#clawlos

“Wait up, Howleen!” Twyla ran to catch up with her friend, her chains rattling as she moves. “We still have to wait for--”

“Nina said she’d meet us there,” Howleen throws over her shoulder as she continues to hurry toward the edge of the Village of Book End. There, at the edge of town, sits a huge mansion type building, almost like a castle. At the front, hanging above the door, is a large key with a feather twined around an apple. 

“Hey, guys!” Nina Thumbell waves, a huge smile on her small face. “Aren’t you excited?!” She’s bouncing up and down, her head reaching Twyla’s shoulder as she bounces. Nina is small for her age and, even though the three girls are all at the age to get their first official Pokemon, not those they’ve been given by siblings or parents. At age 15, one is supposed to start a journey to find who one is and how they can find their place within Clawlos. Raven gives out the HexDex or a MirrorDex and a starter Pokemon. 

“Do you know which Pokemon you’re going to choose?” Twyla asks. “I think I’m going to get a Torchic.”

“Any grass type!” Nina shouts as they get to the entrance.

“I’m going with a Cyndaquil,” Howleen answers.

“Well, you girls are right on time!” They spin around to find the Professor herself.

“Welcome to the Village of Book End and my humble home.” She smiles as she gestures for the kids to come inside. “Today is a very special day. When a trainer turns 15, they are welcome into my home to pick their very first Pokemon to begin their journey with. Although you may have a Pokemon or two already, it is time to finally begin your journey into the world of Clawlos.”

Raven leads the three girls to her lab, where some of her Pokemon are helping her. A small orange and yellow creature comes over, dancing on two feet around the newcomers. 

‘Tini?’ It blinks up at them. ‘Tini!Tini!’ 

“Wow!” Twyla’s eyes widen as she kneels down in front of the Pokemon. “A Victini! I thought those were super rare.”

Raven smiles at the younger trainer. “Why don’t you check what your HexDex says?” She hands the ghoul a light purple Dex, which instantly lights up when she  points it at the Pokemon.

“Victini, the Victory Pokémon. This Pokémon brings victory. It is said that Trainers with Victini always win, regardless of the type of encounter.” The Dex sounds very robotic, but Twyla smiles. 

“So cool! Can I have one?” Howleen asks. Raven hands her a bright pink HexDex and Nina gets a MirrorDex. Each trainer gets a Dex depending on their origins. Whether fairytale or monster, all are welcome to a Dex.

“So, are you ready to choose your starters?”

The three girls smile, making Raven chuckle as she remembers her own journey's beginning, with Apple White, Jane Boolittle, and Maddie Hatter.

“Dragonite, can you please get the Pokeballs?” she asks the yellow and creme dragon. 

‘Drago!’ the Pokemon cries with a smile, scampering off to do as his Trainer asks.

“Do any of you have previous Pokemon?” Howleen and Twyla nod, while Nina just shakes her head. “Can I see them?”

“Herrr,” the Pokemon growled.

Raven circled it, a smile on her face. “A Herdier. Your sister’s, I’m assuming.” Howleen nods. 

“His name’s Gizmo,”  Howleen says proudly. Gizmo growls, seeming to puff himself up to look more regal.

“And this is Dustin, my Bunnelby,” Twyla announces and Raven smiles as the  Bunnelby jumps onto her shoulder.

‘Bun!’ It makes a salute with one of its ears. 

“I also have a Fennekin, which my Dad gave me.” She throws up her second Pokeball and a small fox Pokemon pops out. The small fire-type sneezes. 

‘Drago!’ Dragonite comes back in a box full of Pokeballs. Each one is separated by color, depending on what type it is. 

“Thank you, Dragonite.” The orange and cream dragon wanders off, wings flapping. Raven claps her hands together, an excited gleam in her amethyst eyes. “Now, who wants to go first?”

Howleen pushed the shy Nina forward, making the small girl blush. “Go ahead. Pick one.”

“Do I just...?” One of the Pokeballs twitched and she grabbed it. A blue light shot out and a small green Pokemon with a leaf on it’s head appeared.

‘Chiko!’ the small Pokemon bounces up and down. 

“Wow, a Chikorita!” Nina holds out her MirrorDex.

“Chikorita, the Leaf Pokémon. Chikorita uses the leaf on its head to scan for warmth and humidity in its surroundings, and loves to sunbathe.”

“Nice choice!” Twyla’s rough voice comes from behind Nina. “She fits you perfectly.”

“Do you have a name for her?” Raven asks. The Chikorita wrapped a vine around the small girl’s wrist, smiling up at her.

