Queen Flare's Son

Once, and only once, was there ever a pair like the one I am about to tell you of. They were such a strange sight, one of the most wild Pokémon, raising and tolerating one of the most sweet and cute.

Not long ago, in the land belonging to the Indigo Pokémon League, there was a pack of Ninetales who rose to dominance in the forest at the foot of Evolution Mountain.

One Ninetales, the most powerful, became feared by the woods' Pokémon inhabitants, including the other Ninetales. This Ninetales left the pack when she felt that they no longer lived up to the standards she believed a pack should have.

This magnificent creature came to live in a deep cave heated by a hot spring; a place suited to the fire Pokémon's every need. The people of nearby Stone Town came to call the place 'Ninetales Kingdom' since they had taken to calling the owner of the cave 'Queen Flare'.

Many trainers would go in search of her when they heard the tales told of her in Stone Town. But should they ever find her, the clever beast would defeat their Pokémon and make good her escape.

She was too strong to be caught by just anyone, she would tell herself, the trainer would have to have a Pokémon that could beat her in a battle before she would consider the person capable enough to be her master.

She was a just ruler and always delivered proper justice for a wrong. She became a symbol of respect and dignity among the forest Pokémon, a guardian and warrior, protection from cruel trainers who would abuse their Pokémon. No Pokémon spoke of her wrongly behind her back.

Every day she would roam the woods, stalking around regally, just to see what effect it would have on the other creatures. If they were looking to fight her for position as ruler, she'd give it to them. If they were wrongly proud, she'd destroy their reason for pride. If they were simply curious, she'd let them be.

During such a venture one day, Queen Flare--wreathed in all her royal airs--found herself by a riverbank.

She detested drinking cold water but was too thirsty to argue the matter. She glided down to the riverside and stood atop a large rock surrounded by many smaller shards of shale.

She had only swallowed a few mouthfuls when she heard a strange sound. Pricking her ears up she listened around her surroundings carefully.

It was definitely something living. Some distressed, young Pokémon lost in the brush along the bank. She searched dauntlessly for the maker of the noise, until she found, all tangled in water plants, an Eevee child.

The Eevee, she noted, had been part of a litter, stuffed in a bag and thrown in somewhere upriver. The other two Eevees were still in the bag... never to come out. The one Eevee who had survived had used scratch attack when the sack had gotten caught on the rocks.

Queen Flare knew Eevees were very valuable to humans. She was shocked at the cruelty of such a death, for surely it was no Pokémon who had done this.

She stood over the remaining child. It had taken a lot of water and was shivering all over. She could not leave it there.

Using her ember attack, she freed it from its tangled bonds and dried it up some. Then, picking it up with as much motherly instinct as she could muster, she squeezed some water out of the little thing.

Carrying the child home with her, she strove to think of what to do with him. All the wild Eevees had been rounded up before her own birth, and after what this child had been through, she wasn't about to hand him back to humans.

Clefairy and Clefable over on Mount Moon might take him, but they were too weird, Flare could not put the child in that sort of situation. The Ninetales pack just recently came to accept Vulpix: not a good chance for the Eevee there. Let's see, Bulbasaur and all plant types are out. Stantler were known to take in strays, but a dog type like an Eevee may be a bit of a stretch. There are no Flareons, Jolteons, or even Vaporeons to speak of. Bird or bug types could never care for him properly...

There was no option, she'd have to raise it herself or finish the humans' job. She didn't consider which to do for very long.

She didn't relish the idea of some young pup living with her. Feeding, training, sheltering, it all sounded tedious. But she would do it. She'd have to if this little guy were going to live.

She set him in the deep, soft moss she used for her bed, and pressed the infant's side to push out any water that hadn't come out during the ride.

The little one coughed and sputtered to life. Blinking his sore, water-dried eyes, he looked up at his majestic savior. He was dumbstruck. Never had he seen a creature so powerful and forebodingly reverent.

He lay there, tired beyond anything, watching as she threw some sort of meat into a hot spring.

The cave was warn and... steamy, but at least it wasn't altogether wet. The walls and ceiling looked like shiny marble, and the floor was covered in the unusually tall moss that made the hole comfortable.

Queen Flare dropped the boiled meat in front of the Eevee.

Thankful for the respite from the cold river and empty stomach, the child ate greedily.

Acknowledging his starvation, Flare gave him more, and once he had finished that, she stuck one of her glorious tails into the water and let him suck it off her fur.

He's not a fire Pokémon, she reminded herself, the hot spring could hurt him if he tried to drink from it on his own.

Once he had eaten, he began to bat his eyes. They were red, swollen, and tearing.

Flare did not favour the only remedy she knew for that, but seeing as the child was now hers, she did what was best for him.

She lifted him gently onto her paws and began licking his sore eyes.

The child started making the noise Eevees do when they are happy, similar to purring. Flare found the sound strangely soothing and it made the licking easier to do.

Soon the young Evolution Pokémon was comfortably asleep on her paws.

Flare looked at the little one. He appeared healthy in every way. He was strong for his age, and in all appearances, good for breeding. It was a fool human who threw this one into the river.

As a Ninetales, she admired his significant strength over his own type.

Trainers would come to claim this wild Eevee, but he proved himself quite a challenge, even for experienced trainers.

As he grew, he earned his share of scars and cuts, but never whined. Flare found this respectable, and treated the youth as an equal.

He, in turn, became much like his Ninetales nursemaid. His attitude was that of a Ninetales and his severity in battle was as well. Though he never did give up enjoying riding on Flare's back, or curling up beneath her tails. He was still an Eevee after all.

The 'prince' soon made a name for himself. 'Forest Fire' he was called.

Many Flareon trainers scoured the wood for the strong Eevee raised by a fire Pokémon.

The other Ninetales felt mildly that Queen Flare had disgraced Ninetales everywhere. An Eevee, they would say, couldn't have been worse if it were a Magicarp! Those Vulpix-born Ninetales... But they never outright accused her-that would be foolish. She was still stronger than them, and that Eevee was no pushover himself.

Hudson looked down into the ravine beside Evolution Mountain.

"That's the place. Queen Flare has only been seen down there." Hudson's companion, Eli, told him as he inspected the map they had bought in Stone Town.

Hudson's dark, green-gray eyes got that determined twinkle Eli had come to fear. Eli looked up just in time to catch it.

Eli's face fell as Hudson's brightened. Sick dread washed over him as Hudson started down hill, calling back his 'reassurance', "Come on Eli, we're gonna' catch one strong Pokémon!"

"Don't be so sure. No one has ever even come close to catching her. Some people believe you can't even see her unless she wants you to."

"Then we'll have to hope her majesty will accept visitors today." Hudson galloped headlong down the sloping skree to the shallow streambed where the queen had last been seen.

Eli sighed with resignation and followed.

Better to get lost with Hudson than to go back to Stone Town and suffer all those girls... again.

An old injured Pidgeotto wandered searchingly through the woods. He was looking for Prince Forest Fire.

The forest Pokémon had quickly learned that an easy way to speak to the queen was to talk to her son. He was more personable and less threatening.

The bird had obviously suffered some fire attacks. His feathers were singed and burned, his face was charred and black, and his feet were blistering.

Forest Fire watched the flightless bird for a moment, wondering how he had come by such injuries. He hopped soundlessly out of the tree, right behind the bewildered fowl.

Feeling another presence, the Pidgeotto turned around. Jumping and flapping in his alarm at finding two fiery, jet black eyes, the bird gave out a squawk.

Forest fire sat down and waited for the fear to abate.

Suddenly recognizing the creature before him, the old one chirped an apology. Forest Fire nodded his acceptance and began stripping some plant's leaves idly as he asked the old one what had happened to him.

A little ruffled at the Prince's rudeness towards someone superior in age, he proceeded none the less.

Forest Fire gave no indication he had heard the story, he was still playing with those leaves. Pidgeotto was no fool, he wasn't going to correct the child, but his patience was wearing thin.

Forest finally looked up. picking up the shredded plant in a wide leaf, he stepped closer to the sore bird and offered him the poultice, assuring him it would heal the burns.

Suddenly overcome with guilt, the old one accepted and allowed the Prince to lay the balm on his scorched wings. He felt a skin tingling coolness as the medicine touched him. What relief!

As he rubbed some life back into the old bird's skin, Forest wondered out loud that the Pidgeotto wanted Queen Flare to go and show the Arcanine their place in the wild.

Pidgeotto confirmed these suspicions with a nod.

Forest had never met an Arcanine and had never even heard of the legendary Pokémon before, but he felt certain that they couldn't beat Flare.

After the bird had left to inform the others of the Prince's participation, Forest went home and boiled some meat in the hot spring.

Chewing thoughtfully, he wondered what an Arcanine looked like. Well, considering they were abandoned Pokémon, there couldn't be very many of them, and to drive away such a large flock, they would have to be pretty big, and powerful.

Still, they were half-trained and petty. Queen Flare had defeated whole-trained Pokémon, sometimes more than one.

Forest dipped a piece of cloth into the spring and sipped the warm liquid off.

Yes, Queen Flare could take care of those troublemakers, no problem.

"Hudson, do you think we will ever find Queen Flare?" a rather sore and tired Eli asked.

"Hope so, but we're gonna' hafta' head back soon. The Pokémon League is in three weeks, and it'll take us two to get there from Stone Town, unless...."

Looking up at his friend suspiciously, "Unless...?"

Smiling innocently,"...unless you wouldn't mind if I arranged it so we caught a ride with my cousin and her friends."

Eli's face went pale and his eyes grew small as he remembered those Stone Town girls. "ARE YOU KIDDING?!"

Hudson broke out in laughter. Teasing Eli about his effect on girls was more fun than anything else he could think of.

"But seriously, Eli, it would give us more time to search for Pokémon and train the ones we have."

"Yes, well, it would also give Chloe and them frequent flirting miles! I can't do that, don't make me." Eli pulled his blanket closer and shivered. "You don't have enough money to make me. One week and we're gone."

