This fan fiction is rated M for blood, gore, dismemberment, and suggestive themes. If you do not like the listed then do not read, I do not own Pokemon or associated Medias He who passed the Proving Grounds A young blonde haired boy slept soundly in his bed, but his peaceful sleep was abruptly ended with a thunderous earthquake. He looked around in alarm to see what was causing the entire house to shake. Outside, the three standing stones that occupied the center of his home town vanished beneath the ground. Before the wonder-struck eyes of the blonde youth three crystalline pillars rose up from where the original stone monuments once stood. The crystal monument ascended with such force that it upended the house the youth occupied; blasting it free from its foundation. "Anthony! Anthony can you hear me!" cried a frantic voice from the other side of the wall. Before the boy could answer however the world faded dark as he saw the gentle smile of a Gardevoir staring over him. "Sleep," she cooed, and the boy did just that. Anthony woke in a cold sweat looking about his room; everything was in its rightful place. "Again that dream haunts me," he muttered to himself. "Doom," the large black canine huffed having been disturbed by the restless teen. "Sorry Jace I didn't mean to wake you," He replied gently petting the Houndoom's horned head. The youth glanced to the clock that adorned his nightstand; five twenty-nine. "well might as well get up, don't want to keep Uncle Simon waiting." He reached over just as the time turned to five thirty activating the alarm, "gah silence you I'm up," Anthony dressed himself and headed down to greet his uncle who was sitting at the table reading the morning paper while an Audino cooked breakfast. "Bacon and eggs this morning Penelope?" he observed as he peered over the Normal type's head. "Audi!" she replied waving an egg covered spatula in greeting. "Have a seat Tony," the teen's uncle gestured to a chair, "and... happy birthday." "Uncle Simon since when I have ever liked being called Tony," Boy replied. The older burly man sighed, "Very well Anthony, what do you want for your birthday?" "You know what I want Uncle, I want to become a Pokemon trainer." "Then you know the deal, pass the obstacle course and ring the bell," he explained before taking a sip from his coffee, "and this is your last chance, fail and you give up on being a trainer." There was a general disapproval from all who occupied the room. "You can't do that, Papa O'kai said that I could take the test as often as I want," Anthony protested. "My grandfather Arceus rest his soul was the only reason you were even allowed to learn Ice climbing, I'll honor his wishes this time but you're getting older and you've got to stop wasting your life on this impossible dream." "Papa O'kai never saw it as an impossible dream, I know I can do it," the teen adamantly replied. "It pains me to say this but maybe my grandfather was wrong, you have yet to pass the test." Simon reminded. "That maybe uncle but I've made up my mind I'm going to become a trainer whether you like it or not," "Anthony you are my only link to my brother if I let you to become a trainer and you get hurt I lose that link." Simon said with a heavy sigh as he pinched the bridge of his nose. "Uncle, the world is a dangerous place," his nephew paused to gesture to the city outside the kitchen window. "Even here I run the risk of getting hurt." "Yes but..." the elder trainer tried. "But nothing, I am ten times more capable than some of the other kids that start their journeys at ten, I'm thirteen now and I know how to survive thanks to Papa's training," The burly man thought for a moment as the sizzle of breakfast served as the only break of silence he and his nephew shared. He knew Anthony wanted to see the world, and he knew that he was very capable even with all that he survived eight years ago. "Fine, fine I'll... let you become a trainer even if you fail the test, but you have to at least try every obstacle," Simon relented. "Now do you want to head out now or do you want to wait until after you open your presents." Anthony was about to answer when Penelope interrupted with the serving of breakfast. "AUDINO!" she called summoning the rest of Simon's Pokemon, as she yelled she secretly passed a flash card to Anthony. He gave the card a quick glace to see that it read; Present. "I'll go with presents first this time," the teen answered with a smile as the rest of the Pokemon gathered in the kitchen. "Alright Larz get the presents," the uncle asked the large armored grass type that entered in last. "Ches," the Pokemon answered pulling a small stack of presents from the nearby closet. He set the gifts in front of the youth and settled down at the large table next to Simon. Anthony shoveled the remains of his breakfast into his mouth before he began to tear into the presents before him. The first few presents where simple toys and bobbles, but as he reached for Penelope's present he felt the largest package pushed towards him. The teen looked at the Chesnought that was pushing the present toward him; Larz offered a large smile towards the youth and a wink towards the Audino. He