Here's the next chapter.
I'm sorry to say that I can no longer accept any more Pokemon recommendations as I'm starting to lose track of them all and it would be unfair for those who have submitted Pokemon if I start forgetting them.
Once the 'Potential Pokemon List' is shorter I will start accepting them again. Thanks you so much those who have submitted requests. You have been a great help in the development of this story. Thank you for understanding.
All of Charles', Flo's, and Alice's Pokemon and their names can be found on my profile.
danielsnow - Thanks so much. You'll get used to my sense of humour...hopefully. If Flo and Alice did do a cheerleader competition it would be because they were either tricked or forced into it. Either way they will not be happy. Perhaps I should do it for a laugh. Thanks again.
TurboDriver07 - Thank you for reading. Also thank you for the name suggestion, although I would have to go with Djinn's suggestion. Leslie came back for another chapter, but would like to make him more of a recurring character like Team Rocket. I, of course, will be adding more enemies in the future.
Djinn - Hello again, thanks for the name suggestion. Also thanks for reading, I hope to hear from you again.
SkullGreymonx - Thanks so much. I was trying to find a way for the team to catch more Pokemon and the exhibition was a good way of doing it. It was also fun to write. I can't wait for Johto for Charles to catch a Chikorita.
As for Leslie's Pokemon. Well I assumed that they were confiscated from the authorities before he was thrown in jail, so it's possible that they, as you said, went into rehabilitation or found other owners. Thanks again.
pokemonking0924 - I'm so glad you liked it. It was fun to write. Sorry for missing your birthday, but I hope this chapter makes up for it. Titania's siblings will be theme in the next few chapters, so more of her past would be revealed.
Sorry, I should have explained Flo and Psyduck a bit better. It's not like she obsessed with getting him, but Misty would offer him to her and she would excitedly accept. However, since Psyduck likes Misty he would always go back to her, making the two girls feel miserable. There would be other events where Flo would want try to catch a psyduck, but accidentally scare them away or they belong to another trainer. It would be like when Brock gets depressed when he gets rejected by a woman. Hope that explains it.
Thanks for reading.
Kiri TheFrenchReader - Thanks so much, I'm glad that you are enjoying the story and I hope you'll continue reading.
Guest - Yep, new Pokemon to join the team. They will be great members after a little training. Thanks for reading.
Kumoichi69 - Thank you so much. I think you're right in that Leaf would want to be a Grass Pokemon Master. It would be interesting to see her grow and develop as a trainer. Manitari and bellesprout would make great new companions after a lot of training. Thank you also for the name suggestions. Hope to hear from you again.
BigEater - He sure doesn't. I think I should make him a recurring character like with Team Rocket. I'm glad you liked the Lapras idea, but I haven't quite decided if it'll stay with Ash or not.
As for Ash's Butterfree and Primeape. I think he should release Butterfree, because it was a significant character development that would influence his relationship with his Pokemon. But Primeape I will let him keep, because (you're right) it was a waste of potential. Thanks for reviewing.
Guest (2) - I agree, I'll let Ash keep Primeape. Thank you for reminding me about Aerodactyl. I must have made a mistake when I published the chapter.
Firebrand18 - You are too kind, thank you so much. Yeah, coming up with original ideas is very ambitious and at first I thought I would run out of ideas by the end of the first season. Thankfully, I have a lot of wonderful supporters who are kind enough to help me along, so I am very grateful for that. And of course, I love every review that somebody gives (good or bad) and it really inspires me.
The harem is going to be a slow burn and when I mean 'slow burn' I mean 'slow burn'. It's more about adventure and lot of Pokemon than anything romantic.
I'm glad you understand why Charles talks to Pokemon. I feel like in a lot of fanfics (not all of them) they tend to drive away from Pokemon and focus on human interaction. Plus who wouldn't want to speak to Pokemon? There will be a whole chapter dedicated to a scientist trying to figure out Charles' ability that should settle some questions.
In regards to gym leaders, I think if any of them would join it would be in later seasons when Charles is older (see end of chapter 17 for time scale). As far as I can remember, the only female gym leader who is close to Charles' age (except for Misty) is Liza of the Psychic gym in Hoenn. So it's possible that I can age some down, but I think I'll establish what to do when the time comes. Thanks for your support.
Sonic07 - Titania sure does and it will be explained soon. And you're right, Damian was a terrible trainer and a horrible person. The only other trainer who can match his awfulness is the trainer who tied up Tepig in the Unova Region. Paul...he could do better I suppose. He wasn't the worst, but it was clear he didn't care a lot for his Pokemon. Anyway, I had originally planned for Charles to get all the eeveelutions but that can change in the future.
Guest (3) - I know what you mean about the guard. I could make him and the referee relatives, that would be funny.
DarthMonkey - Unfortunately I haven't , but I will look into it. The character you describes sounds interesting.
FartNinja - I suppose I can accept requests Pokemon for Leaf. Thank for they sound great, I like the exaggcute idea.
BeastMaster - Thank you so much, these names are great. I'll be sure to use some of them.
Thank you all for reviewing :)
Language key:
("Pokespeech")
Chapter 22: I feel Pretty, Oh So Pretty
Forest In Eastern Kanto
Charles and Boa were in the midst of a Pokemon battle against a trainer and her nidorino, the evolved form of nidoran (male). It was a purple quadruped with spikes along its back, long ears, and a poisonous horn on its head. Alice was refereeing the match while Flo and Benny sat on a log from the side with the bags and the Pokemon egg. Along with Flo and Benny was the bellesprout or Tyche as Charles named him. He brought him out of his pokeball to show him what a Pokemon battle looked like and the bellesprout was watched closely.