‘Chiko!’ the green Pokemon waves the leaf on to the of her head around. ‘Chiko!’

“How about Petal?” Nina says as she kneels down in front of her new Pokemon. “Do you like that name?”

‘Chiko!’ The Pokemon wraps her leaf around her trainer’s shoulders.

‘Cynda! Cyndaquil!’ Howleen jumps back as another Pokemon emerges from it’s Pokeball. It’s back explodes into fire as it runs into Howleen’s arms.

“Cyndaquil, the Fire Mouse Pokémon. Normally mild and even tempered, Cyndaquil will shoot a scorching flame out of its back when upset.” The Pokemon sneezes, making the flame go higher, before it curls up into a ball near Howleen’s feet.

“It’s cute,” the wolf comments. “Like a fiery pin cushion.” Her eyes widen. “I’ll call her Cushion.”

“And last but not least...” Raven turns to Twyla.

“Whoa!” Twyla jump back as one of the other Pokeball opens and the small chick pops out. 

“Tor! Torchic!”

“A Torchic! ” Howleen jumps up and down, ears flicking back and forth. She holds out her HexDex. 

“Torchic. The Chick Pokemon. Torchic sticks with its Trainer, following behind with unsteady steps. This Pokemon has a place inside its body where it keeps its flame. Give it a hug—it will be glowing with warmth. This Pokémon is covered all over by a fluffy coat of down.”

“Now that you’ve all chosen your Pokemon, it’s time to start your journey,” Raven says with a smile. “Be safe, train hard, and have fun.” She smiles at the new Trainers, “If you ever need anything, stop by a Pokemon Center or find the nearest traveling healer. Your Pokedex also has a map and a communicator that will connect you to anyone you register into it.”

She ushered the girls out of the door. “Now get out of here and write your own stories!”

“Drapion, use X-Scissor!” Clawdeen calls as the battle continues. Ramona is standing on the other end of the battle field, her Tyranitar growling in front of her. As Drapion attacks, Clawdeen says, “Remember, Dark types are weak against not only Fairy types, but also to Bug types. ”

"I know," Ramona says and, with the flick of her wrist, shouts, "Alright Tyranitar, you ready?”

“TAR!” the Rock and Dark Pokemon growled loudly. 

“Alright!” Ramona touches the keystone in the inset of the golden wrap bracelet with rose curled around the stone. Tyranitar is wearing a ring around its horn, yet another present from Rosabella, just like her bracelet. “Keystone respond to my heart. Beyond evolution. Mega evolve!”

A light shines around her Pokemon for a second before her Mega Tyranitar appears.

“No fair!” Clawdeen shouts, even though she’s smiling. Ramona has, so far, raised more Pokemon that can Mega Evolve, while Clawdeen only has one. Her Sableye can beat all of her stronger Pokemon, but she’s never used her Mega against Drapion, who can use bug type moves. 

However, Ramona had been training for this. Her Tyranitar knew Iron Head from breeding, but they had been working hard to learn a move that could weaken Bug types. “Mega Tyranitar, use Flamethrower!”

“Dodge and use--” Clawdeen’s words are cut off when Ramona’s mirrorphone goes off. Tyranitar cuts off mid-fire, but Drapion still gets hit and tries to put out the fire on its head. “Seriously? We were just getting to the best part!”

Ramona sighs and checks her phone. “It’s Rosa. I’ve gotta take this.” Tyranitar loses its Mega form and turns to its trainer, worry on its menacing face. “Don’t worry, Tar, she’s probably fine.” She picks up the phone. “Hey, Rosa, what’s... Wait, what? Yeah, we’ll be there!”

“What’s wrong?” Clawdeen asks as Ramona recalls her Tyranitar. 

“She found a strange Pokemon in the woods and it’s hurt. The only thing the Dex says about it is that its a Dark type. That’s why she called me.”

“Well, don’t forget to come back and finish our battle.”

“Thanks, Clawdeen!”

“Adelita,” Ramona waves, “over here!”

The scale Pokemon flutters over and lands in front the werewolf girl. “Vi! Vivillion!” 

“Did Rosa send you?” The Vivillion nods and flies off. “Hey! Wait up!”

She follows the Pokemon down to the Enchanted Forest, near the Scarlite Four HQ at Monster High. There, sitting under a tree with a Pokemon in her lap, is Ramona’s girlfriend and Pokemon Ranger, Rosabella Beauty. Ramona slides down next to her, pulling the fox-Pokemon into her arms. “Is it okay?” The Scarlite Four in Training releases her partner Absol, instructing her to scan the perimeter for danger. Something must have attacked the creature. 

