and one of the sons, were preparing for a party this evening. The boy handed down a coconut that had been drained of its milk. "Here, it's her turn."

"Mine!" the female said gleefully, opening her jaws. Dozens of small sharp teeth lined her mouth.

"Remember, watch your fingers," his mother warned.

"I know." He placed the coconut in her jaws, then snatched his hand back before she cracked it with the nut. When she opened her jaws again, he took out the pieces and put them in a bowl of water to rinse.

"Got any more?" the male asked. "This is fun!"

"No, sorry, that's enough coconut for the recipe," the mother said. Then she gave them a wink. "You'll get some to try too, don't worry."

"Aw, but what'll we bite now?"

"Go on out and play," the boy said. "Or rest; there'll be a lot to do at the party."

"A nap would be nice," the female said.

But before they could head out, another Stanton son pushed the door open with his back. He carried a skateboard. At the other end of it was a Croconaw the family was keeping. He had bit down on the skateboard and was allowing himself to be dragged inside. He growled.

"Mom, Steve won't let go of my board. He's put holes in it."

"Didn't I tell you not to go out today?" his mother replied. "We still have a lot left to do."

"But he has my board..."

"Shouldn't you be clearing the driveway and walk?"

He gave up reluctantly. "Okay, Mom."

She nodded, then tapped the Croconaw on the shoulder. "Steve, let it go now."

Letting go, he gave her a grin. "I'm just keeping him in line."

"Now if you're not helping in here, shoo." The mother went back to her cooking.

The two Totodiles followed their brother out the door, along with the older Stanton boy. "Man, I don't care about this party. It's just going to be the same boring talk and the same stupid board games as always."

Steven nudged his head against the boy's side. "Come on, you've got a job to do."

"Okay, okay." He went to the shed, soon followed by the Croconaw.

"Hey, why did we never get names?" the girl Totodile asked.

"That's so our Trainers get to name us," the boy replied. "We'll go on adventures and be awesome together."

"Well that sounds fun... hey!"

"What?"

She went over to the abandoned skateboard and pointed. "Look, big brother lost a tooth."

And indeed, there was large white tooth jammed into the skateboard. "What's he going to do without one of his teeth? Maybe we should return it to him."

"Yeah, that's a good idea." Being small, she easily grabbed hold of the tooth and pulled. The skateboard jerked up and hit the end of her snout. "Ow!"

"I can do it." He put his foot on the skateboard, then took hold of the tooth. But no matter how hard he pulled, it wouldn't budge. Finally, the board slipped out from underneath him, causing him to fall on his back. "I meant to do that!"

She giggled. "Sure you did."

"I did." He got up, trying not to look embarrassed. "Oh, I know! I'll bite onto it and you pull it out."

"But what if you lose a tooth too?"

"I won't. You ready?"

"Um, all right. Be careful."

He bit onto the skateboard before she was finished, so replied, "Aiff wifff."

The girl Totodile grabbed the stuck tooth and pulled. It strained her muscles, but wouldn't budge. She put her foot on the board to get a better hold, then tried again. Still, it wouldn't move.

But the skateboard had taken a lot of strain when Steven and the Stanton boy had been wrestling with it. It gave a crack as she pulled, then broke into jagged halves. His jaw got knocked onto the ground while she tripped back just like her brother had. He let go and got up first. "Did it come out?"

Triumphantly, she held up her right paw, with the lost tooth. "Got it! Do you still have all your teeth?"

"Uh..." He felt his jaw with his hands and tongue, then looked at the remains of the skateboard. "Yeah, I've got all my teeth still."

She got up. "Good."

Steve came back out of the shed. "Hey kids, what're you up to? Hope you're not hurting each other."

The girl held up his tooth. "Big brother, you lost a tooth! We got it out of the skateboard for you!"

"Yeah, but it's kinda busted now," the boy added, looking down at the splinted board.

The Croconaw laughed. "Whoa, hey, no need to worry about that. I'll just grow a new one in a few days, that's all."

"Really?" the Totodiles asked in unison.

He nodded. "Sure enough. Although, I don't think there's much that can be done for the skateboard."

The human boy came out of the shed, dragging a hose behind him and grumbling. When he saw the state of his board, though, he dropped everything. "My... my skateboard! What did you do to it?"

"You think you'd have learned by now to keep your toys away from the Pokemon," his mother said as she came out.

"We're sorry!" the girl Totodile cried, but the boy still gave her a dark look as he went to hook up the hose.

"Don't worry about it," Steve said, patting her snout. "You'll have a Trainer that appreciates you soon enough."

…

Totodile Leaf Green entry: Its well-developed jaws are powerful and capable of crushing anything. Even its Trainer must be careful.

Croconaw Emerald entry: Once its jaws clamp down on its foe, it will absolutely not let go. Because the tips of its fangs are forked back like fishhooks, they become irremovably embedded.

Ah, the unforeseen dangers of owning a Pokemon… like that pet dog that chews up your shoes, or cat that steals your socks.