Charles could see that Boa had worn down her opponent, judging by the heavy breathing. It would only take one more strong attack for them to win.
The trainer mover her brown hair out of her eyes and wiped the sweat that had gathered on her brow. She thought that it would be an easy win, but now she was having doubts.
"Nidorino use Horn Attack," she demanded.
Her Pokemon grunted in understanding and charged at Boa horn first. However, Charles and Boa were prepared for an offensive attack.
"Boa use Haze," he calmly told her before Boa spewed an icy mist from her mouth.
The nidorino stopped as the mist surrounded him and he looked frantically around for his opponent. His trainer gasped in shock and gritted her teeth as she looked around for the ekans as well.
"Nidorino try and detect the ekans with your hearing," she ordered and her Pokemon did just that.
His ears wagged back and forth trying to find Boa, but he couldn't pinpoint her. Suddenly he heard a hissing sound from behind him and gulped when he realised that it was all over.
"Boa use Poison Sting."
As soon as Charles called out the order the nidorino yelped in pain as needles shot into his back. His skin may be tough like leather, but with a close and direct attack like that, there was no way he didn't take a lot of a damage. Once the attack was done, he staggered on his feet before falling to ground in defeat.
"No!" his trainer shouted as the Haze lifted, revealing her unconscious Pokemon.
Alice lifted her right arm towards Charles, "Nidorino has fainted. The winner is Boa and Charles," she proclaimed.
Boa hissed in joy, ("Naturally I would win,") she proudly said before she noticed Charles' scolding look, ("I-I mean...") she stammered turning to Nidorino who had just woken up, ("Well done for tying. You have been a worthy competitor even though I defeated you.")
Nidorino sighed, ("That still sounded boastful, but I'll take it.")
Flo went over to Nidorino and started healing him up while Benny climbed onto Charles' shoulder. Charles lifted his googles up and gave his opponent a sportsmanlike handshake.
"That was great, thanks for the battle," he kindly told her.
She sighed, but smiled good-naturedly, "Thanks, you were awesome too."
"His offensive attacks were good, but he needs better mobility otherwise other Pokemon would dodge them," Charles advised as Flo was done helping the injured nidoran, handing him back to his trainer.
"Thanks," she told Flo, "and will work on your mobility, won't we?" she questioned her Pokemon who nodded in reply.
("Amazing!") Tyche shouted in glee from the log, ("Do you think I can battle next-")
However as he jumped down form the log, he accidently hit the side of the incubator next to him, making it wobble and start to fall. Charles saw this and quickly rushed over to the incubator, but he knew he wouldn't make it in time.
Tyche, realising what he did, gasped and caught the incubator from under it. However it was too heavy for his leafed hands and he couldn't take the weight anymore and dropped in onto the ground. The glass of the incubator cracked and fell apart, making the egg roll out of it and onto the grass. Charles immediately picked it up and inspected the egg. Luckily, Tyche was able to break its fall slightly so the egg wasn't at all damage and Charles sighed in relief.
("Oh my goodness, I'm so sorry! Is it alright!? I can help!") Tyche cried in panic as he ran over to Charles.
Charles, giving the egg one more look, bent down to his level, "Tyche you have to be more careful. You could have seriously hurt the egg," he lightly scolded, making the Pokemon bow his head apologetically.
("I'm sorry,") he apologised.
Charles smiled warmly and rubbed his head comfortingly, "It's fine, just be more of your surroundings. Okay?"
("Okay,") Tyche eagerly agreed.
Benny looked down at the egg from his shoulder, ("We have to get another incubator now. Where do you think we can g-")
He stopped suddenly as the egg started to glow. It was only for a second, but everyone was shocked to see it happen.
"It glowed," Flo gasped, "Charles that means it's almost ready to hatch."
Charles eyes widened in shock before a wide smile spread across his face and tears fell from his eyes.
"My baby is coming!" he yelled, "MY BABY IS COMING!"
He continued to yell that phrase as the rest of his team looked on with sweatdrops. The trainer and her nidoran gave Flo and Alice odd looks, causing them to sheepishly chuckle in embarrassment.
"He gets it from his mother," Flo explained.
"That raises more questions than it answers," the trainer stated in a deadpanned tone.
"Wait!" Charles shouted stopping mid-celebration, "we need to make sure its alright when it hatches. Alice is there a Centre nearby?"
Alice brought out her map, looked over it before shaking her head, "The next one is few miles away," she told him.
"You can try the Pokemon nursery," the trainer told them, "they specialise in this sort of thing and it's not too far away," she said pointing in a random direction, "it's a big log cabin. You can't miss it."
"Thank you," Charles said, returning Tyche and Boa to their pokeballs, "let's go team."
Collecting their bags, they all sped off into the direction the trainer told them to go. The trainer and her nidorino watched them go with small smiles on their faces.
"I hope they get there in time," she said to her Pokemon in her arms.
("So do I.")
"I can't believe it!" they heard Charles shout from somewhere in the trees, "MY BABY IS COMING!"
"STOP SHOUTING THAT!" his friends chorused, causing the trainer and Nidorino to sweat drop.
("We really lost to them?") Nidorino muttered.