"Okay, okay." Hudson sighed. Chuckling to himself as he rolled over and stared deep into the woods.

Too bad Eli was so darn shy and too nice to use his "talent" for his own gain. Hudson really wanted to at least see the queen, or even the little Eevee prince.

Hudson smiled. Yes, even the little wild Eevee would be acceptable.

If only he could capture either of those incredible Pokémon, he felt he could be Pokémon Master for sure. Wild Pokémon stronger than trained ones could be invincible when trained themselves.

He imagined, once again, how people would react when, in the Pokémon League, he would pull out Queen Flare or Forest Fire.

He frowned. No, no, no. Queen Flare and Forest Fire. He smiled and felt that burning rush of adrenaline pound in his chest.

He couldn't sit there a moment longer. Somewhere out there, were a Ninetales and an Eevee; legends, both of them, and he, Hudson Grey, was going to catch them.

Creeping quietly from camp, Hudson set out.

Queen Flare and Forest Fire padded quickly and silently through the woods.

Flare was pensive. Five Arcanine were a dangerous match, she'd have to put a lot into this fight. The Pidgey and Pidgeotto would be there, but still...

Half trained they were, good thing, fully trained Arcanine are dangerous to wild Pokémon-more chance of loss.

Glancing back at Forest, she wondered if he realized what they were getting into.

His demeanor was easy-going and steady. His eyes were forward and focused. If he did know, he was taking it better than she was.

Relaxing herself, the Queen set her thoughts on their position and several routes for both attack and escape.

Eli woke up in a cold sweat and heat in his chest. His hair stuck out everywhere and his sleeping bag and blanket were twisted.

Standing up and shaking out his contorted clothing, he tripped over his own tired feet and landed flat on Hudson's bag.

Sitting there for a moment, realization slowly dawned on him that Hudson was gone.

Suddenly awake, Eli looked around.

"Why does he do this every time we camp out?"

Remembering all previous incidents when Hudson had run off on his own, Eli sighed with exasperation and packed up camp.

"He's lost again," Eli was saying as he pulled out his Pokéball, "Help me find him, Fearow." The great, powerful bird came out of his Pokéball in a flash of red light.

Stroking the bird's neck, Eli climbed on its back. "Alright Fearow, let's go bring him back."

Fearow smiled and took off. How many times had he gone out in search of his master's mischievous friend? He could recognize that troublesome kid better than his own master.

Soaring overhead the forest, Fearow scanned the ground below.

They had been at this for around ten minutes when Fearow became tense underneath Eli.

Concerned, "What's wrong Fearow? Is it Hudson?"

Fearow spoke in Fearow language, saying, "No, but we should find him soon. The forest holds its breath, they are afraid. Something is happening."

Unable to understand Fearow's direct words, Eli still seemed to get the basic meaning. "Why is it so quiet? Where are the Pokémon?" Eli looked down. Not so much as a Vileplume or Meowth. "They are hiding from something, Fearow. I don't think Hudson is that scary."

Hudson was hopelessly lost and he knew it, but he wasn't worried. Eli would pull out Fearow and find him in a snap. He was getting upset though. He'd been walking around for five hours and hadn't even seen an Oddish.

Just as he noticed the silence, there was a sound.

Reacting quickly, Hudson spun on his heel and caught, just briefly, the tips of several pure white tails.

Alarmed, he stopped a moment, but suddenly realizing she was getting away, he rushed after her, quiet as possible. There was something about the forest's mood that summoned silence from its inhabitants and invaders.

The self-proclaimed leader of the Arcanine wasn't stupid, he could feel something coming.

He had been wild not to long before his so-called 'master' had given up on him. He knew the penalties for driving other Pokémon off their land, but that was why he did it.

He was from the other side of Evolution Mountain, and had heard incredible stories about Queen Flare. While he had resided with humans he heard even more.

The one good thing his master had ever done for him, he felt, was to drop him off in the Queen's realm.

She was coming, he could feel it. He could feel the air tense at her every footfall. Such awe she struck in her subjects, Arcanine wondered how a creature became so powerful, so feared, so respected.

A smirk crept across his face.

He'd soon find out.

The flock waited for Queen Flare and Forest Fire nervously.

Fighting alongside the queen was a tremendous honor, but she was still very intimidating.

When the queen and her son finally did arrive, the whole flock jumped. Many almost squawked, but remembered their position.

The Pidgey stared on in wonder at the sleek beast as she addressed the Pidgeotto who had asked Forest for help.

Speechless, the old bird gaped up at her.

Forest trotted up beside the queen and told the old one to speak or the Arcanine would use the lack of communication against them.

Regaining his battle instincts, the Pidgeotto informed Flare of the Arcanines' exact location, avoiding her blood red eyes as he did so. At her request, he also briefed her on their former battles with the Arcanine.

Judging from the old one's recollections, Flare determined a fighting strategy.

The Arcanine seemed to prefer using flame-thrower, ember, and tackle against the birds, but being a fire Pokémon herself, they would probably revert to more powerful attacks like firespin, take down, or fireblast.

Flare silently hoped Forest's agility and scratch attacks were enough to help him through this. Arcanine fireblast are incredibly powerful.

She wished she had a few more fire Pokémon, or at least water. The Vulpix oracle was ill and the Ninetales had a strict policy against involvement in these matters.

Her firespin was far superior to the Arcanines', thankfully, but her fireblast was about equal. Flame-thrower was in the Arcanines' favor, but ember was in hers. Their take down and tackle would have a lot more force, but agility and furyswipes were her winners. Flare and bite were strongly Arcanine's, so mirror and reflect might help.

After weighing her chances Flare laid out the plan.

Hudson was surprised none of the gathered Pokémon heard his approach.

He had no idea what Queen Flare and Forest Fire were doing with these Pidgey and Pidgeotto, but he wasn't going to interfere.

He wanted to capture Flare, but he didn't want to fight off an entire flock of Pokémon to do it.

Abruptly the flock hopped off into the woods to the east. Queen Flare and Forest Fire leapt easily into the low branches of a nearby tree and skipped away into the dark.

Hudson was confused. Why did the birds jump along the ground instead of fly? Where had those other two gone in such a hurry?

Feeling suddenly anxious, Hudson looked up. If only Eli knew he had left.

Fearow glanced back at his master and squawked.

"Have you found him Fearow?"

Nodding, Fearow got ready for a quick dive, but something in the larger clearing near Hudson caught his sharp eye.

Arcanine!

A loud crash diverted his attention.

Pidgey and Pidgeotto?!

Realization struck like a blow to the face.

A battle! A fierce one from the looks of it.

"Fearow, what's happening?" Eli stared down, horror etched in his eyes. "We have to get Hudson out of there or he'll be killed!"

Fearow searched for a way to get there without attracting the combatants to themselves or Hudson.

He dived straight down, causing his master to throw his arms around Fearow's neck.

Flying low to the ground, Fearow wove through the trees at an alarming speed. He made straight for the smaller field where Hudson was staying.

"Good boy Fearow. You're so smart. We'll get Hudson out of there." Eli whispered his encouragement to the magnificent bird.

In an instant they broke through the brush and into the clearing, scaring Hudson out of his mind.

"AAAAAHH!!"

Eli jumped Hudson and clamped a hand over his mouth. Fearow peered around nervously.

Whispering hoarsely, "Shut-up, they'll hear you!" Eli released Hudson.

Hudson had no time to express his joyous gratitude at their arrival because overhead the Pidgey and Pidgeotto broke into an earsplitting screech.

Fearow recognized the Pidgey battle cry and hoped they were still intending it for the Arcanine in the next clearing.

Forest had seen the Fearow and its trainer pass into the meeting grounds. Humans should not be involved.

Informing the Queen of the trainer, Forest sought her advice.

Seeing this as a doorway to Forest's safety. Flare told him to lead the human away from the battleground. She said it would be the greatest help to the fight.

Accepting his duty respectfully, Forest charged off to the meeting place to divert the intruder.

Breathing easier now that Forest was away from the real danger, Flare gave out a long high, almost bird-like, howl.

Hearing the signal, the Pidgey sang their cry to cover over hers and charged the Arcanine encampment.

Arcanine was surprised that the fool birds were so insistent. Perhaps these matters were dealt with differently on this side of the mountain.

But as the battle began, he noticed something different in the birds' tactics. Usually going for gust and sand attacks, today they did peck, scratch, and screech, mixed with a little agility. They were using quick attacks.

Formatted into seven brigades, the Pidgey would grab attention, but before the Arcanine could advance, the Pidgeotto would attack and disappear. Once the Arcanine's focus was on the Pidgeotto, the Pidgey would attack.

The Arcanine were getting frustrated. The lead dog had to think fast.

The Pidgey would land to rest in the same place frequently. Noting this, the lead Arcanine aimed a flare attack for the spot and sent a few singed Pidgey to flight.

Queen Flare sent up the signal again to launch the next attack.

Forest purposely came crashing into Hudson's lap.

The little intruder shook Fearow from his contemplation.

After blinking away his shock, Hudson lit up in renewed excitement. "It's him Eli, It's Forest Fire!" Hudson leapt up, holding the Eevee, hugging it and swinging it around.

Eli's jaw dropped. "Well no wonder there aren't any wild Eevees. It must have been easy rounding them up."

Fearow was suspicious, and rightly so, for one moment the Eevee was in Hudson's arms, the next it was dashing off into the woods.

"Hey! Get back here! We won't hurt you! I just want to be your trainer! Wait!!" Running after his elusive prize, Hudson forgot about everything else.

Climbing onto Fearow's back, Eli followed.

"Hudson!" Eli called, holding out his hand. Hudson grabbed it as his friend zipped past. Eli tugged Hudson aboard as Fearow flew after the evasive Pokémon.

"Then again, maybe it wasn't so easy." Concluded Eli between gasps as he was getting snapped in the face by stray twigs.

