Chapter 4 – Foxy friends
Me and Phoebe made our way towards the eastern slope of the summit since it was still early in the morning the sun rising would be in clear view after we got away from this nebulous mist. As we were walking, I had her clear up some misunderstandings I had about ghost types.
“What so you are saying drifloon don’t kidnap children?”
“Well… they do but only those who are abused by their caretakers. The accumulated negative energy is very nutritious for younger ghost types. Those children don’t get eaten or anything, what usually happens is that eventually a ranger finds them, and the abused child gets reassigned to foster care.”
“Usually huh…”
“Don’t think I can’t tell what you are thinking! Would you get angry at an ekans for eating rattata?”
“So, ghost types need negative energy or whatever you call it?”
“For sure! That’s why ghosts prank people all the time it keeps them from having to take more drastic measures to satiate their appetite.”
“And do they still need to eat berries and stuff?”
"Of course, they also need the lifeforce that’s inherent to all living things to not slip back into the spirit world. Some wild ghost types who are anchored to old ruins or abandoned mansions can be dangerous to both humans and Pokémon since they never get a chance to eat. To them living beings that enter their domain are a walking buffet of life force and negative energy. It’s part of the job for seasoned channelers to exorcize such spirits before they can do any major harm."
“Okay so don’t enter dilapidated buildings or ruins and you’re safe?”
“Generally, but some of the more seasoned ghosts have invented creative uses for the move hypnosis to trick travelers into thinking the buildings are well maintained.”
Having her explain ghost types to me cleared up a lot of my misunderstandings. They still give me the creeps but understanding lessened my innate fear of them significantly.
“You must have already caught lots of ghost types being so knowledgeable.”
“You’d think so but so far, I’ve only caught two my Shuppet and Duskull and I am really wanting to catch a Sableye in granite cave. Too bad there aren’t a lot of ghost types in the Hoenn region.”
“What about Shedinja and Froslass?”
“I am not training up a Nincada just to have it evolve and catch its shell to use on my team. All Pokémon deserve to be caught by someone who believes in their potential. And as for Froslass so far, the only trainer known to have one in Hoenn is Glacia of the elite four and she is not sharing her secrets. ”
“That’s easy just catch a female snorunt and have it evolve with a Dawn Stone.”
“Are you serious!? For it to be a stone evolution. I haven’t heard of this so-called Dawn Stone, and it must be female you say?”
“Well yeah? There are a handful of Pokémon that have evolved forms based on gender.”
“Wait is it normal for trainers to keep information like this hidden?”
“Usually yes when a trainer discovers something that is not known they keep it a secret to give themselves a competitive edge. Most sponsorship clauses stipulate that the trainer signing it shares any relevant discoveries with their sponsor but, independent trainers are not required to divulge sensitive information like that.”
Damn! Again, living in a hick town has screwed me over. The only places that keep computers with pokénet access in Lavaridge are the Pokémon center and the Gym but, those were reserved for licensed trainers only.
“Uhm can you not tell people that you got that information from me? I don’t want to get hassled by an angry Elite Four.”
“Sure, whatever Egon. I don’t think Glacia is going to bother an eight-year-old like you for spilling the beans on a secret she wouldn’t be able to keep for long anyway.”
We finally exited the blinding fog and basked in the sunlight warming up our bodies. Numsy jumped out of my embrace and started walking on his own hooves. He’d been too stubborn to get back into his ball and demanded to be out with me. Numel generally get lethargic when the surrounding temperature is too cold. Carrying Numsy had been a workout especially for my prepubescent body. Numsy’s weight averages out at around 50 lbs.(23kg) that would’ve been impossible for any regular eight-year-old to carry in my old world. Maybe it was something in the food, but humans over here are generally hardier and live a bit longer too. Still, it had been an odorous task carrying him all the way out here.
“Oof! Just make sure not to get any bigger or, I won’t be able to carry you around anymore Numsy.”
“Num Num!”
“This is why ghost types are superior! No need to carry them around when outside their balls they can just hitch a ride in your shadow.”
“Sure sure. Do you have any idea where we should begin searching?”
“Well, I don’t but Duskull lived on this mountain before I caught him. Dusky can you show us the way?”