Pokemon Nursery
They eventually found the nursery that the trainer had told them about. The nursery was run by an middle aged couple called George and Caroline who had built it to take care of eggs and young Pokemon who had been found without parents.
The large log cabin was split into two sections: the living area for George and Caroline and the egg nursery. Behind the cabin was a large open space where the young Pokemon play and interact with each other.
George and Caroline were a loverly couple. George looked to be in his late forties with short blond hair, fair skin and kind blue eyes. While Caroline had long black hair, dark skin bright brown eyes. They both had matured features and wore comfortable clothing.
Right now George and Caroline was running tests on Charles' egg to see if everything was alright while the team waited patiently, but anxiously for the results in the living room.
Charles was pacing back and forth while Alice, Flo and Benny sat on the sofa. Alice stopped watching the fidgety Charles and turned to Flo.
"Have you ever seen an egg hatch? What should we expect?" she asked.
Flo hummed in thought, "I've seen a couple and Charles saw Benny hatch," she told her, "also they don't so much as hatch but the egg becomes the Pokemon."
"How do you mean?" Alice asked in confusion.
"You'll see later. It's kind of weird, but you get used to it. They don't need very much when they 'hatch' just keep them warm and give them something to eat."
"Alright, that seems fine," Alice said in relief, she had never seen a Pokemon egg hatch so she was very worried about what will happen.
"Oh I almost forgot," Flo exclaimed, "they first living creature they see gets imprinted on them."
"Imprinted?"
"It's a form of learning that young Pokemon go through," Flo explained, "the first living creature they see, which is usually their mother, get imprinted on their minds and they then associate them as they carer."
(A.N Unfortunately that's not really how that works, but you've come to read about Pokemon not for a zoology lesson.)
"I see," Alice murmured, "but what happens if the first living creature they see isn't their mother?"
Flo laughed, "Then they still get imprinted. My mum has told me stories of Pokemon hatching and the first thing they see are their trainers. They then think of them as their mother. It's so cute."
Alice giggled as well, "I see so we have to be careful otherwise our Pokemon egg will get imprinted on us."
"Yeah and then one of us becomes the mother," Flo joked, causing them both to laugh.
...
...
...
Alice and Flo stared competitively at each other, a dangerous aura surrounding them.
"So, one of us will be the mother, huh," Alice said in a challenging tone.
"Yeah and I guess the other one become the aunt," Flo replied in a similar tone.
Benny, who was sat between the two girls as they glared at each other, sighed, ("Here we go again,") he muttered.
They looked up when the door to the nursery opened and the middle aged couple stepped through with smiles on their faces.
"The egg is perfectly well," George told them, making them sigh in relief, "it's now in a new incubator."
"You needn't of worried. You have looked after the egg perfectly," Caroline added, "We predict that it will hatch anytime tomorrow, so you can stay here until then."
Alice smiled politely at the offer "Oh we don't want to be a burden. We can camp nearby."
"Nonsense," George said, "you not a burden. You can have our son Thomas' old room. He's away studying medicine at Caledon City at the moment."
The team shared a look before nodding in agreement, "Thank you, we'll take on that offer."
"Excellent," Caroline happily said, "Why don't we give you a tour of the nursery. I'm sure the young Pokemon would love to see visitors."
Any opportunity to see baby Pokemon is met with enthusiasm and the team eagerly took up their offer. Caroline led them outside where they were met by twenty young Pokemon like rattata, oddish, and even a pichu. They swarmed the team, wanting to meet the visitors.
"They're so cute," Flo cooed as she stroked a nidornio's (female) ears.
Alice spotted a Pokemon she has never seen before. It had a pink and cream body, golden hair, large pink lips, a round eyes.
"Hey Charles whose that Pokemon?" she asked curiously.
Charles looked over and smiled as he saw what she was pointing at, "It's a smoochum. You don't often seen them in Kanto, but they're the pre-evolved version of Jynx," he explained, taking out his pokedex and scanning the smoochum.
Smoochum: Its lips are the most sensitive parts on its body. It always uses its lips first to examine things.
("Hi,") the smoochum greeted happily, ("it's nice to meet you. Can I kiss your cheek?)
"Hello," Charles greeted back, "and of course you can," he told her as picked her up and raised her to his cheek.
This was a common way of greeting for smoochum, so he had no problem letting her. After kissing his cheek, she gasped when she realised that he understood her.
("You can speak to Pokemon,") she squeaked in joy, ("Can all humans do that?") she asked innocently.
"As far as I know it's just me. You don't mind, right?"
("No. That just makes you really cool!") she answered, her eyes sparkling in wonder.
The other Pokemon gathered around him, having heard what the smoochum said. They began to excitedly talk to Charles while he tried to calm them down. Benny shook his head as watched his brother get swarmed by Pokemon when he noticed the pichu standing next to him. He stared up at Benny with an innocent smile on his furry face that creeped Benny out slightly.
("Are you going to join the other kids?") he asked.
The pichu shook his head wordlessly.
Benny frowned, ("Alright,") he said beginning to walk away.
The pichu followed him.
He stopped.
The pichu stopped.
Benny started walking away again a little bit faster.
The pichu started following him again, trying to keep up with him.
Benny stopped.
The pichu stopped.
("Can I help you?") Benny asked, to which the pichu shook his head again.
('Kids...are weird,') Benny thought with a sweat drop.