Forest raced faster than his heart could keep up. That Fearow was a strong flyer, even with two people on his shoulders.

Dodging, sliding, climbing, crawling, creeping, pouncing, and still the Fearow kept coming.

Forcing a steady lope, Forest tried to lose them. They'd come far enough to be well out of Flare's way, but he couldn't shake them.

Left, right, up, down Fearow was pushing the limit. He'd need rest soon.

Eli continued urging Fearow on with kind, soothing words and Fearow continued flying faster and faster, much to Hudson's delight. "C'mon Fearow, I know you can do it!"

Forest knew the Fearow could probably beat him, this bird was strong, but he also knew birds get tired faster when flying near the ground. The bird would fly as long as his trainer wanted him to, but he wouldn't be in any shape to fight after this. After a few more minutes for good measure, Forest stopped and held his ground.

Fearow was winded, he'd done his part. Eli called him back.

Hudson set his eyes on his prize. A wild Eevee, how incredible. It was stronger than the ones put up for adoption back in Stone Town, and those were trained and bred! A once-in-a-lifetime Pokémon.

"Look at him Eli. He's huge! He's not even tired!"

"Wow... and he out-raced my Fearow!" This meant something. That Fearow had won several bird type races and had earned more than a little recognition: Eli's pride and joy.

Forest smirked. Though the run was long, he wasn't tired. All those races he'd had with Flare paid off.

Hudson pulled out a Pokéball and got ready. "Scyther, I choose you!"

Appearing from the red light, the fearsome bug type stood over Forest in an intimidating fashion.

Forest had faced Scyther before, they defeated easily enough. Forest used leer, turning his eyes bright red.

In a split second, Scyther's eyes flashed.

That was it! Forest body slammed the enraged and confused Scyther to the ground.

Hudson was shocked. He hadn't even had time to call out a command. "Return Scyther!" Hudson shook his head dumbstruck. "Did you see that Eli? He whooped Scyther like nothin'!"

Eli just nodded and continued staring.

Hudson turned back and noted the Prince's self-confident smirk. What did he have that was strong enough to beat this Eevee? Anything that could be found in this forest was out. That didn't leave him many options. Wait!!

Hudson pulled out another Pokéball. This time he wouldn't say what it was so the little sucker couldn't get ready. "Go Pokémon!!"

Forest watched as the red light outlined a huge, horrifying monster. Forest had never seen its kind before. From its appearance he summarized it to be a water type, but it flew, which made it all right to use for land battles.

Eli backed up with a look of shock on his face. "You think he's that strong?"

Not hearing Eli, Hudson thought, 'Yes, he doesn't know what to do.' "Gyarados, tackle!"

Forest went into agility and dodged the monster's tackle, just barely.

"Tail whip!"

Jumping and ducking, the Eevee escaped that powerful tail.

Hudson couldn't believe how fast this Eevee was. "Quick attack!"

Forest had the air knocked out of him as the Gyarados struck him in the ribs. Landing a few feet away, the sore beast counterattacked his assailant with scratch, his strongest.

The Gyarados leapt back. This kid was powerful, those scratches hurt!

"Come on Gyarados, you got him once, try your bite attack!"

Eli went pale and looked at Hudson. "That'll kill him!"

Forest was horrified. This wide-jawed monster had a bite attack?!

Gyarados lunged forward and grabbed a mouthful of dirt where the Eevee had just been.

Jumping onto the creature, Forest used a bite attack of his own, sending the mighty beast into spasms of pain.

Gyarados was mad with pain. An Eevee, he thought, AN EEVEE!!!!! Gyarados lashed about, slamming the smaller creature into the earth.

Eli and Hudson watched in horror as the great dragon started attacking out of his own command. "Gyarados! Stop!"

"He can't hear you Hudson!" Eli grabbed Hudson's arm to keep him out of the battle. "He's close to rage!"

"NO! He'll kill it!"

Forest leapt out of harms way before the monster could attack again, but the Gyarados saw him.

Gyarados body slammed, hitting nothing but dirt. Again, again, again!!

Forest was having a hard time avoiding its attacks. Most creatures got clumsy and had too much focus when they got mad, but this beast got more accurate and quick. It was landing more attacks and using more force in them.

Tired of this game, the dragon sung out a fierce cry into the air....... Dragon Rage.

Eli and Hudson fell to the ground at the sound, covering their ears, their eyes shut tight.

Slashing and attacking the sea monster, the Eevee felt a sudden chill.

Then, out of the blue, came other Gyarados to aid the first. Staring down balefully at the little combatant, the Gyarados began to spin around and around and around Forest.

Hudson's and Eli's hair and clothing were whipped around by the speeding gusts.

The wind became unbearable, the Eevee felt as if he was being pulled to pieces.

He was lifted off the ground and spun in circles inside the tornado. He never lost his fight though, attacking his captors every time he came around, and not once did he miss.

Eli peered out one eye and saw the Eevee continue his fight, even though it was as good as lost.

Now all the Gyarados were angry. Keeping up the wind, they began using hydro pump aswell.

Forest began to lose air. Between the water and the wind, there was not much to be had. He passed out, no longer strong enough to fight, or anything else for that matter.

His world went black. His last thought, ........... Flare.............

At the sound of the Queen's call, the flock hovered over a particularly sandy spot and used sand attack. The clearing filled with clouds of the choking, stinging rock.

The lead Arcanine squinted and ducked low. She was coming, he knew it.

The dust settled, leaving an uncomfortable silence in its wake. The birds were perched all around the field in a menacing fashion.

The silence was unavoidable. It choked the Arcanine. Time seemed to freeze in place as they waited for some unknown circumstance.

Feeling as though the Queen had purposely intended that he should be covered in dust at her arrival, the Arcanine felt cheated of his glory. And this silence was also intended to fade his honour into nothing compared to hers.

One lone howl sounded and came closer, gaining speed in its rush to torment the combatants with its eerie foreboding.

In a flash of dazzling glory as the moonshine hit the pure white of her fur, the queen arrived.

Head high and regal, tails flowing out behind her like piles of silk robes, eyes bright and deep crimson, she walked through the cloud into the clearing with graceful, dignified ease.

The Arcanine were dumbstruck. She was not afraid of them in the slightest; in fact she appeared to care very little about their presence.

She walked straight to the head Arcanine and looked up at him in a way that made him feel like the shorter of the two.

He felt as though he were cowering, and indeed, wanted to do so if it would mean this mighty, awesome, monster would not touch him.

Flare asked him why he had come and taken the Pidgeys' land.

Arcanine was unsure if he wanted to battle the noble beast, she commanded so much authority in her demeanor and sucked out any courage he had built up for this moment.

Trying to force himself to tell her, he made the mistake of looking into her blood red eyes. Shivers ran rampage through him.

Ducking his great head, the Arcanine knelt in front of Queen Flare. He apologized for how he had wronged the Pidgey and pleaded for merciful judgement.

Flare accepted his apologies with a nod and looked to the other Arcanine. They had followed their leader's example and did not question his reasons for not telling her the truth. She had pity on them and thanked her lucky stars they had not chosen to fight. She let them go free of punishment and also offered them lands up on the mountainside where there were hot water springs.

Shocked at her graciousness, the Arcanine accepted eagerly. They would be wild Pokémon and breed how they wanted up there (there were two females in the group).

Pleased with the success of the evening, Queen Flare sat among the Arcanine and Pidgey as they celebrated their good fortune.

The Pidgeotto flew around singing their victory song while the Pidgey joined their chorus to make a beautiful harmony and wind dance.

The Arcanine were enthralled, more by their new Queen than the birds' graceful arts. She sat there, looking on, giving everything a royal presence. It was as if the forest was a palace simply because she lived there.

But suddenly, over the festivities could be heard the sound of strange thunder. More a blood-chilling, throaty cry of an enraged Pokémon than any thunder the lot of them had ever heard.

The joyous laughter came to a halt.

Some Rattata came scrambling out of the wood and made straight for Queen Flare. They ducked their heads respectfully and informed her that Forest was being chased by two trainers and had taken a stand in the Rattata lands.

The Arcanine listened. Forest Fire, thought Arcanine, the little Eevee prince? Looking up at Queen Flare, he wondered why the pup had ever decided to leave the safety of her side to go off and fight some human.

Forest had fought well against the Scyther but when they had pulled out the Gyarados, the Rattatta leader told them to find her.

Arcanine frowned. This "Prince" sounded like an irresponsible and ungrateful beast to him.

Queen Flare looked up and judged the distance the 'thunder' had been.

That wasn't thunder, it was... Her eyes grew wide.

Eli and Hudson rode back to Chloe's place in Stone Town on Eli's Onix.

They both were ecstatic; it had taken an Ultraball to hold the Eevee. The added bonus? Two new Gyarados who had been weakened enough by the Eevee to capture.

Chloe was happy too, happy to see Eli. They didn't tell anyone that they had caught Forest Fire, they wanted to shock up the Indigo Stadium.

Just Eli's luck, Chloe was having a slumber party that night. All the gang was there: Cassandra, Brianna, Ivy, and Minakoto. A veritable army as far as Eli was concerned.

Chloe was Hudson's cousin, and his aunt and uncle insisted the boys stay with them.

Minakoto was the only one that Eli didn't mind. She was too shy to be flirty like the others; in fact, neither Eli nor Hudson really noticed her.

Hudson was finally able to defeat the girls and get Eli out of there so they could go to bed and hopefully, get some sleep. Flumping down onto their beds, Eli and Hudson were asleep almost immediately and slept on until lunch the following day.

Eli stayed in the room, not daring to venture forth, while Hudson went to grab something to eat for the two of them.

Digging in the fridge, Hudson didn't even notice someone was there in the kitchen with him.

"Why did you guys come back last night?" wondered a surprisingly blunt Minakoto. "I thought you were going to stay out there till you had to head off to the Pokémon league."