opened the large box to show a large sturdy red backpack. "T... thank you Larz," Anthony stammered shocked at the gift, "that couldn't have been cheap." "It wasn't," the old trainer replied. "Audi, Audi!" Penelope jumped pushing her gift towards the boy. Her gift was smaller than Larz's but as the boy tore into the small yet heavy package he saw what she got him; cleats and a pair of ice axes. Their blue chrome finish gleamed in the early morning light, and as the boy hefted them he found that they were incredibly light and balanced, "Penelope this... this is perfect thank you." After breakfast Simon gathered the few supplies he needed before taking his young nephew out beyond the edge of Anistar City to a small clearing close to the mine where the uncle worked stood a large obstacle course. "Alright the rules are the same as last time; clear the course while evading my Pokemon, and when you ring the bell you're done," The man explained readying a starting pistol. "Easy," Anthony smirked as he hunched down at the starting line. "We shall see," He replied raising the small snap gun, "Start!" The teen heard the loud bang of the gun echo through the late spring air before he dashed for the first obstacle. A set of monkey bars hung over a pit of icy cold mud stood as the first obstruction to the teen's path toward trainerhood. Fay, a Dragonair snaked around the mud pit ready to fire hydropumps at the youth in an attempt to knock him from the bars. Anthony leaped for the first bar just as he felt a blast of water clip his shirt. His hands caught onto the cold steel bar but instead of advancing for the next rung, the teen hoisted himself onto the top of the monkey bars. It was a risky maneuver but allowed him to move more swiftly across the trench. His unusual approach also had the benefit of throwing off the Dragonair's aim. Shot after shot hit too low or too wide as the large draconian snake tried to compensate for the faster movement of her target. With flawed grace Anthony landed hard on the other side but as far as he was concerned, clearing the obstacle was worth the pain. He pick himself up off the ground and ran for the next obstacle; a tire jog with Penelope clinging to his back pretending to be injured. Anthony hoisted the seventy pound Pokemon to his back before setting into an easy rhythm of the obstacle, but just as he cleared the halfway mark of the obstacle the teen lost his balance. The pink Pokemon that held onto his back suddenly tightened her grip on his neck in sheer panic as the unsteady teen fought to regain his footing. "*hurk* Penny ease up a bit I can't breathe," he gasped out after he regained his balance. "Audi," she apologized as she loosened her grip to allow the boy to continue. Anthony continued his jog until he cleared the last tire. Penelope, still unsettled by the near crushed experience allowed herself to slide from the would-be trainer's back His third obstacle was simply to out run his uncle's Houndoom, Jace until he crossed the finishline, but pain and fatigue racked his body. Anthony knew that in his state out maneuvering the fire hound would be difficult if not impossible. Jace huffed out a five second head start for the teen as he ran past. Seconds later Anthony heard the large hound bark out a warning signifying the start of the chase. Jace quickly closed the distance on the boy aiming to pin him to the ground with his weight; Anthony heard the heavy gait of the Houndoom and ducked. Jace sailed over the teen's head but the fire hound was caught by surprise as the human teenager suddenly rose up to catch him about the waist. Anthony struggled under Jace's weight for a moment before setting out for the opposite side of the track. Once across the field the trainer sat the unnerved Houndoom back onto the ground and stared down the final obstacle. "Last one," he panted. "Ring the bell." The bell sat perched upon a tall metal pole watched over by the Chesnought Larz. The teen stared down the intimidating armored Pokemon knowing him to be very strong. "I'm going into unknown territory now," he breathed to himself. The teen stooped down to pick at the ground until he found a sizable clump of hardened mud. He steeled himself against what he was about to do and charged headlong into the armored Pokemon. Larz crouched down bring his spiny arms forward to shield his face from the mud wielding teen. Anthony stopped short of the Chesnought and hurled the mud ball as hard as he could at the bell. Larz was too slow to react as he watched the dirt clod smash into the fragile brass bell. A loud distorted sound echoed from the smashed bell. The Chesnought stared at the ruined bell dumbfounded at the ingenuity of the teen that stood before him. He carefully took what was left of the bell from the poll and gave it a gentle tap. The poor bobble sent out an off key chime before it fractured under the touch of the grass type. "I did ring it... sort of," the boy supplied scratching his head. "Ches," Larz agreed dropping the broken bobble, "Ches... Chesnought!" The large armored Pokemon grinned and snatched the small human up in a spine crushing hug. "ack Larz... let go... can't breathe," the soon to be