From afar, a Pokemon watched the visitors from behind a tree. It had overhead smoochum earlier about how that male human can talk to Pokemon and its interest was peaked. It observed Charles before sighing.
("This may be my last chance. I need to pull out all the stops,") it told itself in determination before ducking behind the tree again.
Caroline, who had been waiting at the door, hummed as she scanned the area, "Strange. Where could she be?"
Flo overheard her and turned to Caroline curiously, "Who are you looking for?"
A cooing noise caught their attention and every spun around to see another Pokemon approaching them. This Pokemon was possible the cutest out of all of them. It looked like a small fox with soft red fur and white fur on its underbelly. It had nine fluffy tales that curled at the ends and curled fur on its vulpine head. Not only that, but its ears were pointed and its eyes were red and wide and looked innocently at the team.
As soon as Flo and Alice caught sight of the new Pokemon they both squealed in delight.
"A vulpix!" they chorused as they slowly approached the Pokemon, who seemed to have enjoyed the attention.
"Look at its fluffy tail!" Alice exclaimed.
"And its lovely eyes," Flo added, "Charles have you- and he's fainted," she sighed as she saw her friend having past out and surrounded by the other Pokemon from cuteness overload.
This was not the first time Flo has witnessed this.
The vulpix yipped, bounded over to Charles and climbed onto his chest. It tapped Charles' cheek a few times until he woke up. Charles slowly opened his eyes to see the vulpix staring down that him.
("Are you well, mister?") the vulpix asked as he sat up and rubbed the back of his head.
"Yeah, sorry about that. I wasn't prepared," he apologised sheepishly.
The vulpix giggled, ("Well, don't go fainting again. You won't be able to witness how pretty I am,") she proudly said, elegantly ruffling her tails.
Charles laughed slightly because she thought she was making a joke, but after seeing the other Pokemon rolling their eyes and sighing in irritation he could tell that she wasn't joking. He picked himself whilst still carrying the vulpix in his arms and began stroking her fur. The Pokemon cooed in delight as she wagged her tails again.
Charles took out his pokedex and scanned her.
Vulpix: At the time of birth, it has just one tail. The tail splits from its tip as it grows older.
"Would you like to see the egg nursery next," Caroline offered as the young Pokemon began to go back to playing with each other.
"We would love to," Flo said as Benny jumped onto her shoulder to escape from the pichu who was still following him.
The other two eagerly agreed, but as soon as Charles tried to put the vulpix down on the ground, the Pokemon began to whine.
("Why are you putting me down?") she hastily asked.
Charles blinked in surprise, "I thought you would like to play with the other Pokemon."
("What? Play in the mud?") the vulpix gasped as she pulled a disgusted face, ("It has taken me hours to make my coat as presentable as possible and I am not going to ruin now.")
Charles looked over at where the Pokemon were playing with a keen eye, "It doesn't look that muddy and it hasn't rained in a while. So I think you'll be fine," he told her, "the worst it can do to your fur is get it dusty."
("That's worst then getting it muddy,") she haughtily said before she gave Charles a cute look, ("Besides how would you be able to admire how pretty I am if I'm not with you? Would you like to stoke my tails or feel how soft my ears are?")
Charles though he could survive without not being able to 'admire how pretty' she was, but the tail stroking was tempting. They looked so soft.
So, Charles carried her to the egg nursery...and for the rest of the tour...and through dinner. In fact, she didn't leave him for the entire day and always badgered him for compliments or insisting to pet her. When Charles tried to persuade her to join the other Pokemon she would give him an excuse like her paws were tired or she was feeling dizzy or she was afraid of dust getting on her fur.
It was after dinner and coming towards the young Pokemon's bedtime and Vulpix was still comfortably in Charles's arms while they all sat in the living room sofa. Caroline and George shared a concerned look before George decided to approach Vulpix.
"Vulpix, it's almost time for you go to bed," he gently reminded, making the Pokemon whine in defiance.
("But I want to stay here,") she complained before looking up at Charles with her big red eyes, ("Charles please don't let them take me. You need to keep telling me how pretty I am")
Charles hummed in concern, "I think you should go. We all need to get some sleep for tomorrow," he told her, causing her to whine again.
"Charles is right," Flo agreed, "we have to be there when the egg hatches."
"Yeah, then we can finally agree who will be the mother and who would be the aunt," Alice challengingly whispered, earning a glare back from Flo.
("But I don't want to,") Vulpix moaned, shaking her head violently, ("I'm not tired. You can't make me go. I don't want! I don't want to! I don't want to!")
Benny, who climbed onto Charles' shoulder, looked down at her in worry, ("Why are you being such a brat? Just go to bed.")
That was the wrong thing to say.
Vulpix snarled and growled aggressively up at him, ("I wasn't talking to you rodent. And who gave you permission to climb on his shoulder?")
Benny responded with a snarl of his own, his cheeks beginning to spark threateningly, ("I don't need to, he's my brother. Also, don't use that tone with me.")
"Enough!" Charles shouted, surprising the two Pokemon and turning to meet his cold glare.
He took a deep breath and calmed himself down before looking down at Vulpix with a gentle look.
"Vulpix go to bed and I promise I will carry you around again tomorrow, alright?"
The Fire Pokemon stared up at him and looked like she wanted complain. Reluctantly she gave up with a furious sigh.
("Fine,") she muttered as Charles gave her to George so she can go to her room.
Everyone watched the two leave through the door. Charles was the most worried out of all of them.