“Dusk dusk”
We followed the floating Pokémon further into the approaching canopy of tall grass.
The games didn’t get it wrong wild Pokémon will seek to challenge trainers passing by their territories. Unlike Pokémon trained by humans wild Pokémon had to spent most of their time foraging for food, maintaining their shelters, and tending to their young. They didn’t have the advantages of specialized training and carefully maintained diets so on average they were weaker than trainer owned ones. Acknowledging this they will seek to hone themselves against trainers given the opportunity or search for a skilled trainer to catch them after testing them in battle.
Duskull led us to a small clearing within which was a tree stump with a blurry figure outlined atop of the trunk.
Phoebe quickly pulled out a device that looked like a futuristic version of an old Gameboy advanced handheld device.
Medicham the Meditate Pokémon. Medicham is able to harness psychic powers through yoga. Being at one with nature, it can make itself vanish completely. Through a combination of food deprivation and meditation, Medicham gains the ability to see its opponent's aura.
“Wait you already received your Pokédex!”
“I am eleven years old dummy I got mine last year.”
“Unfair I want one too! Hey scan my Numsy next!”
“You do realise that I am not a sponsored trainer, right? We don’t have to collect data for some bozo in a lab.”
“This is a man’s romance!”
“Ugh… fine weirdo.”
Numel, the Numb Pokémon. Numel is so complacent that it does not even notice when it is stuck. This Pokémon's body is filled with hot magma, which, when cooled in water, further slows its movement. Numel is also unable to bear hunger.
“That sound about right to you Numsy?”
“Num num!”
“Oh yeah… that time Keegan forgot to stock up on the Gym’s supply of Chesto berries. The perfect match for a sleepy head like you.”
“Num!”
“Can we focus on the situation at hand! This Medicham is clearly in an intense training session and probably would like for us to be as quiet as possible.”
“Dusk duskull”
“Cham Medi”
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Duskull and the Medicham starting animatedly communicating with each other.
“It sounds to me like these two know each other already.”
“It’s plausible. Duskull used to be a wild Pokémon that lived on this mountain.”
The Medicham in question turned its head towards us while his/her eyes glowed blue.
“Young one if determined you are to make one of those foxes your partner seek audience with her ladyship. She rests in the alcove overlooking the abandoned gravesite.”
Darn another serious type? Hopefully this is not a trend with all psychic type Pokémon. Higher intelligence than other types doesn’t mean they’d have to be a stick in the mud.
“You heard that Phoebe?”
“Yes, me and Duskull know where it’s located. This ladyship must be the Ninetales that lives on this mountain.”
Before we leave, I decided to fish out another lava cookie from my satchel and place it in front of the Medicham.
“Here when you are done with your fasting try this. They’re delicious and help Pokémon recover from negative ailments.”
Me and Phoebe left for the alcove and there were no more surprises along the way.
“Where did you get your Pokédex from anyway? Since you apparently didn’t get it from Professor Birch.”
“You can just order a Pokédex on the pokénet everything is pretty simple when your family is made out of money.”
“Really? I didn’t know gravekeeping was such a lucrative industry.”
“Generally, it’s not. Gravesites like these that are safe for the public to visit are pretty rare. But my family have always been experts when it comes to dealing with ghost types. People are free to visit the graves without disturbance during the day, my family’s Pokémon make sure the newly formed ghosts know the rules.”
“Heh, that’s pretty impressive.”
“Now hush I can see the alcove.”
The alcove was positioned in such a way that it caught the natural light of the sun for as long as possible standing near I could feel the waves of heat emanating from the cave system.
“Hello is anyone home? We got told that I had to ask for permission first before trying to capture a vulpix.”
“Idiot! Don’t be crass.”
”What? I think it would be more respectful to be as direct and truthful as possible.”
A quadrupedal canine Pokémon appeared covered in golden-white fur and nine long tails with pale orange tips darting out from its backside. Trailing behind the Ninetales are two of her kits one who by the look of it was recently born and sporting white fur similar to their mother with a distinct lack of extra tails, the other and presumably the older one was sporting a crimson coat and adorned with a vulpix’s signature number of tails.