Minakoto was the only one of the girls who cared for Pokémon. She was working at becoming a breeder.

Hudson was surprised she spoke to him, he didn't know she could talk, though he had been told better. "Uhh, well, we ran into some trouble. There was some Pokémon up there going at it, it was pretty fierce." He avoided bringing up the Eevee in the Ultraball he never let out of his sight.

A strange emotion singed her features; sort of like gladness and disappointment at the same time; but just as suddenly as it showed up, it disappeared.

"Oh, too bad. What will you two do now?"

'Hey, I never noticed she had green eyes.' Hudson was shocked at the abruptness of such an unrelated thought. He turned away and shrugged. "Guess we head for the Stadium earlier than planed."

Minakoto's father, a giant of a Vermilion City man, walked in at that moment with Hudson's uncle. He had heard the last sentence spoken. "That would be great!"

Hudson looked up at him. Wherever Minakoto had gotten her shy attitude it wasn't from her dad. "What would be great, sir?"

The big man smiled. "There is a breeding contest up there every year on the week before the League. Mina has wanted to go there for years now, but I have always been too busy to take her. I could never let her go on her own, too dangerous." He clapped a monster paw on Hudson's shoulder, making Hudson's bones rattle. "I'd be grateful if you two would take her up there with you. Her Pokémon could win one or two prizes easily I'm sure. The contests around here are fine but that would be great for their confidence, or at least, so Mina tells me."

Minakoto ducked her head. Hudson never knew any girl so pleasantly shy, but then again, he only really knew Chloe. Minakoto couldn't possibly be any trouble, not after you've traveled with Chloe.

'Besides,' he thought, 'I can always learn new things from other trainers.' "Well, only if it's all right with her."

Her head snapped up. "Really?!"

Hudson smiled. "Of course. It would be no trouble. Besides, I know how it feels to want to be in a real competition. I don't think Eli would mind taking care of the two of us."

Her father made the windows rattle as he shook with laughter. "Well you tell Eli to be careful, she can be quite the handful before a match."

Hudson grinned in a mildly disbelieving way. "Eli knows the type, trust me."

Outwardly, Minakoto simply smiled. Inwardly she was exploding with excitement. She'd enter the fire type trials, surely her Pokémon were good enough to make last judging at least.

She was sort of disappointed though. When she had moved to Stone Town, she had worked her hardest to find that Ninetales. Even if the Ninetales was scraggly from living on its own in the wild, Flare would still make a wonderful damsel for her own Ninetales, Blaise.

Blaise had never lost a battle or breeding competition, surely he was good enough for the Queen of the Wood.

'Oh well, maybe someone at the major league had a good match for Blaise.'

"Well then, you'd better get your things ready Mina." Her dad nudged her and smiled seeing as she missed what was said. Whispering, he explained, "They're leaving today."

"Oh. Yes. Um.... I'll go do that. Be right back." She dashed out the side door and through the gate to her house next door.

Grabbing out her backpack, she stuffed everything she felt she'd need. Sleeping bag, pillow, clothes, a change of shoes, hairbrush, toothbrush, toothpaste, laundry cleansers, shampoo, food, matches, etc., etc., etc...

Hoping she remembered everything, she grabbed her bag of breeding supplies and her Pokéball belt.

Out on the road, Minakoto waved back at her father and her friends, who had gone on and on about how lucky she was to be traveling with Eli.

Eli was quiet. 'Darn Hudson. He never could say no to a girl, never. I think He does it just to bug me. Wouldn't surprise me much.'

Hudson had on an evil smirk. Oh he was enjoying this. Every now and then he would turn and give Eli a look that said he was laughing at him, whether he heard it or not.

"Not funny Hudson." Eli finally uttered through clenched teeth.

"Oh it's very funny." To prove his point he laughed loudly.

"Did I miss something?"

Frowning, Eli muttered, "Not really."

Hudson changed the subject. "So, Mina, what do you breed?"

She felt awkward. Eli was definitely uncomfortable, but then again, wasn't he always? "I pro in fire types."

"Really?" Hudson's interest peeked, "What kinds of Pokémon do you have?" 'Fire types' he thought, 'she'd probably have some great tips for this little guy.' He fingered the Ultraball on his belt.

"Hmm," she wondered, "A Ninetales, a few Flareon, Vulpix, Ponyta, two Growlithe, Charmander, an Eevee who doesn't want to evolve, and a Raichu I was given by my best friend back in Vermilion."

Eli blinked as the conversation flipped. "That's a LOT of Pokémon! Where do you keep them all?"

"Professor Clarissa of the Vermilion City Pokémon Institution takes care of them using the six ball trainer storage thing."

"What do you do with the Eevee and Raichu?" Hudson wondered.

"Well I breed them too. Might as well, seeing as that's what I do, and it wouldn't be fair to treat them any different just because I prefer to breed fire types."

"So, um, you train Eevees to be strong Flareons, right?"

"Yes, normally."

"Are Eevees that are trained to be Flareons strong against fire types?"

"Well, they are stronger than most, yeah."

Eli glanced over at Hudson. "What are you getting at?"

Hudson smiled at Eli. "Well I think we should show her. She obviously has more experience with them than we do."

"Show me what?"

"True, she'd probably have great tips for training him. We'd probably starve it or something." Eli mused.

"Who???"

Hudson walked backwards and ahead of her. With an exited, boyish smirk he held up an Ultraball.

"Want to know the whole reason we're leaving early?"

Queen Flare had spoken with the Rattata elder about the trainers. It seemed the Eevee had fought till he couldn't move, leaving a few very sore Gyarados seething in anger.

The trainers had used an Ultraball, seeing as even in his tired state, the prince still would not accept defeat.

The trainers recalled the Gyarados that belonged to them (capturing the other two seeing as they had been weakened) and pulled out an Onix, which they rode back to the human lands.

Queen Flare thanked him and sat down on a log a little ways away, overlooking the battleground.

The dirt was soaked and ravaged. All around on trees and rocks were scars and marrings, signs that powerful bite and scratch attacks had been used. Dents in the forest floor proved as evidence of take down and tackle and other forceful attacks.

She could hardly grasp the ferocity of the fight. Forest had fought valiantly well under the circumstances.

The Onix' path was easily visible.

The Queen bowed her head regally. Her appearance brought sorrow to those creatures looking on at her. The Arcanine felt a deep rage at the little Eevee for causing so noble a beast to feel such dishonorable pain.

But the Queen was not mourning her loss, she was thinking. Her brow wrinkled in deep contemplation.

Flare would resign as ruler and search the human lands for Forest.

She called the Rattata, Pidgey, and Arcanine leaders to her and informed them of her decision.

Shocked and upset, they tried to talk her out of it of course, but she had decided and that was that. The Rattata and Pidgeotto knew their Queen and so argued no further, but Arcanine had only met her and felt no love for the little Eevee. He could not accept this.

She headed off out of the forest, following the Onix' track. The Arcanine followed, calling her back.

She raced through the trees, growing more and more determination with every step, even as the Arcanine lost more and more of his. What did this little Eevee renegade mean to Queen Flare and the forest Pokémon that they would all just take such a major and seemingly foolish decision in stride?

When she reached the fringe of the trees, she stopped. She couldn't have the Arcanine following her into the city.

Panting when he arrived, the Arcanine marveled at her speed and fitness.

He told her not to go, there was nothing she could do for the Eevee Prince. Staying in the woods and taking care of its inhabitants was what she should do, they needed her more than Forest did.

Flare frowned. The woods had done fine before her rule, they had never truly needed her, and certainly not more than Forest did. This she told Arcanine. Humans had rejected the Eevee once, they had no right taking him back, and she wasn't going to let them touch him again.

The Arcanine saw not only the anger and determination in her words, but also the wisdom and motherly love behind them. Forest Fire was her son-Arcanine saw that now. Remembering his own sojourn among the humans, he thought about how he would have given anything to have a mother like Forest Fire did.

He backed down and told her he would protect the forest and uphold its laws with all his power, he only hoped it was enough. Kneeling respectfully, he said she would always be Queen. He wished her luck in her search for the young one. With that, he galloped back into the trees and was gone.

Flare watched him go, then turned her sights on Stone Town. It was late in the day and the shadows were lengthening.

Streaking down the hillside like a flash of lightning, Queen Flare descended from her forest throne.

She walked through the streets without being noticed by following oblivious trainers.

Darting here and there, she searched for the scent of the ones who had stolen Forest from her. There was a little difficulty seeing as the place was always full of humans.

AHA! She found it.

"Hey there little lady, what are you doing here in this big city without an owner, huh?" A big man stooped over her, standing in her way.

She considered going mean, but that would get too many people on her tails. Being nice, the man might try to take her in as his own.

Searching for a distraction, she spotted an Electabuzz. She used leer so he would look over at her, then she stopped flashing her eyes so he could see the red.

The Pokémon went haywire, snatching all the undesired focused for himself while Queen Flare slipped away unnoticed. "Bbbbbbbbllllbbbllllbbbbbllll!"

She stopped in an alley not far away and not far off the scent. She searched for something to make a collar out of. Finding a chain, she wielded it into shape and slipped it on.

She followed the scent with no incident from then on.

The people had apparently dropped off some of their Pokémon at the Pokécenter.

Flare snuck in with a trainer who was carrying an emergency patient. Perfect, Nurse Joy was busy with the trainers injured Pokémon.

Flare crept into the back and sniffed the regeneration tubes.

The Fearow, Scyther, and Gyarados had been here, but Forest's scent was nowhere to be found.

Going back out to the front desk, Flare searched the center for the trainers' every move. They had bought Super Potion, medicated Eevee food, and an Eevee's TM machine. Apparently they were going to heal the Eevee manually.

But the other Pokémon were gone already, they had wasted no time in picking them up. They must be headed somewhere.

Leaving the Pokécenter before Nurse Joy came back; Flare picked up the scent on a new track headed the other way.