He needed to know what's wrong with her.
It was now the evening at the Pokemon nursery and the team were planning on going to bed. However, Charles had decided to investigate vulpix's behaviour and asked George and Caroline about it.
"Oh the vulpix," George said as he, Caroline and Charles sat in the living room, "yeah she has always been kind of a princess."
"Every time a new trainer comes along, she would get attached to them and would never leave them alone," Caroline continued.
"Do you know why?" Charles inquired.
They both shook their heads.
"She has always been like that. A few months ago, a trainer brought her in when she was very young and told us that they couldn't take care of her anymore and left without saying goodbye. It's quite possible that they just didn't want her anymore, because she was too young to fight in battles," Caroline sadly explained, "when she first arrived, she had always been...distant with the other Pokemon. She would never eat with them, play with them or do anything despite our encouragements."
"Poor thing was so young when she came here, I don't think she got over her shock," George added.
"I see," Charles mumbled thoughtfully, 'I can understand her being clingy, because of her abandonment, but does she want to be constantly told that she was pretty?' he thought in confusion.
After thanking and saying good night to the couple, he too got ready for bed. Thomas' room was spacious and they were able to roll out their sleeping bags on the floor since they didn't feel comfortable getting into somebody else's bed. Charles walked into the room to see Flo and Alice already asleep in their sleeping bags, but Benny, who was waiting for Charles by his bag, looked skittishly around.
Charles frowned in concern, "What's wrong?" Charles whispered, causing Benny to jump.
("N-nothing,") Benny stammered as he composed himself, ("I thought that pichu would...it doesn't matter.")
Charles gave his brother an odd look before getting into his own sleeping bag. Benny saw the distraught look on Charles face.
("What about you? Everything alright?") Benny asked in worry.
Charles sighed, "It's Vulpix" he answered.
("Oh I know. She's so vain she could give Boa a run for her money,") he joked.
Charles gave him a scolding look before sighing again, "I know she's hiding something, but I don't know what. She's had a rough past so I don't want to demand that she tells me what's wrong, but she's not the type of Pokemon to willingly tell me. What do you think I should do?"
Benny hummed in thought, ("I think you should be direct with her. Take her away from the others and have a chat with her. Hopefully she would open up.")
"You think so?"
("It's worth a tr- did you see that!") Benny suddenly yelped as he pointed to the window.
Charles looked and only saw darkness outside the window, "See what?"
("I-I thought I saw the pichu. The one that won't leave me alone,") Benny whispered, shivering in fear.
Charles rolled his eyes, "Benny, please tell me you're not scared of a pichu. Your three times the size of him."
Benny shivered again and leaped into Charles' sleeping bag for safety, ("There's something wrong with him. He just keeps smiling and following me. He creeps me out,") he insisted from within the sleeping bag, ("Can we please leave tomorrow. I don't want to spend another day being...watched by him.")
Charles chuckled in amusement before turning off the room lights. As he slid further into his sleeping bag, he thought back on vulpix and the trouble he's having with her. He hummed sadly and decided that he would deal with it in the morning.
As he was about to close his eyes he thought he saw a silhouette at the window. He looked again, but it was gone. What was strange about the silhouette was that it looked kind of like a pichu, but it couldn't be...could it?
Charles suddenly heard a ghostly giggle coming from outside the window, making him shiver in fear. He zipped the sleeping bag as far as it could go, closed his eyes, and tried not to think about the creepy pichu as he slept.
Outside the Lodge
The Next Morning
Vulpix hummed to herself as she finished had her early morning bath in the nearby stream. Despite George and Caroline giving them regular baths, she liked to get up early every morning before every other Pokemon to make her self look beautiful. The routine she had set for herself was both tedious and long, but she believed that it was essential to keep up her appearance.
She was making her way back to the lodge where the Pokemon slept when she saw Smoochum and Rattata leave. Not wanting to be caught, Vulpix jumped behind a tree and waited for them to past.
("Ugh, did you see Vulpix yesterday?") Rattata asked Smoochum.
Smoochum shook her head, ("She's so needy. Does she really think she could play the same trick all the time. No wonder her previous trainer left her,") she muttered meanly.
("Left her?") Rattata questioned, ("I thought they couldn't take care of her.")
("Of course they left her. She can't battle, she's useless at everything else. The only thing she's got is how cute she is and that gets old pretty fast,") Smoochum said, making Rattata cringe slightly as they past the tree that Vulpix was hiding behind.
("Aren't you being a bit mean to her?")
Smoochum rolled her eyes, ("Please as if she would understand. She's too busy making herself look pretty.")
They continued their conversation until they were out of sight. Vulpix, having heard everything that they said, whimpered sadly as a tear roll down her cheek.
("I understand,") she mumbled to herself, ("I understand perfectly. I may be useless, but I can feel it. He's different. He can talk to Pokemon. I can convince him,") she encouraged herself as she wiped the tear away with her paw, ("I just need to try harder. He will accept me.")
She looked down at herself and hummed in irritation when she saw her fur looked horrible. If anyone else saw her, they would say that she was alright the way she is, but she didn't see it. She saw how ugly she was, how dirty her tail was, how she looked like horrible.
She took off to the stream. She needed to bath again.
Charles looked around the outside play area for Vulpix. George has just served the Pokemon their breakfast, but she didn't turn up for it. He then remembered Caroline telling him that she usually eats alone and went out to find her alone. They also said that the Pokemon egg was going to hatch anytime soon, so he had to hurry and find her.