“Nine”
“Duskull dusk”
Duskull floated over to Numsy and prodded him forward. My best guess was Numsy had somehow become the de facto ambassador for my future company of ragamuffin Pokémon. He always seemed a bit hesitant to involve himself with more experienced and powerful Pokémon such as this Ninetales. Eli explained during one of our training sessions that Pokémon instinctively knew when another of their kind is more powerful than them. In the wilds this was a necessary defense mechanism.
“It’s okay Numsy she is just going to ask you some questions. Just be honest and you’ll do fine.”
Numsy having made up his mind gave me a determined nod and walked up to the older Pokémon.
“Num num!”
“Nine nine”
They went back and forward like that for a while until Ninetales looked up at me and gave me a curt nod. She bit the older Vulpix by the scruff and placed the kit in front of us.
“Egon, I think you have her permission to try and catch that Vulpix.”
The vulpix in question looked at its mother with a betrayed expression and made some yipping noises.
“Vul vulpix”
“Nine!”
Defeated she turned around and faced me and Numsy after giving us a long drawn out stare she finally gave us an affirming nod.
“Vul!”
“Okay Numsy! This will be our first battle so let’s show this Vulpix what were made of!”
“Num Num!”
Ninetales and its other kit made way for us and took a seated position on a slab of rock. While Phoebe and Duskull also made some space for us.
Start with growl shake up her resolve!
Numsy commences to produce an ear piercing sound. Vulpix started to noticeably stagger being disoriented by the screeching sound. At least until her eyes started glowing blue and for a seemingly inexplicable reason Numsy stopped growling and gave me this confused look as if he’s forgotten how to make a sound.
"Vulpix used her disable attack Numsy! you have temporarily forgotten how to use that attack. We’ll go on the offensive use tackle!"
“Num!”
Numsy charged forward to deliver the blow and Vulpix being as agile as she is managed to dodge it with a well-timed quick attack to the side.
“This isn’t going to work Numsy use Mud-Slap!”
Mud is hurled in our foe's face Vulpix unsuspecting of this type of attack got hit with perfect accuracy. And started rubbing its face with her front paws in order to get the mud out of its eyes.
“Great! Now go for the finisher mud bomb! ”
Unlike mud-slap mud bomb was a more hard-packed glob of mud and it did actually hurt getting hit by the projectile head on. Its accuracy was not the best though but since Vulpix was still blinded I figured we could give this move a shot. Numsy pelted her with the move and being a ground type move this was enough to blast Vulpix on her side.
“Now use our super-secret finisher!”
Numsy let loose a cloud of white gas from its mouth that hit the struggling Vulpix in its face.
Vulpix in response fired of an ember attack that was surprisingly accurate and hit Numsy on the side of his head. It was easily shrugged off though Numsy doesn’t mind heat all that much I even saw him dip his toe in lava once which barely got a reaction.
It all comes to this… my single poké ball should be enough to capture Vulpix while she is in this state. I grabbed the ball that was hanging by my waist and throw it at the struggling Pokémon.
One shake
Two shakes
On the third wiggle a sound that I was all too familiar with was produced, one that I had not heard since I last played on my handheld all those years ago. The surroundings went eerily silent while I walked towards the object that was lying in the grass.
Picking up the poké ball a strange sensation befell me and a sudden urge to do something I‘ve seen done multiple times but never had to chance to participate in myself.
“Numsy it’s time.”
Twirling around I struck the pose.
“I caught a vulpix!”
“Num numel num!”
“This kid… when we walk the streets together you are not allowed to tell people that you know me.”
“Sorry I’ve always wanted to do that. Where I am from there’s this famous trainer who always does that when he catches a new Pokémon.”
“Good then I already don’t know him either.”
“Nine”
Ninetales made an affirming sound as if agreeing with Phoebe.
“Thank you very much for giving me this opportunity to train one of your children I promise to take good care of her.”
I released Vulpix out of her ball and she was still sleeping from the effects of Numsy’s yawn. Figuring this would probably be the best way to wake her up I fish out a lava cookie and held it in front of her nose. The effect was immediate she woke up drooling and took a bite from the delectable treat.
“Vul”
“There there you were quite the fighter especially for a young and untrained Pokémon. Don’t worry me and Numsy have been training up for about a year now with your talent catching up will be a cinch.”
