Vilpix and Houndour

Hello radio listeners! And welcome to this week's broadcast of 'The Intrepid Adventures of Indiana the Vulpix', brought to you this week by Bug Chow, the favorite munchies of Bug Pokemon. When we last left our lone hero, Indy had set off on a quest for his missing twin sister, revealed by a mysterious Xatu to be still alive in the strange lands of Zestralia, where civilized Pokemon hardly explored. Wanting to prove himself to his famous parents, the four-tailed Vulpix set off. He had explored for days and found many treasures, but not his sister. However, his most recent adventure may prove to be his last.

Indy had spotted a marvelous treasure, a solid gold statue of Entei, six feet tall and almost as fierce as the real thing. While he stood no chance of moving the impressive statue on his own, there was a golden whisker that had fallen off which could prove the statue's existence to those back home. He picked up the solid golden whisker, but then was stopped cold by strange howls. This is where we begin today.

It was three howls, then four, then five. Indiana knew that even he, brave as he was, was out of his league against this group. Keeping hold of his new treasure, Indy bolted into the tall grass. But then his pursuers barked out and pursued him. One was right next to him, so he turned to the left. They soon had him on both sides and Indy didn't know what to do about his still unknown attackers.

In a last-ditch effort, he put all his energy into running faster than they, but then the adventurous Vulpix tripped over some loose stones and fell to the ground. The golden whisker fell from his grip, tumbling ahead into the dust. Growls from the grass all around him let Indy know that he was surrounded. What should he do?

To his surprise, his pursuers began talking to him. "Foolish traveler," one said. "Take that which you have stolen and return it to its rightful owner."

Indy had heard from everyone that there were no civilized Pokemon in Zestralia, so who were these ones speaking to him? "It had already fallen off," he tried to say.

"Return it, now," another one said.

"Or else the spirits of this land will curse you to a terrible fate," a third added.

Not wanting to invoke a curse, he picked himself up and retrieved the golden whisker. Then he went back to the statue of Entei to return it to where he had found it. His pursuers walked alongside him, still unseen, occasionally barking to each other. What were they plotting against him?

When he placed the whisker back on the statue's platform, something strange happened. The whisker began to float upwards. It twisted about, eventually finding the place it had broken off from. Once the solid gold statue was complete, it opened its eyes. Bright orange gemstones flickered like fire, then settled into a steady gaze over the grassy plains.

There was movement in the grass, and a black canine stepped into the statue's clearing. He was a little taller than Indy, but leaner and tougher looking. Bone like structures grew out of his shoulders, back, tail, and head, while slight curls of white smoke came from his nostrils. Within seconds, there were four other of these black Pokemon around Indy, Houndours if he remembered right.

And with them was one other Pokemon. She was a Vulpix like himself, with salmon red fur and soft brown eyes. She had six lovely tails, curled at the tips the same as his four. However, she wore a macabre collar made up of white bones and she had a patch of yellow fur in the shape of a five-pointed star, just like him.

"You," he said, astounded and excited all at once. "You're my missing twin sister! I've been looking for you."

"My brother?" she asked, in a voice that sounded much like Indy's mother. "But I am with my family, here. And you will be punished for taking a part of our holy statue."

"S-sorry! I didn't know that intelligent Pokemon lived here in Zestralia, so I thought it was just by itself..."

Then one of the Houndour spoke up. "That is not true. We live here. And while you should be punished, the statue repaired itself after you touched the broken whisker. It has been that way for many generations.'

Indiana twitched his ears up, looking puzzled at them. "So why didn't you fix it?"

"We were not the ones who made it."

Another Houndour explained, "There are two other statues like this one in this land. They say that at the point where the gazes of the three beasts meet, there is an ancient tower with a powerful treasure inside. While some of us have seen inside the tower, only the best of explorers can make it to the top."

"I could probably do it," Indiana boasted. "I'm Indiana the Vulpix, lone explorer and adventurer hero! I've gone into many dangerous places and come away clean."

"It is not wise to pursue such endeavors alone," his sister replied. "If one alone fails, all is lost. But within the pack, the many can take down foes that one alone could not manage."

"Then you should go with him," a Houndour said.

She lowered her ears sadly. "What, and leave the pack? Why?"

"He is your kin. But let's speak with the elder first. She'll be able to advise us on what exactly to do. Come, Indiana." He barked, and then the pack of Houndour and two Vulpix took off.

Indiana found himself at a bit of a loss while following the group. As he didn't understand their secret language of barks, he didn't know when they would all turn or when some obstacle like a hole would come up. Still, he tried to keep up with his sister. "What's your name?" he asked.

"Tatiana," she replied. "I don't understand why you think we are twins."

"We have the same yellow patch of fur on our foreheads."

"But I have six tails when you have four."

Inwardly, this worried him too. Could it mean that he wasn't good enough, like people back home had suggested? He told Tatiana, "Vulpix are born with one white tail, which splits up until he or she has six tails. Some people say it's how much a Vulpix is loved that causes the splitting while others say it depends on each individual."

"So you weren't loved?"

"I was loved, but I wasn't respected. My... our parents were former explorers, famous ones too, but they've grown cowardly. They couldn't even keep your egg from being taken from us, and it took me to come looking for you. But I'll prove myself to everyone, and then I'll have six tails like you."

"I think you're being rash, so I don't want to go with you," she replied. Before he could counter that, she went on. "The pack's home is just ahead. Please respect the elder; most people don't want to anger her and you've already tried to make off with a sacred treasure."

Is Indiana about to get captured for stealing the golden whisker? Or will he be able to get away and find this ancient tower and its powerful treasure? Has he really found his missing twin sister and will he be able to convince her to come back home with him? Tune in next week to find out!

...

Ruby entry: At the time of its birth, Vulpix has one white tail. The tail separates into six if this Pokemon receives plenty of love from its Trainer. The six tails become magnificently curled.

Emerald entry: Houndour communicate with each other using a variety of cries to corner their prey. This Pokemon's remarkable teamwork is simply unparalleled.

Written like an old-fashioned radio show. And Indiana Jones.