He searched the large area and the forest, but couldn't find her at all. He was about to call out to her when he heard somebody calling out to him.
("Oh Charles!")
Charles turned around and sighed in relief when he saw Vulpix making his way to him, her tails somehow looking extra fluffy today,
"Vulpix where have you been?" Charles questioned as he knelt down to her height, "all of us are worri-"
("Do I look pretty?") she instantly interrupted, seemingly not caring about what he said.
"Right...Vulpix this is what I want to talk to you about," Charles told her as he sat down on a tree stump nearby.
Vulpix smiled wavered slightly, ("If it's not about how pretty I look, then I don't care,") she lightly said, making it sound like a joke.
"Vulpix is there-"
("W-would you like to stroke my tail?") she offered desperately, ("I washed them twice today.")
"Vulpix-"
("Or would you cuddle me.? I-I don't mind-")
"Vulpix," Charles stopped her, using his stern voice, "I don't want to do any of that right now. I just want to talk to you."
Vulpix stared up at him in fear at Charles' stony face and her tail lowered to the ground. She bowed her head, not wanting to meet his gaze. Charles was about to speak when he heard gentle sobs from the Pokemon. His face fell into concern as he saw tears drop onto the grass underneath.
("It's happening again,") Vulpix wept, ("everyone leaves me. What's wrong with me?") she asked herself as she layer on the ground, placed her face into her arms and covered her whole body with her tail.
Charles stood up and sat on the ground beside her, "Hey what's wrong?" he calmly asked.
("You're going to leave me,") she sobbed, her voice slight muffled by her tail, ("you've lost interest in me and you're going to leave me like everyone else.")
"Why would I leave you?"
("I'm useless,") she sniffed, ("I don't battle and I don't even know a single lousy move. My appearance is the only thing I have and even then trainers lose interest in me. Either that of they realise how worthless I am.)
Charles hummed, "I see. So you were making sure I stay interested in you by being clingy and making sure I get you're undivided attention. Is that why you snapped at Benny?"
Vulpix hummed in confirmation, ("I'm sorry, I didn't mean to be mean to him. I just angry,") she apologised.
"It's alright, Benny's tough," he told her, "so you have been obsessing over your looks all this time so you can impress trainers."
("Yeah. Every trainer who comes along tells me I'm cute, adorable or pretty and I thought that's what they wanted in a Pokemon. But no matter what I did they never want to stay with me,") she sobbed, ("I thought you would be different. You can talk to Pokemon...I thought you would understand.")
Charles sighed and gently stroked her tails, causing her to flinch slightly, "Vulpix if you wanted to join us, all you had to do was ask. We would have loved to have you on our team."
She lifted up her tail and shot him a teary glare, ("Stop lying to me. Nobody wants me. Not even my first trainer wanted me,") she crossly said.
"I'm not lying to you," Charles insisted, "you don't have to be a strong battler or anything to be part of our family. You can learn that later with the others. What's important is that you're happy," he told her, picking her up and setting her in his lap, "I'm sorry about your past, Vulpix. But with us you can finally belong somewhere. You will never be alone. So would you like to join us?"
Vulpix looked up at him in disbelief. For the first time in her life, she was wanted by somebody, by a family. She doesn't have to alone ever again.
Tears flowed from her eyes once again, but not out of sadness but out of joy. She pressed her face into chest and he wrapped her harms around him.
("Thank you,") she whimpered.
"You're welcome," he said warmly back, "now please don't cry."
Vulpix sniffed and rubbed her eyes. She looked up at him and smiled briefly before frowning in depression.
("But I'm still useless. How would you teach me?")
Charles hummed and set her back on the ground, "Vulpix, can you try and do an Ember on that tree stump," he said, pointing to said stump, "just so I can see what's the problem."
Vulpix hummed, ("Alright, I doubt it work though,") she muttered as she got into a stance.
She opened her mouth, aimed at the stump, and breathed out as hard as she can. A flicker of flames emerged from her mouth, but that was it. She tried again, but with little success. Vulpix groaned in disappointment.
("You see,") she mumbled bitterly.
"Vulpix how are you doing it?" Charles asked curiously.
Vulpix shrugged, ("You just breath out of your mouth, right.")
"No not really," Charles told her, recalling all his knowledge of how fire types shoot out fire, "you need to feel a heat in your stomach, then you push up your throat, and out of your mouth. It's like vomiting, but with fire."
("I really didn't need that visual.")
"Sorry. But just try it," he encouraged.
Vulpix groaned and got into a stance again. She closed her eyes and tried to feel the heat that he was describing, but was having trouble finding it. That's when she felt it. Something hot just above her stomach seemed to ignite. She focused on it for a few seconds until she pushed up her throat and into her mouth. She opened her eyes and released the heat that she was saving up.
Charles had to jump back as roar of fire spewed out of Vulpix's throat. It was so large that it didn't hit the tree stump, it submerged it in flames. Charles gasped as the flames continued to shoot out for a few more seconds before Vulpix shut her mouth.
Both Pokemon and human stared at the thing that had previously been a tree stump. Now it was nothing more that a lump of chard wood that was still on fire.
Vulpix looked up at Charles questioningly, ("Was that Ember?")
"...no. That was Flamethrower. A very powerful Flamethrower," Charles eventually answered.
("Oh...") Vulpix uttered, ("Is that bad?")