trainer gasped out as the Pokemon muttered meaningless congratulations in his own tongue. Simon stood equally dumbfounded at the situation. "But, but you... god damn it boy, leave it to you to convince me to let you become a trainer regardless of you passing, and here you are cheating your way through the course." "I did not," Anthony shot back. "Yes you did!" The uncle snapped "I merely approached it from a fresh perspective," the teen retorted, "Papa O'kai never disapproved of my ingenuity." "Chesnought," Larz added staring down his trainer. The boy stepped back as the large Pokemon began listing off its paw what seemed to be accomplishments done by the youth. Simon wasn't allowed to argue as his other Pokemon stepped into defend the teen. "Gah! Fine you passed, happy now," he finally relented throwing his arms up in defeat. Anthony grinned about to reply when his uncle's Pokemon tackled him and hoisted him into the air. "Thanks guys, I get to be a trainer." "Yes but I have a few conditions, first you are going to either start with or catch a bird, physic, or fighting type in your first week, and second you're going to find a traveling companion," Simon added after he recovered from the chastising given by his Pokemon. "I have no problem with that uncle, it's enough that I'll be a trainer," Anthony replied from his perch atop Larz's shoulders, "when can we head out?" "Tomorrow morning, I mean you still want your birthday cake right?" The large man answered pulling the teen from the large Pokemon's shoulders. *** Anthony sat at his desk having just finished packing his new backpack with all the supplies his uncle listed before he left for his job at the mine. He quietly stared at an old family photo with his parents and their starters while he fiddled with an old great ball left over from his uncle's journey. The young teen couldn't stop the tears from welling up in his hazel brown eyes as he remembered the night he lost everything. A gentle knock however snapped the youth out of his dark thoughts however. "Come in," he answered dismantling the frame to retrieve the picture. "Audi?" the pink Pokemon asked as she entered the room. "Hey Penelope, I just finished packing," he replied storing the photo in a pocket of his birthday present. "What's up?" The Audino jump up on the teen's lap and gave him a warm hug, "No, Audino." "Yeah I'll miss you to Penny, but it's not like I'm not going to visit after I started my journey," Anthony soothed as he returned the hug "Di," she chirped pointing to the trainer's chest "Yup, if I want to take on the gym circuit I'll have to take on Olivia for the badge." Penelope got a worried look upon her face, "Audi, dino... Audino," she cooed patting the boy's leg. "I... I don't know what will happen when I get there," he replied solemnly setting the Pokemon down from his lap, "Come on, I want to go say goodbye to Tess and Bard." The Audino nodded silently knowing who he was referring to. *** Here rests Tess The Gardevoir She sacrificed herself To save the life of a child May she forever Rest in Peace Anthony stared at the gravestone silently remembering how she saved his life. "Heh... uncle Simon is finally letting me become a trainer Tess." He turned to regard the headstone next to Tess's Here rests Bard The Gallade He did what was necessary To save the life of a child May he forever Rest in Peace "Bard... I know you had to do what you needed to do to free me, know that I forgive you," the boy finished by placing a pair of white roses on the graves of the two Pokemon. "I figured you would be here." Anthony turned to see he uncle walking up with Larz trailing behind, "I tried to get your parents moved here but the expenses were too great." "I know," the teen replied quietly, "I guess I'll be able to visit them when I pass though Geosenge." "I know... come on let's get back before the pizza burns," "Wasn't it Mew's night to cook?" "It was but he suggested pizza to celebrate you birthday and start of your journey," "That's good; Mew's a terrible cook." Anthony laughed. "Ditto!" cried a lone Rattata that morphed into an amorphous pink blob "I'm sorry but you are," the trainer defended causing the blob to wilt "Anthony look at what you've done, he's melting. Say you're sorry," the older man chastised "Okay Mew, I'm sorry; it's not that your cooking is bad, it's more of an acquired taste," he soothed the depressed Ditto "A taste neither you nor I have acquired," Simon whispered. "Nope," the teen agreed. *** "So what kind of starter do you have in mind," the old trainer asked as he drove his nephew to Lumiose City, "I know that when I got Larz they had a few pre-caught Pokemon in addition to the lab starters." "I think I know what I want," the teen replied thumbing his new trainer's license and badge case. "And what would that be?" "You'll see," Anthony smiled Soon Simon pulled into Lumiose City and parked outside the Pokemon Lab. "Here we are, do you want me to wait here or come in with you?" he asked as he turned the old truck off. "I think I'll be good," Anthony replied "Alright but you're going to show me what you picked as soon as you're done," "I will Uncle," the young trainer nodded as he