The newer trail lead to a residential area. She looked up at the house it ended at. She didn't find another scent leaving the house, but there could be another door. Hopefully, they were still here.

She was planning on a way to get into the house, when a large group of people came up the street. She hopped over the bush and into the yard.

The people came right up to the house and entered the yard. They were mostly girls, and their chattering could be heard all around until one of them spotted her.

"AAAAAH!"

"Oh gosh! Chloe, look!"

"Daddy, there's a Ninetales in the yard, come quick!"

The two men of the group rushed in.

"Holy smoke! That's gotta' be that big Ninetales Minakoto goes on and on about!" the larger of the men exclaimed. "Look at the size of it!"

"How can you tell?"

"The pictures Mina always shows me. There ain't many Ninetales this big and white, it must be her."

"But she has a collar on, this one's owned." Pointed out Brianna.

Flare laughed silently. Should've believed the big man little girl. A tinge of pride swelled her chest at the man's recognition, but caution would be necessary with him around.

Chloe knelt down and held out her hand to the Ninetales. "Hello there, are you lost? Come on, I won't hurt you. You want something to eat while we find your master?"

Flare sneered inwardly. She doubted if the child could 'hurt' her if it wanted to, as for food, like she wanted to eat at a time like this, but the invite was an easy way into the house.

Flare put on the puppy face and bounced around like she was happy to see them. Licking hands and giving little happy yips.

The girls giggled their delight at Flare's adorable antics while they took her inside.

Chloe's father phoned up Nurse Joy to inform her that they had found someone's Ninetales. Minakoto's dad, however, still silently believed this dog was Queen Flare. Pulling out a picture Minakoto had given him of the beast, he swore under his breath that it was the same one. Her behavior and collar he couldn't explain, but Pokémon have been known to be clever creatures before...

Flare was having difficulty catching any scent other than the girls' perfume. They pat and pet and scratched--she felt suffocated.

Finally she jumped out of their arms and sniffed around properly. Thinking that the dog just wanted to look around the place, the girls let her go, but kept hanging around at a close distance.

There it is!

She followed the scent upstairs, into a room with two beds, back down to the kitchen, and out the door.

The girls had been following her and were confused as to what she wanted.

Running back upstairs, Queen Flare scavenged the room thoroughly.

They had thought about pulling the Eevee out and healing it then and there, but had decided they'd better wait.

Flare growled, scaring the girls. They had better help Forest, or she'd shred them up real good.

They had left had they? Well, she'd have to be going then too. Spying an open window, she made an easy escape by bounding out and landing on the porch roof.

As the girls shouted their alarm, Flare raced off, following the tracks of her elusive prey.

Back to a Pokécenter in a different neighborhood, and off on the road to the great human meeting place.

Flare dashed off.

As long as they were on foot, Flare had a chance of catching them.

Minakoto scooped up the injured Eevee gently. "How did it get into this condition? Shouldn't you have dropped it off at the Pokémon center yesterday? Or even today?"

Eli handed her the Super Potion. "After seeing that thing fight off those Gyarados, I'm NOT touching it. You want it better, you put on the Potion."

Her eyes widened. "You used a Gyarados to catch this Eevee?! You didn't buy it?! A Gyarados?!" She looked down at the oversized Eevee, not knowing which fact she'd take in first. That he was alive or that he was wild. "I'm surprised he's not dead! What were you thinking?! Using a Gyarados?!"

"Hey, the Gyarados was in worse shape than that little guy after it was over!" claimed a pride-struck Hudson.

She frowned. "I can hardly believe that."

Hudson pulled an honest face. "It's true!"

Applying the Potion, she asked the attacks used. The look she gave them made their blood run cold and sent shivers shooting up their spines.

"DRAGON RAGE AND HYDRO PUMP!!!"

Eli glared over at Hudson. "Had to tell her didn't you?"

"Hey! You agreed that it was a good idea! If you hadn't I wouldn't have told her!" Hudson defended himself.

Eli rolled his eyes. "Suuuuuuure you wouldn't've."

Forest blinked and looked up at the makers of the noise pounding inside his head. Suddenly awake, Forest gave a cry of pain as he tried to jump out of Minakoto's arms.

Hudson leapt to take the Eevee, but Minakoto turned aside and lay it on the ground.

"Ssshhh, sweetie. It's okay. You're going to be fine. Everything is okay, don't worry." She put some Potion onto her hand and massaged it into his skin and sore muscles. Rubbing his limbs to life again, she continued soothing his aching head with soft sounds and words.

Eli stood in shock and Hudson knelt beside Minakoto, wonder sketching his features.

Minakoto whispered, suddenly remembering the other thing she'd had a hard time taking in. "If you didn't buy him, then...?"

Hudson nodded, never closing his wide, staring eyes.

Eli ran a hand through his hair, blinking away his amazement, then joined the two of them on the ground.

Mina studied the wondrous little creature before her. "Wow" she whispered, "Forest Fire, this is Forest Fire."

Forest, batting away the human's hands, stood painfully.

Eli felt a spark of energy beside him and looked over in time to catch Hudson's and Minakoto's eyes flash a familiar look of determination. Well, familiar in Hudson, to see it in Minakoto almost scared him. 'Not two of them!'

The roar of a vehicle and the call of its driver woke the group from their reverie. "Hiyo! Is that Hudson and Eli I see? It is! And look, they have a lovely friend with them."

Eli stood as the van approached. That was a voice he'd never forget. "Luis?"

The van pulled up and parked beside them. A dark skinned Pewter City boy grinned out at them.

Hudson lifted his Eevee with as much tenderness as he'd ever owned and walked carefully over to the van. "Hey Luis, where ya' headed?"

Still grinning, Luis answered, "Same place as you probably. The Indigo Plateau is the place to go, man."

Eli and Hudson gave him mock innocent smiles.

He laughed, "Any of you weary travelers want a ride while I'm here?"

"Shot gun!" yelled Eli and Hudson as they raced for the front seat.

"Hold off fellas, I think the lady gets the front." Luis smiled over at Minakoto and winked. "Gotta' teach these guys some manners every time I meet up with 'em."

Minakoto felt incredibly out of place, but at least she wouldn't have to share the front seat with anybody. Smiling shyly she hopped into the front by the dark stranger.

Luis grinned mischievously at Eli.

Eli remembered way back in Pewter when he had first met Luis. Luis had said he envied Eli, because the waitress Luis had been trying to charm came running up to Eli and offered him everything on the menu. Eli smiled. Minakoto didn't have a crush on Eli and Luis saw that right off, giving him a boost of confidence.

"Hey hey Hudson, what's with the monster Eevee?" Luis put out a hand to Forest, only to pull it back quickly seeing as the Pokémon began snarling savagely. "Nasty little sucker ain't he?"

Hudson rubbed Forest's ears, changing the growl to an Eevee purr. "He can be, but I'll work at him."

Smiling down at the two of them, he said, "Well, at least he likes you. Figure I'd have a hard time training him."

Sitting in the back with Hudson and Eli, Forest came to sort of like these strange humans. They were light-hearted and strong-willed. Flare had always told him that it was proper Pokémon behavior to listen to their masters, no matter how you were treated. He was glad to see these two were not difficult to appreciate.

Forest sat himself right between them and insisted that at least one of them should be petting him at all times.

They would talk to him and tell him about the Pokémon League, the people they hoped were going to be there, how they met Luis, all the Pokémon they had and all the battles they had won.

And yet, while he enjoyed this strange new experience and listening to their jovial banter, his thoughts would constantly sift back to the woods, back to his mother, Queen of the Forest.

How had the battle gone?... Was she all right?... Was she looking for him?...

They had stopped here. They had taken Forest out of the Ultraball and the third scent had picked him up.

Flare snorted. Forest Fire must be injured badly to allow it to hold him.

She could smell Super Potion. Well at least they were finally helping him.

Flare's heart sank. There had been a car, or something like it. The scents shuffled around it, scuffling the dirt, and then were gone, leaving nothing but the car scent rolling off down the road.

They were very far ahead of her.

In her youth, Flare had been told this road lead to a gathering place of trainers. They would go there and have supervised battles every year around this time. She had no doubt that this is where they were headed.

Judging from the abandoned Pokémons' stories, it would take her almost two weeks to cover the distance.

Snarling, Queen Flare started off.

She'd get Forest back, one way or another.

Luis smiled slyly as he helped Minakoto out of the van.

She practically fell out the door, letting Luis catch her.

"Whoa! Better get this pretty lady to bed. Don't want her to miss any of her beauty sleep, though the world already needs sunglasses to look at her."

Minakoto looked over at him tiredly. She wondered if he had been saying those things just because he knew it made her nervous.

He smiled broadly as he stood there holding her up and watching the other guys fall face first into the wet grass, tripping over each other.

"Don't mind them, they won't feel it until tomorrow." He stated matter-of-factly to Mina.

Luis led her gently inside his Plateau residence, to a bed in a separate room where he lay her down. Then, as if on sudden impulse, he bent over and kissed the top of her head. "Sleep well Sweetie."

Minakoto pretended not to notice till he left. Then she jumped out of bed and into the adjoining bathroom where she changed into pajamas and did some of her hygienic chores, trying not to see the pink rising in her cheeks.

Hudson and Eli were laughing like drunken fools, and Luis told them so.

"You want to wake up the neighbors?" Luis set himself up.

"Yep!" they said in unison.

They tried to stop but they couldn't, and they soon had Luis laughing right along with them as he helped them inside.

"All right, keep it down. Mina's sleeping in the next room, or at least she's trying to." Luis joined the chuckling pair after he'd finished his sentence.

Hudson went up and knocked on Minakoto's door. "Anybody home?"

Minakoto walked to the door and looked out. The sight of the boys rolling around laughing made a smile twitch her features. "You guys are so weird."

Eli and Hudson thanked her for the compliment and Luis bowed.