"Well...it means that you had completely surpassed basic fire moves...so no, it is really good."
Vulpix gasped, ("Does that mean...")
"Yep," he said looking down at the Pomemon with a proud smile, "you're not useless at all. You're natural."
("Actually, I was going to say if that meant my first trainer was an idiot?") she proudly questioned.
"Yes...yes he was," Charles answered, making the Vulpix wag her tails happily.
"Charles!" someone yelled from afar.
Flo ran into sight, her face filled with excitement and panic.
"Charles! It's the egg! It's hatching!" she shouted, waving him back to the lodge.
"The egg," Charles gasped, "my baby is coming!" he cried.
("...your what?") Vulpix asked in confusion.
She suddenly yelped as Charles suddenly picked her up and began running back to the lodge, "No time to explain!"
Vulpix looked up at him in bewilderment before shrugging and settling into his arms.
She had a family now. She had to get used to their madness
Egg Nursery
The Pokemon egg was flashing like crazy by the time Charles, Flo and Vulpix arrived. Alice, Benny, George and Caroline were already gathered around the table where the egg was laying in a nest of blankets. Charles placed Vulpix down on the table next to Benny and smiled eagerly as he watched the egg.
Vulpix glanced at Benny to her right and cleared her throat to get his attention.
("I'm sorry for shouting at you yesterday,") she apologised to him, ("I just-")
("You don't have to explain,") Benny told her, ("It's fine. Welcome to the family,") he said before looking back at the egg.
Vulpix blinked in surprise before she looked back at the egg as well. She smiled gratefully as she finally was accepted.
Flo and Alice stood next to each as the egg flashed faster.
"Hey Alice," Flo said, making her friend glance at her, "I just want to tell you that if the Pokemon imprints on you, you'll make a great mother," she told her kindly.
Alice blinked in surprise before smiling as well, "Thanks and it's the same for you," she said.
They both nodded in agreement before turning back to the front.
The egg stopped flashing and began to brightly glow, making everyone shield their eyes slightly. The glowing egg started to morph into a long, serpentine body before it suddenly stopped glowing. The Pokemon had a pink body with a white underbelly. It had white, three-pronged fins on the sides of its head and a white bump on its forehead. Above its round, white snout are a pair of oval eyes which opened slowly. The Pokemon looked up at the first living creature it saw. which happened to be Charles, and inspected its features for a moment. It then closed its eyes and happily squeaked.
("Mama!") the Pokemon cried cheerily as it made its way towards Charles.
Charles gasped in surprise and picked up the Pokemon and cradled it in his arms, "It's a dratini," he uttered in shock as the Pokemon cooed in delight.
"A dratini?" Flo questioned as she took out her Pokemon guide book and found the right entry, "Dratini: Long considered a mythical Pokemon until recently when a small colony was found living underwater," she read out loud.
"But I thought they usually live in freshwater," Alice said, "we found the egg in a sea inlet."
("Also why is it a different colour?") Vulpix asked as she studied the newly hatched and Flo's guide book.
Caroline hummed in thought, "The poor thing must have been swept out to sea from a nearby river and then taken away by the tide," she guessed.
("And as for why it's a different colour,") Benny told Vulpix, ("some Pokemon are born with mutations to their DNA making them a different colour to the rest of their kind. They are known as shiny. Take me for example. I'm supposed to be yellow, but my fur is golden/bronze,") he said, earning an interested look from Vulpix.
Charles smiled cheerfully as he held the young Pokemon in his arms, the dratini wrapping its tail around his waist and rubbing its head under his chin.
"I finally get to meet you," he whispered proudly as dratini pulled away and looked up at him.
("Mama!") she cried again.
Charles laughed, "No, it's papa," he corrected.
("Mama,") it repeated.
"Papa," he tried again.
("Mama.")
"Papa."
("Mama.")
"Papa."
("Mama.")
"Papa."
("Mama.")
...
...
...
Charles sighed, "Alright I'm your mama," he gave up.
("Mama! Mama!") it merrily chirped as rubbed its head against Charles' cheek.
Benny and Vulpix chuckled at them before noticing a depressed aura behind them. They looked around and saw Flo and Alice with their heads bowed and distraught expression on both their faces.
"Charles is the mother," Alice miserably mutered.
"We completely forgot about him," Flo added just as upset.
Vulpix frowned in concern, ("What's wrong with them?"
Benny laughed, ("They just realised that both of them are the aunts,") he explained, earning a confused look from Vulpix.
Outside the Nursery
The team was getting ready to leave. They thanked George and Caroline for their hospitality and were not gathered outside.
Earlier, Charles, Flo and Alice had released the rest of his team so they could meet the dratini or Marina as Charles named her. Pyro, Hurricane, Echo, Tyche, Manitari and Alette greeted Marina kindly and thought she was adorable. Ruby was shy at meeting the cheerful Pokemon, but soon eventually warmed up to her. Apollo and Boa hanged back so they can maintain their serious and royal visages among the others. However, Charles could tell that they secretly wanted to meet the baby as much as the others.
Titania, on the other hand, took one look at Marina and rolled her eyes, much to the dratini's sadness.
("Don't waste my time,") Titania told Charles as she returned herself to her pokeball.
The other Pokemon were angered by her reaction and how she upset Marina, but Charles stopped them saying that he deal with her later. He noted how she seemed more agitated than usual. Besides, it didn't take long for Marina to bounce back to her happy self.