I pat the little fox on her back and start wiping off some of the debris and mud that now cling onto her. Finer than Numsy’s own short matted bovine hide. This level of fluffiness…! while being surprised at the softness of her fur I start scratching behind her ears.
“Vul!?”
“Don’t mind me. Just admiring your fur coat. It’s so glossy you must take great care of it.”
“Pix!”
“Do you want to spend the rest of our time here with your mom? Me and Gramps will be staying at the mountain’s summit for a couple of days.”
She looked at me for a few short seconds and gave me a small nod.
“Vul”
“When were ready to depart, I will come get you.”
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Three days later*
Lodging with a family of grave keepers was quite the experience and with experience I mean bad for my heart. At any moment one of the family’s ghost types were out of their balls pranking the living daylights out of me. Their favorite method? Jump scares unoriginal and childish but effective. Unlike Phoebe’s Duskull the other Pokémon of the family were all veteran mischief makers. The worst offender was a particular Misdreavus. While I am sleeping, eating, or playing with Numsy Misdreavus would come out of the walls or up from the ground and let loose piercing wails. It got so bad that I decided to keep Numsy in his ball for the rest of our stay here at least that way we both didn’t have to suffer. The family had become desensitized by virtue of being around these pranksters twenty-four seven making them unattractive targets in the eyes of their Pokémon.
“Miss mis mis”
“I swear to Arceus one more prank and you’ll unleash the dragon. Then we will see who scares who!”
“Are you threatening my grandmother’s Pokémon?”
“No Phoebe this shining ball of joy and I are best of friends. Sometimes we exaggerate a little during our bonding sessions don’t we Misdreavus?”
“Misdreavus mis mis”
“Hmm… I’ve never seen anyone attract as many ghost type Pokémon as you do. You should really consider catching one for your future team.”
“No thank you I’d like to be able to sleep at night.”
“Ghost types are the best! When you finally give in and catch one, you’ll have to do anything I tell you to!”
“Please, Fire types are obviously better whenever you decide to join the winning team you will have to acknowledge their superiority!”
Phoebe gave me a once over before finally nodding to herself.
“Okay I’ve decided you will be my rival! ”
‘Wait what...?’
“My standards for a rival are high though. I’ve been planning my career for a long time, and I won’t settle for anything less than a position on the elite four. By the time you’re old enough to join the circuit you will have some catching up to do.”
“Bring it on! Me and Numsy won’t ever lose to some sheltered mountain princess who can’t spot the difference between a Pikachu and a Mimikyu.”
“That was just you cheating at Pictionary! Alola hasn’t opened up its borders yet how am I supposed to know every foreign ghost type!”
“Says the girl who wants to be an elite four!”
“Num num!”
“Wait when did you get out of your ball!?”
Occupied by our argument we didn’t notice the seniors sipping tea on the engawa(Japanese porch) animatedly watching us.
“Ahh youth.”
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“And you have to feed Vulpix twice a day. Three times if you want to start training her earlier.”
“I know Grandpa who do you think makes breakfast for Zinnia every morning before she goes to school don’t worry, I can handle this.”
“Just like how you handled the Pokémon of our gracious hosts?”
“Those things aren’t like any regular Pokémon! They clearly had an agenda into helping me in an early grave.”
“Don’t worry Vulpix here is a sweet little princess loving kind and a great family Pokémon.”
“Vuuul”
This was going to be good for Zinnia’s development. I already had plans to make my sister take care of Vulpix in her off time. Giving Zinnia a taste of responsibility would help her be prepared for a future Journey.
In any case now she could at least bring Vulpix with her to show and tell. Wait… I totally forgot something.
Hey Vulpix, would you like a name? That way you can stand out from all the other vulpix something uniquely yours.
“Pix”
"Okay hmm… how about Swiper? It’s a name belonging to a popular fox character on a kids tv show infamous for stealing."
“Ouch! Oh, sorry yes something more fitting for your noble and conscientious temperament.”
“How does the name Rena sound?”
She gave me a look and after a tense period of waiting finally gave an approving yip.
“Vulpix!”
“That’s great! From now on you are Rena the Vulpix.”