It took a while but they finally all settled down and went to bed.

Forest sat in his Ultraball forlornly. He missed the smell of the moss, the thick, warm steam, the nine, silky tails...

Oh Flare, where are you right now?

Flare nestled on a rock under the high, starry sky.

She ate, only to keep up her strength. She was too upset to do it for any other reason.

Her little Eevee was out there, somewhere, with no one but a few young trainers caring for him. And who knows what care meant to them?

Looking to the sky, she breathed a silent wish to the three falling stars she saw there.

Flare lay her head on her paws and wrapped herself in her fluffy tails.

Goodnight to you Forest, wherever you are.

The breeders' competitions were scheduled for the week before the League, so seeing as they had arrived two weeks early, Minakoto helped train Forest as best she could.

Luis and Minakoto marveled at the strength the oversized Eevee had. His scratch attacks out matched a Persian, and his bite, a Growlithe. His tackle and quick attacks were excellent to begin with. And after the TM, he mastered the mimic technique with little to no difficulty.

Under the human training, Forest's attacks strengthened dramatically. Hudson and the others started having difficulty finding an opponent for him to help train him further. Even the Gyarados came to fear him.

One day, Hudson had a match with Minakoto to train Forest.

Having tried all the others, Mina pulled out her best Pokémon, Blaise. "Go!"

Upon seeing the red form a Ninetales, Forest's eyes welled up with unshed tears. Back his mind rushed to the only mother he'd ever known, to the days she'd spar with him, to the races they'd have, to the countless of nameless activities they did.

Luis and Eli frowned thoughtfully as they noted the Eevee's hesitation.

Forest's thoughts flashed back to the present. He looked at the strange Ninetales in front of him and growled at the harsh reality of what he'd lost.

Seeing the change in Forest, Hudson put a hand out, only to pull it back as the hackles rose on the Eevee's back and a savage snarl twisted his features.

Blaise saw the ferocity in the Eevee, and asked him what was wrong.

Forest's reply came with a tone of thick emotion and built up anger. He said that Blaise was not Queen Flare. He said he was alone again, alone in an Ultraball, no tall moss, no hot spring, no thick steam, no shining rock, no Ninetales Queen.

Blaise stepped back. The child was mad with sorrow. This Queen Flare had meant a lot to him.

Forest leapt forward, using his double team.

Blaise was a clever beast; he'd never lost a battle because he had a cool head.

Using agility, he found which was the real Eevee, then used leer to freeze him in his tracks. Giving the Eevee nine good cuffs with a tail whip attack, Blaise won.

Forest lay there, not minding the pain. His mind was to far away to take notice. He was back in the forest surrounding Evolution Mountain, with a Ninetales who pulled that exact victory on him.

Hudson lifted the Eevee's head to look into its face. Forest whimpered and cried an Eevee sound of sadness. Hudson hugged Forest to himself, looking around with puzzlement etched across his face.

Minakoto ruffled the long hair on Blaise's neck. "What's wrong with the little guy? Do you know Blaise?"

Blaise nodded.

"Eli, pass me Forest's Ultraball, I'll get him to a center." Eli tossed Hudson the Ultraball.

Blaise jumped up and caught the ball and brought it to Minakoto. He explained to her that the Eevee claustrophobic or homesick. The Ultraball was torture.

Minakoto didn't understand his exact words but she got the basic message. "He doesn't like the Ultraball? But that doesn't explain why he'd suddenly crack like that, does it?"

Blaise lifted his nine tails and waved them around.

"What?"

Blaise did a flare attack.

Minakoto didn't get it and so Blaise repeated the actions.

Minakoto thought out loud, "Nine tails and a flare attack? Nine tails and--... Queen Flare?!"

Blaise nodded.

"Of course!" Minakoto looked up as if struck by the obviousness of the matter. "Forest Fire was raised by Queen Flare, a Ninetales! He must miss living out in the open. He must miss his mother."

Luis was shocked at Minakoto's ability to communicate with her Pokémon. It impressed him.

Hudson looked down at Forest. "So because Blaise is a Ninetales, he remembered his old home?"

"That makes sense," put in Eli, "One day he's running through some forest with the Ninetales who owned it, the next he's stuck with some people he doesn't know who have him battle everyday and expect him to sleep in a ball. Personally I don't think I'd enjoy that sort of change much either."

Hudson looked up at Eli. "If only we'd caught her too."

Luis walked over and prodded Forest professionally, searching for any harm this stress may have caused Forest's physic. "He hasn't slept in a few nights by the looks of it. He hasn't eaten either." Luis was confused. "But you feed him, and the bowl gets empty somehow."

Eli went into the house and checked the area around Forest's food bowl. He came back out with a handful of kibble. "He's been stashing it underneath the couch."

Minakoto wrinkled her nose. "Is that what that smell was."

Luis grinned. "You thought it was my house keeping?

Minakoto blushed and ducked her head, suddenly realizing how her statement had sounded. "N-no."

"What should I do? The Pokémon League is in two weeks!" interrupted a very concerned Hudson.

Luis mused, "Well, I could mix up some Eevee food and try to make him eat it. A little sleeping drug in it night help but I think he shouldn't be put in the Ultraball unless absolutely necessary. Let him sleep on the bed with you."

"All right."

"What makes you think he'd eat your food?"

Luis turned to Minakoto. "Excuse me?"

Suddenly wishing she'd at least put it nicely she looked to the ground and said, "I didn't mean it that way, it's just, well... do you have an Eevee?"

Always interested in a breeder's point of few, he told her he did not and gestured her to continue.

"Well, I do and I feed her special food I make myself. Perhaps I could help you get him to eat."

"I don't care who feeds him, just get him fed already!" a frustrated and worried Hudson said as he went in the house.

Queen Flare could tell she was getting close. She met more and more trainers and breeders on the road. They were all eager to get one last training lesson in there, and she would most often give it to them.

Dashing down the road at top speed, many trainers mistook her for some Ponyta rushing its owner to the Plateau.

Her mind flew faster than her feet. What would she find in the humans' meeting place? How had those people been treating Forest? What if he wasn't there?

She knew that trainers had a storage process so that they could catch more Pokémon and not have to carry them around.

Hopefully, Forest would be kept close at hand.

For the next few days, Luis and Minakoto spent hours working on Forest's diet.

"Well he was obviously getting what he needed in the wild. That Ninetales was feeding him something."

"Yeah, he'd probably eat if we were feeding him the same thing. We could add extra vitamins and stuff."

Luis paced the living room. Minakoto leaned over the couch. Eli stood against a wall, arms crossed. Hudson sat on the couch holding Forest in his lap.

"What does a Ninetales eat in the wild?" Luis turned to Mina. "Would Blaise know?"

Minakoto shook her head. "He was from a family of Vulpix that have been in human domestication for centuries. He wouldn't have a clue."

"We--wait a second... how did you end up with him then?" Luis smirked.

Mina ducked her face slightly. "Dad bought him for my birthday. He was my first Pokémon."

"Hmm," Luis said, "Well, do any of you know anything about where Forest Fire lived?"

Eli looked at Luis. "Ninetales Kingdom? Does that have anything to do with his food?"

"Ninetales Kingdom was found by some old researchers a year back. It was a huge cave of marble and had a strange ankle high moss growing in it. There was a hot spring at the back. They figured if was Queen Flare's home because it had evidence of a large animal sleeping there and--"

Blinking at the fact that she had not thought of it before, Minakoto looked over at Luis. "They found bits of boiled meats, chewed by Ninetales teeth."

Luis hurdled the counter separating the living room from the kitchen. "Let's try it!"

Minakoto had become very comfortable working with Luis on Pokémon food and walked in there to see what she could do.

Hudson and Eli were left in their dust. Eli turned and rolled his eyes at Hudson. "Breeders. Excited by the most boring aspects of Pokémon training." Hudson laughed.

Luis' eyebrows were low with concentration. "Okay, a hot spring has a temperature of about...?"

Minakoto's reply was quick, "600 degrees."

Luis smiled. "Just right for a Ninetales, of course." He cranked on a pot of water. "Chop up some different kinds of meat would you? I'm getting the healthy stuff."

Minakoto had several kinds of meats sliced by the time he got back. They added necessary nutrients to the meat before dropping it into the pot.

Minakoto chose a Flareon to pull the food back out. It was too hot for them to get near it.

Forest sniffed the food. It was familiar and made him feel hungry. He ate, much to the cheering of his multiple trainers.

Hudson and Eli clapped hands. Luis picked up Minakoto and swung her around. Hudson shook Luis' hand and Eli praised Mina's memory. "I'm glad one of us reads those boring old researchers' papers!"

Forest was happier than he had been in weeks.

Late one night, Queen Flare came to the crest of a tall hill. What she saw there made her heart leap for pure joy. There, in her sight, was a plateau sprinkled in human civilization.

One more day, she thought. She's stop now, travel the rest of the way tomorrow, and nurse her strength through the night. Then she'd find those kids and attack for all she was worth.

Hold on Forest, and please, be there.

Minakoto patted Blaise, careful not to disturb his finely brushed fur. "All right guy, this is the big one. You just look good and listen well like you always do. Be nice to the judges and all that. You know the drill."

Blaise blinked and smiled at her last remark.

She looked at him, then blushed. "Getting to sound like Luis, aren't I?"

Blaise nodded smartly.

"Yes, well, (ahem) I uh... er-that's what happens when you live with people for a while."

"Talking to your Pokémon again?"

Minakoto turned to the voice. Relieved (and a little disappointed) to not find Luis, she said, "Hello Hudson. What would you like?"

"Do I always want something from you when I talk to you?" puzzled Hudson.

"Oh, no! I'm sorry. I must be nervous or something I guess." Minakoto wrung her hands.

Hudson smirked. He knew about her and Luis. He laughed silently. "Know the feeling. Last year was my first in the League, the pressure could kill, seriously."

Hudson went to pet Blaise, but pulled back when he was given a warning growl.