A problem arose about how to travel with Marina. Since Charles has a full team, as soon as he put the dratini in her pokeball she would automatically be sent back to Oak's lab and Charles didn't want to leave her so soon after being hatched. George and Caroline didn't have a machine that can transport pokeballs so he could rearrange his team until they get to the nearest Pokemon Centre. He burrowed their phone, called Professor Oak and told him of the situation and he promised to take good care of her until the next centre. Cleo also volunteered to take good care of the Marina while the Oak was busy, something that Charles really appreciated.
After all that mess, there was one more thing to do: introduce Vulpix to the rest of the team.
Vulpix stood nervously at Charles' feet, looking over at the rest of the Pokemon. Charles leaned down and lighted petted her fur.
"It'll be alright. They're all really friendly...well I mean some of them are a bit eccentric, but the rest are friendly."
Vulpix nervously pawed the ground, ("I-I don't know. I don't really know how to interact with other Pokemon,") she admitted.
Charles hummed But he thought of an idea, "If I gave you a name would you feel braver?"
("A name?") she questioned looking up at him in confusion.
"Yeah, everyone is given a name once they join a team and you're no exception. So would like to come up with you own or would you like me to think of one?"
("Err...I don't really know what to call myself,") Vulpix told him.
"Okay, then what about Miko?" Charles suggested.
The vulpix ears pricked up at the name as she heard the suggestion, ("Miko?")
Charles nodded, "Yes. A pretty name for a pretty vulpix."
The Pokemon thought over the name and decided that she liked it, ("Thank you,") she shyly said, wagging her tails in delight.
"You're welcome. Now go an introduce yourself to the others," he encouraged.
The now named Miko was hesitant at first, but she then she slowly walked her way to the group. When she was close, she stopped at the edge and looked for a way to interrupt them, but was finding it difficult to do so. Benny saw her and decided to help.
("Hey everyone,") he called out, stopping their conversations and pointing to the vulpix, ("we have a new addition to the team, so make her feel welcome.")
All the Pokemon turned to face Miko making her jump slightly. She saw Benny nod at her in encouragement and she cleared her throat.
("Hello, my name is Miko. Thank you for letting me join,") she said nervously.
("Hello dear,") the soft voice of Manitari greeted, ("Your are ver-")
("Hey, my name is Hurricane,") the butterfree excitedly said, as he flew in too close to Miko, making her back up a bit, ("You're pretty. What's your favourite colour? Why are you favourite food? Why do you have so many tails?") he asked rapidly as he fluttered around her.
("Hurricane you interrupted Manitari,") Alette lightly scolded.
The butterfree realised his mistake and turned to the paras, ("Whoops, sorry Mani. Thought you were done.")
("It's quite alright, dear,") she warmly replied.
Boa sniffed irritably at Hurricane previous statement, ("She may be cute, but she won't be as beautiful as I am,") she proudly said.
("Why don't we say you're both cute, okay,") Echo anxiously said, trying to keep the peace as usual.
Boa glared at him, ("What's the use in a compliment from a Pokemon with no eyes.")
("Fair enough,") Echo said with a nervous chuckle.
("Boa,") barked Apollo, ("Do not say insulting comments to your teammates,") he scolded, making the ekans roll her eyes.
("T-Thank you Apol-") Echo began before the growlithe turned to him.
(And you Echo, stand up for yourself man. Grow a backbone,") he barked, causing Echo to sigh.
Tyche look down at himself, ("I wonder if I have a backbone,") he pondered.
("Wrong type of backbone, Tyche,") Pyro told him.
Benny sighed and rolled his eyes at his teammates antics before turning back to Miko, ("Welcome to the family. It's absolute chaos.")
Miko giggled, ("I think it's lovely.")
Benny nodded in agreement before yelping in fright as he spotted the pichu from the nursery standing next to him. He didn't even see him come up to him.
("What's this pichu's problem!?") Benny cried as he backed away, the pichu following him closely.
("I think he likes you,") Miko said in amusement as Benny began to run away from the Pokemon.
("Well, I don't like him!") Benny shouted, ("Charles help me!") he cried as he ran to his brother, leaving a laughing Miko behind.
("I think I'm going to like my new family,") she told herself.
So first of all, I would like to wish Pokemonking0924 a belated happy birthday. Hope you had a wonderful day.
Secondly, a new Pokemon has joined the team. I wanted to touch on pressures Pokemon may face to appeal to trainers and the possible psychological effects. Luckily, Charles accepted her for who she was. Also the egg hatched to reveal a dratini. I think somebody told me that they prefer fresh water after the chapter in which the team found the egg, so I tried to resolve it by saying that the egg drifted off to sea. Hopefully that explains it.
Lastly, George, Caroline, and Thomas were named after historical figures. George II and Queen Caroline of England ratified the building of an orphanage in the 18th century. The person who requested it was Thomas Coram and Coram fields can be still found in London and is home to the Foundling Museum.
Thanks and I'll see you next time :)
Potential Pokemon List:
Charles:
Abra
Nidoran (Female)
Gastley
Ponyta
Drowzee
Goldeen
Tauros
Hitmonlee/Hitmonchan
Aerodactyl
Flo:
Chansey
Psyduck
Nidoran (Male)
Kangaskhan
Cubone
Diglett
Alice:
Venonat
Farfetch'd
Machop
Rattata
Poliwag
Tangela