“I don’t know,” Rosabella says, looking up through foggy glasses. It looks like she had been crying. Rosa had always been concerned with any Pokemon that she found and her empathy made her one of the best Rangers beside Darling Charming and Batsy Claro. The two of them look down at the Pokemon.

The Pokemon is a slate gray, fox-like Pokémon with red and black accents. Its ears are triangular with dark insides, and it has a large tuft of fur tipped with red on top of its head. It has greenish blue eyes with red eyelids. There are circular, red markings above the eyes that resemble eyebrows. Its muzzle is short and tapered with two small fangs seen in the upper jaw when its mouth is open. The Pokemon possesses a ruff of black fur around its neck and four short limbs tipped with red. Its tail is short and bushy.

“I’ve never seen a Pokemon like this before. Professor Raven will be so hexcited!”

“Calm down, Rosa,” Ramona rests her hand on her girlfriend’s shoulder. “Maybe my MirrorDex will know what Pokemon it is.” 

She holds out the device toward the softly glowing Pokemon. It beeps. “Zorua, the Tricky Fox Pokémon. Nothing is known about this Pokemon, beside the fact that it is rare.” It beeps again. “Zorua’s first move... Rest.”

“Oh!” Rosabella sets the little creature down on the grass. “It must be trying to heal itself!” She raises her arm. “Vivillion, use Aromatherapy!” 

“Vi! Vi! Vivillion!” The butterfly-like Pokemon begins to flap its wings, letting off a soft soothing green powder that slowly surround the Zorua. As soon as the green powder fades, the black fox Pokemon begins to squirm, eyes slowly opening. 

‘Where... Where am I?’ a soft voice echoes in the minds of both women. 

“Did you say something?” Rosabella asks. Ramona shakes her head.

‘Where am I?!’

Rosabella answers the voice. “You’re safe, little one. In the Enchanted Forest.” She runs a hand through the creature’s fur. “My name is Rosabella and this is my partner, Vivillion. Her name is Adelita.” She gestures to the woman on the Pokemon’s other side. “This is Ramona and her partner Pandora the Absol.”

‘How did I get here?’

“We don’t know,” Ramona says. “But why don’t we go somewhere safer. There’s a Pokemon Center right up the road from here. They’ll help you feel better.”

‘Will you stay with me?’ the Zorua asks.

“We promise, little guy,” Rosabella says as she smiles, scratching the fox Pokemon behind the ear. 

Ramona and Rosabella wait with their Pokemon as Nurse Cupid and Audio check out the Zorua in the back of the Center. Absol is curled up at the Scarlite trainee’s feet, giving out a loud yawn before she lets her head drop. 

“Wow, maybe you should get Absol checked out as well. She’s been pretty tired lately.”

“I know.” Ramona scratches the Pokemon behind its horn, chuckling as she begins to purr. “We’ve been training really hard. Clawdeen wants me to battle the next challenger. She wants us to be ready.”

“Is that what you were doing when I called you?” Rosabella wrings her hands. “I sorry! I wasn’t thinking. I mean, of course you need to train. Oh, Ramona, you could have said--”

“Yes,” Ramona puts her hand on Rosabella’s, stopping the other girl’s ranting. “I will always come when you call.”

The two women watch as Audio rolls the bed out of the back of the Pokemon Center. “Au! Audino!” 

“I’ve never seen this Pokemon before, but he’s been fully healed,” Nurse Cupid says as she hands Ramona some bags full of medicine and Pokefood. “Just make sure he takes this and eats lot of food.”

“Oh, he isn’t--” Ramona tries to object, but Nurse Cupid just smile and shakes her head. 

‘I want to go with you!’ Zorua leaps up and lands in Ramona’s arms, spilling the medicine and Pokefood all over the floor.

“Okay,” Ramona chuckles. “Okay.” She pulls a pink Pokeball out of her bag with a smile. “You want to come with us?” Absol comes over and sniffs at the small Pokemon and both women smile as the larger Pokemon nuzzles against soft black fur. “You like him, Pandora?”

“Sol!” The female Absol’s horn cuts though the air in a slicing motion before turning back to the young Zorua. “Absol!”

‘I like you too!’ Zorua boops Absol on the nose, making the humans laugh. He turns to Ramona, who is still holding the Pokeball.

“So, Zorua,” she pauses, “Shadow,” the Zorua yips, “you ready for a while new adventure?”

‘Yeah!’ the Tricky Fox Pokemon jumps up and presses the button to open the Pokeball. 

Once it clicks, signaling the capture’s success, Rosabella smiles. “Professor Raven will be so hexcited!”