"He only lets me and competition judges touch him. It's a Ninetales thing."

"I see." He and Blaise shared respective stares.

"Anyhow, I came to sit on the coach bench. Not to say I coached you or anything, it's just, I don't like watching things from a spectators point of view." He said, smiling again. "I always hated feeling like nothing but some ones entertainment and it always helped when Eli sat down on the course with me." An evil smirk threatened to cross his mouth. "And, seeing as neither Eli nor Luis is here, I thought I'd lend a hand."

Minakoto wondered if he had actually emphasized Luis' name or if it was just her. Either way, she didn't want to bring the topic up.

Smiling shyly, "Thanks, it does help."

Queen Flare woke early.

After she ate, she cleaned and perfected her appearance.

Today she hoped to battle those kids and get her son back. Now all she had to do was track them down.

As the sky whispered the coming of its ruler, the sun; Queen Flare slinked into the city, following a much-degraded scent.

Forest sat on Eli's head and looked around. Eli laughed, "You'd better not have dirty paws, I just showered." Forest flashed a distracted smile and continued looking around.

Eli slipped his shirt over Forest and put it on himself. Then he draped his towel over Forest's shoulders and walked out to the living room.

Luis looked up and laughed. "Lovely hat there Eli. Where'd ya' get it?"

Minakoto shook her head and went back to combing her Flareon. "I will never understand why they insist on teasing everyone 24/7," she whispered to Flareon.

Flareon gave a yap in reply. She looked over at the Ninetales/Eevee and noticed he had not glared at her for her puppyish response. He seemed anxious. That worried Flareon. He could sense some approaching circumstance, and she had little doubt he was wrong in that.

Eli spread open the towel over Forest and bent over, catching him in the cloth. Eli held it like a bag and slung it over his shoulder.

Forest growled playfully and batted Eli's back through the towel.

Hudson walked into the house, bringing the profit of his morning scavenge, some fruit and a paper. "Hey guys, here's breakfast for us human types. And for the lady, a paper on the contestants placings in that competition of hers." He leaned over on one foot and handed her an apple and the paper.

Luis snatched the rest of the fruit and tossed some to Eli.

"Good thing I ate my share before I got here," said Hudson as he picked up the Flareon and petted her.

Luis gave him a mock sarcastic look. "I'm sure you only ate your share."

Eli slumped Forest down on top of Luis. Forest struggled to stand and jumped on Hudson's shoulder, trampling Luis in the process.

"Hey!" Luis frowned mockingly, while he rubbed his bashed stomach. Then he rolled off the couch and stood on his knees beside Minakoto's chair. "So where'd ya' place?"

Her eyes flashed a silent pride. "Top five."

Luis snatched the paper. "Really! Wow!" Then he smiled at her and winked. "Not that I'm surprised."

Eli threw an arm around Luis' neck and ruffled his hair back. "Sure your not."

Luis fell down, taking Eli with him. They wrestled some on the floor.

Hudson laughed while Minakoto only smiled.

She stood, taking Flareon from Hudson and booted the other two playfully. "All right, enough, or I'll sick Blaise on ya' all."

Immediately all three boys went to attention, Luis on his knees, Eli pinned under him, and Hudson where he stood, ready to tackle the others. "Yes Ma'am!"

She rolled her eyes. "Next match is in half an hour, if any of you would like to come."

"And watch you kick some butt? I'd love to!" said Luis as he stood up, throwing Eli into a tangle of some nearby blankets.

"I'm there, eh Forest?" Hudson scratched the Eevee's neck. Forest purred in response.

"Hey wait up!" Eli scrambled to his feet, tossing blankets all around and running after them.

Seeing Eli racing up behind them, Hudson picked up his pace with Luis-towing Minakoto-following him.

"Well speed it up. What do you think? - we got all day?"

Luis grinned evilly. He spun around and caught Mina at the waist and all but carried her along.

Laughter rang through out the street as the four friends and their Pokémon dashed off to the breeding center.

Forest ran alongside Hudson, wishing humans were faster.

A pang of sadness hit him. Would he ever see Queen Flare again?

Where were these kids? Had they been everywhere and back?

The scent went up one street, only to come back on the other sidewalk, it criss-crossed here, was parallel there. Across the street and back, to one store or another, to special fields in the park marked for Pokémon battles.

Every now and then she caught scent of Forest and her heart leapt. He's with them!

Finally, after a few hours, she found where they had been staying.

Peering into the windows it seemed that they were not there.

Sniffing around the doors for the freshest scent was difficult. Apparently they enjoyed sitting on the step to eat, play, and talk.

But at least now she knew that Forest was alive and well-thank goodness. These were decent humans at least, unlike the ones he had before.

Finding the newest track, she set off.

Yes, she'd have Forest back, one way or another.

"All right Growlithe, flare!"

"Ponyta, flame kick!"

"Go Charmander! Ember!"

"Now Blaise, firespin!"

Minakoto showed off her Pokémon's strongest attacks, trying to impress the judges.

Her Pokémon preformed nicely, listening to her every command, allowing the judges to pet and stroke.

Eli and Hudson got a little bored. Not much action in breeding shows.

Luis, however, was enthralled. 'She cares so much about them. It's as if she enters these things because it's a way for her Pokémon to have the competition they need to be happy and less chance of getting hurt. And since they want it, she puts her heart into it.'

Luis leaned forward, resting his arms on his knees. 'They work so hard to gain, not her favour, but her happiness. They all depend on each other with full assurance that the other will be there.'

He shaded his eyes as her Raichu executed a perfect thunderbolt. 'How do you gain such a relationship with your Pokémon?'

His thoughts were interrupted by a strange sounding scream, almost dog-like.

Luis looked over and saw something that scared him almost out of his mind.

Queen Flare had followed the trail to a large building. The scent was incredibly fresh here. They were inside.

When she got inside she saw many fire type Pokémon there. They were moving here and there in every direction for some purpose or another but she could not find the kids who had taken Forest.

She could not find the trail in this crowded place, too many other scents in the room. So, more out of personal preference than anything, she followed the flow of a Ninetales contestant.

Once in the room where the Ninetales had been coming and going from, Queen Flare caught a familiar scent. It was the one who owned the van; the fourth one she had grown accustomed to.

Where was he? She looked around her surroundings. He must be here. She realized that even if he was, she had no idea what he looked like.

Well, at least she was in the right room.

Further in the room, she found a large arena lower than the floor. There were people and Pokémon below. They seemed to be competing for something without hurting each other.

Queen Flare sneered. If it wasn't needless fighting it was entertainment. Humans could be so petty.

Sniffing the air, she continued her search for Forest when she heard something. It was a small cry, a bark that was unmistakably familiar.

Forest?

Glancing around frantically she caught sight of him, there, in the arms of a young man sitting down in the arena, watching one of the contestants. With him were two boys: the one in the ring, a girl.

It's them! She'd found them!

Queen Flare paced around the ring, studying the surroundings to get a good view of her fighting ground. She decided on an entrance and skipped soundlessly onto the rafters, no one saw her.

Waiting for the perfect moment, she crouched low and watched as a Raichu gave a near perfect thunderbolt.

In the silence that always follows as humans stand in awe of the incredible power of their Pokémon, Flare gave out a long forceful howl.

She used firespin and hopped inside the tornado of flames from above. She pounced out of the fire in a radiance worthy of her majesty, flames licking at her heels and tails like graceful robes of burning silk. She used leer to make her eyes of frightening luminance.

The people in the room lost their breath when they saw her. She was fearfully stunning.

Queen Flare glared at the four who had taken Forest from her.

Eli got his voice back first. "Queen Flare! It's Queen Flare!"

Flare made for Hudson with a tackle attack.

"Aaaa-" Hudson started in fright.

Forest leapt in her path and took the blow without hurting himself.

Hudson fell back off the bench, scared out of his wits and wondering what happened.

Flare was surprised. Her eyes stopped glowing and she looked down at her son. She asked why he had done that.

Forest smiled up at her. He told her he was overjoyed to see her. Then, with a more serious face he said that he couldn't let her hurt his master.

Hudson looked on in wonder, awestruck at her majestic presence. "It must be Queen Flare. Forest can speak to it."

Minakoto's eyes were huge. "She's beautiful," she whispered to herself.

Luis stood there, unable to move. "That thing is huge and angry is what it is!"

Flare snarled and growled at Forest, telling him that she would only let him stay if these people had a Pokémon that could defeat her.

Forest knew that none of their Pokémon could even beat him. But that was now, Flare had not been trained, but he knew she had trained hard for the Arcanine battle and that she had probably worked herself even harder for this match.

He would never fight against her, she was his mother and it was not his place to rebel against her like that.

Flare glared up at the four humans in front of her. Choose your best battlers, she ordered, perhaps you shall have me aswell.

Hudson turned to Eli. "I think she wants a battle."

"No way Hudson! Your Gyarados could barely catch that Eevee. A Ninetales is WAY stronger than an Eevee. What would you use?"

Luis looked at Minakoto. "Well Dear, you're the only one of us who has a Pokémon that can say it's never lost. I think Blaise is the safest bet."

Minakoto blinked. "Why? Why should we fight her? I don't see the point. She's too angry."

"Because, I think she intends to take Forest back if we don't."

Minakoto stared at Luis, then to Forest. Even if he was Hudson's Pokémon, she loved the little guy; she couldn't just let him go. But that was how Queen Flare felt too. She frowned in deep thought.

"All right, I'll do my best." Pulling out Blaise, she continued, "and Blaise, please do your best too."

Flare saw the Pokéball and knew the time had come. She was ready.

Forest recognized the ball. He didn't know what to feel.

"Go Blaise!"

Queen Flare was amazed to find that when the red light had formed, there was a Ninetales, almost as big as her, and just as perfectly developed. If it weren't a male, it could probably be her clone.

Blaise looked on at her. So this was the one his master wanted to catch so badly. He had never seen a more perfect semblance of a Ninetales.

"Blaise, take down!"

Flare went into agility and dodged him easily enough.

"Flare!"

She had never seen a flare attack so strong in a Ninetales as this one, he had been trained well, and she told him so.
Blaise commented that he was surprised she spoke to him.
Flare smiled. She told him that she had always been a flirt.
Blaise was taken aback and stopped mid-blast.
Flare used skull bash and flung him half way across the arena, laughing as she did.
Blaise landed on his feet. And smirked at her. I've had my moments aswell, he said.
Flare blinked, and Blaise used double team and bite.

Minakoto saw that Blaise was relying on his own command. She could hardly believe it.

Flare reached up and grabbed him. Using seismic toss she threw him face first into the ground. She tackled and tackled and tackled again, not letting him have his feet.

Blaise snarled savagely, scaring Minakoto who had never seen him angry. His eyes burned with his inner strength and his body was engulfed in flames. He used ember and dislodged Flare from her game of tennis.

Queen Flare tried to stand but found herself blown away by a terrible fire blast as Blaise descended on her like a violent storm.

She had never felt so helpless. She didn't enjoy it.

They were both enraged now. Neither of them had ever been frustrated like this. They were both champions and would not admit defeat.

They countered till they couldn't jump. They blasted till they had no more flame to blast. They scratched and bit till they couldn't lift a paw. They lay on the ground, glaring at each other, too tired to move. All of this had taken almost an hour, an hour that felt like three weeks.

Minakoto turned to Hudson. "You said you had no control over your Gyarados when it fought Forest. I thought it was just because you hadn't trained it well." Minakoto looked down when Hudson put on a look of hurt shock. "I'm sorry."

Luis just stared at the Ninetales. "So, um, who's going to get 'em some help?"

Eli shook his head. "I ain't touching them!"

"Neither am I," answered Luis without taking his eyes off the monsters.

"I will." Hudson started forward.

Minakoto put a hand out. "I think they are talking."

Hudson blinked and looked out at Blaise and Flare. It did seem as if they were saying something.

"I think you're right Mina," said Eli.

Blaise was first to get over his anger. He looked at her and laughed good-naturedly.
Flare glowered at him with her sore and bashed eyes. What is so funny?
A flirt, he said, you had me going there. But I'm not really kingly material. What would your subjects say?
Flare blinked. A small smile crept across her face unbidden. I have no subjects; I resigned to find Forest Fire.
Blaise grinned. But you haven't lost any of your queenly significance, have you?
No, I guess not.
I'd hate to fight you when you're trained. I barely survived this.
I doubt I could get much more powerful, trained or not.
True, I'm lucky I have my TMs. I don't think I would've lived through this without them.
Only because I'm female. If I had been a guy, I would have lost.
Blaise laughed. Had you been a guy, the whole flirting matter would never have been. I think this was more interesting.
Flare finally laughed.
Forest Fire leapt out onto the field. Flare, are you o.k.?
Yes, I'll be fine.

Forest looked around the arena. He was surprised the building had stayed up. Parts of it didn't. The floor was ravaged and raked right through with horrific chasms and gouges. The walls were marred with the shapes of fire blast and massive firespin tornadoes.

The other humans who had been here for the tournament were hiding wherever they could, but with the silence, had become brave enough to peer into the arena.

"I think they are done." Luis announced hoarsely.

Hudson walked out and set his hand on Forest. "What happened?"

Flare looked up. Is this the one that owns you Forest?
Yes.
Which one owns him? Flare nodded in Blaise's direction.
The female.
I see.

Hudson pulled out some Super Potion and sprayed it on Blaise, who allowed him to come close. Then he looked over at Flare. "Can I come near you to your highness?"

Flare nodded and closed her eyes.

Hudson approached cautiously, just in case she still had some fight in her. "All right 'majesty, this will sting a little." He sprayed on the Super Potion.

Flare didn't even flinch. Hudson did as Minakoto had done with Forest Fire those few weeks ago. He massaged it under her fur into her skin, letting it heal her.

Minakoto stepped out to Blaise and did he same for him.

Eli and Luis kept their distance. "I don't know about you Eli but I'm going to wait for those two to tame them again."

Eli nodded. "Just like they did with Forest. I ain't touching them till then. You?"

"Nope." Luis claimed with an air of finality.

The lead judge of the competition ran out, huffing and puffing in undignified anger. "Are those your Ninetales?"

Hudson stood. "No sir. This one is wild."

Luis looked the lead judge over. 'uh-oh.'

"And that one?"

"He-" Minakoto started.

"He's mine."

Minakoto looked at Luis.

Luis saw that the man was angry, he wasn't going to let Minakoto get kicked out of this thing just yet, not when she had talents like that.

"Well, young man, I suggest you keep your Pokémon battles outside! This place is for breeding, not catching loose Pokémon!" the man fumed in Luis' face.

"Yes sir, I apologize."

"And to leave your own Pokémon in someone else's care and not even look at your new Pokémon, much less care for it, is absolutely shameful!" continued the judge.

"Yes sir, I understand."

"I don't think you do!" continued the angered man, "By the power invested in me by the Pokémon League of the Indigo Stadium, I give that Ninetales to the breeder who cared for him. She deserves him for her show of compassion towards all Pokémon. I also give the wild one to that boy, he's done better than you young man." The man frowned hotly at Luis. "Do you understand now?!"

Luis almost broke out in laughter, but kept a straight face and finished with an award winning performance. He hung his head and hid his face, more so the man wouldn't see the smile that insisted on crawling across than of shame. "Yes sir," he said with disappointed resignation.

"Good." The man stood straight and walked to Minakoto. "You have done a fine job taking care of that ones wounds, I think it only right that you should have him." He shook her hand with a bold smile shining out of his sooty face. "What is your name?"

Finding her voice, she replied, "Minakoto O'Connel."

"Yes, well, good. I'm sure you'll take better care of this one than that boy did. Keep up the good work. But for now, I think we should call it a day and clean up this mess." The man glared back at Luis as if to say it were all his fault. He walked away to the other side of the arena to clear out the people.

Flare stood painfully. Eli came over to see the Ninetales Queen up close.

"Hey Luis, you think you could stop carrying Minakoto everywhere for once and help carry her majesty?" Hudson grinned.

Luis hesitated, but he did pick up Flare. If Hudson and Minakoto were brave enough, he could be too.

Eli picked up Forest and looked down at Blaise. "We aren't carrying him too are we?"

Minakoto took out her Pokéball and called Blaise back. "We'll have to head for the nearest Pokécenter. These guys are in bad shape."

Hudson and Eli walked farther ahead. Minakoto stayed back with Luis and Queen Flare.

"Why did you say that?"

Luis blinked and looked at her. "Say wha--oh!" He smiled. "If the judge had thought you were the cause of the battle, you would've been thrown out of the competition. It could ruin your entire reputation."

Minakoto stared back at him quizzically. "Will you be able to enter the Pokémon League now?"

Luis flashed a broad grin. "Under all this soot, I doubt if anyone would recognize me much. Besides, that was the judge who needed glasses. He wasn't wearing them when he spoke to me. I don't think I'm in that much trouble."

Minakoto blinked and smiled. "Thank-you. Now Blaise is mine twice over."

They laughed.

Flare lay on the couch with Forest. She wrapped her tails around him and listened to the sound of his breathing. How she had missed him.
Eli looked at the two of them. He was the only one up. He walked over and sat on the floor. "Hello your majesty."
She stared at him.
"May I pet you?"
She nodded.
Eli pet the fur on her neck. "Wow. You're the first Ninetales I've ever seen with soft fur."
Flare smiled.
"Have we taken good enough care of your son, highness?"
She nodded. You've taken better care of him than I ever hoped.
Forest purred in his sleep.
"Strange. I've never seen him so cute. He normally tries to be the big guy, you know, none of that adorable puppy junk."
Flare grinned.
"So, who's Pokémon are you going to be?"
She looked at him seriously. I haven't decided.
"You don't know do you?"
She shook her head.
"Are you even going to stay with us?"
She nodded.
Eli smiled. "Good. I don't think anyone could leave Forest if you did." Eli sat there for a moment. He looked into Flare's eyes. She was so gentle now, so motherly--he could almost hug her. But he remembered her in the battle before and shivered. "You are pretty good at mood swinging you know that?"
She smiled proudly and nodded.
"How'd you get Blaise so mad in that fight anyhow?"
Frustration, she said, Pokémon who have never lost get frustrated when they get a challenge. She would know.
Eli leaned over and kissed Queen Flare's velvety muzzle. "Good night your royal highness."

Flare chose to be Hudson's Pokémon. He had the fighting instinct she admired, he also owned Forest Fire.

Hudson won the Mastership at the Pokémon League that year. Flare and Forest were unstoppable.

Luis stopped being a flirt with all girls, but kept bugging Minakoto. Her father was surprised that such an outspoken boy had taken a shine to his soft-spoken daughter. Chloe and the others were out right shocked at Minakoto.

Eli never lost his 'talent' with girls, much to his dismay. He had won a mastership with Hudson the same year, losing only to Hudson in the final match to decide who the greatest master of the year was. He became a Gym leader in Hop Hop Hop Town. His badges are the hardest to get in the Indigo League, making anyone who has one highly respected.

Luis trained to be a Pokémon researcher. His reports and recordings are often used in the Pokédex for descriptive reference.

Minakoto became one of the top breeders in the Indigo League. Many breeders and trainers seek out her advice.

Flare and Forest were bred with Minakoto's Pokémon, and their offspring were strong and incredibly powerful. Hudson takes good care of them and always takes them back to the Evolution Mountain forest to let them have some fun.

Hudson became an elite. That was more than he'd ever dreamed. He doesn't really live anywhere, and he misses Eli at times, especially when he gets lost, but now Queen Flare and Forest Fire get him out of trouble.

Now that's a full time job.