entered the building. "Greetings young sir, are you here to meet with Professor Sycamore?" the receptionist greeted cheerfully from behind her desk. "Yes ma'am I'm Anthony O'kai, I'm here for my starter," the youth politely explained. "I see and what would you like a pre-caught starter, or a lab starter?" "A lab starter please," "Alright if you would like you can take the elevator up to the second floor where Professor Sycamore will present you with a pokedex and starter," she explained stepping out from behind her desk to lead the boy over to the elevator "Sounds good to me," the trainer smiled pressing the button for the second floor. The elevator door closed and lurched up towards Professor's study. "Ah you must be a new trainer hoping to take on the champion yes," a graying Professor called from behind his desk as Anthony entered the messy office. "Yes sir, though I don't know about becoming champion, I haven't thought that far ahead yet," the teen chuckled. "Why not isn't that the dream of all young trainers?" "I would be happy with a team of good friends, if that takes me to the Pokemon league then so be it," "A wise answer... how old are you son?" The professer asked. "Thirteen sir," Anthony answered. "Kind of late to be starting a journey don't you think?" Sycamore asked stepping out from behind his desk. "I had to prove something first," the young trainer replied, "my papa O'kai was a salty old man but he taught me everything I know." "O'kai? You are Anthony O'kai?" "Yes," "Then tell me are you planning on getting revenge on what happened to your parents?" the Professor asked solemnly "No... revenge traps you in the past, I wish to move forward into the future, plus what revenge could I extract on a dead man," the teen shrugged. "I see... again more wise words," Sycamore sighed. "So what kind of starter would you like?" "Fennekin sir," "So polite... and wise, I think I know just who to give you," "Sir?" Anthony asked as he watched the Professor retrieve a solid white pokeball from his desk. "This Fennekin's been an unholy terror for me, but I can't blame her. You see a few years ago she was confiscated from an abusive trainer and she was left a little mistrustful of male trainers. Originally I wanted to pair her up with a female trainer but I never saw anyone who wanted to take her under their wing. But I know that both O'kai and Kiles blood runs through your veins, and given what you've been through I think you might gain her trust." Sycamore finished handing the Premiere ball to the trainer, "though can I ask that you don't release her here I don't need the sprinkler system soaking my research," "That bad?" the boy asked feeling a little apprehensive about the pokeball he held. "So uh... advice on caring for her," "Well let's see here she like all Fennekins like to snack on sticks and twigs, but that is in no way a means of substance for her. You can feed her some poke kibble or if you're not too squeamish you can allow her to hunt for food," Professor Sycamore explained, " She does enjoy getting brushed every now and then but make sure that it's a metal brush, plastic ones tend to melt," "Anything else?" he asked "Not right off the top of my head, except she can be a bit of a prankster, and... oh she loves sour foods," the old man recalled. Anthony looked at the primer ball one last time before returning to the elevator. Back in the lobby the teen saw his Uncle casually speaking with the receptionist. "Ah Anthony, what did you get?" Simon asked as he noticed his nephew exiting the elevator. "A Fennekin," he answered as he held up stark white pokeball. "Uh sir I know that ball, and I must ask that you do not release her here." The receptionist protested. "But if you step over here, I can give you some Iapapa berries, they are her favorites." "I hope you didn't bite off more than you could chew," his uncle worried. "I've dealt with difficult Pokemon before when I volunteered for the Pokemon Center," he shrugged. "But I guess I should start heading for that first gym." "You got everything?" "Yes uncle," the teen huffed, "I'll call when I get to Santalune City." Anthony left the lab and headed for the southern exit until he found himself just outside Lumoise City staring at the white pokeball. "Well when she evolves she'll be a physic type," he muttered to himself He knelt down pressing the button on the face of the ball releasing the Pokemon contained within "H... hi," he stuttered catching the attention of the golden fox that materialized before him. "Fen...," the little fox glanced to what she assumed was her new trainer, "Fennekin," "You're not so bad," He cooed petting the top of her head, "now what would you like your name to be little girl," "Fen," she growled bearing her sharp little teeth "heh... that's cute mind telling me why you are growling," the trainer chuckled picking the growling Fennekin up. The little fox struggled for a minute before opening her mouth trying to fire an ember into the face of her trainer; unfortunately all she produced was a blast of hot air and a few sparks. "Hm your fire sack's empty, we'll have to remedy that." "Fenne," she huffed as she looked at her trainer with her best kicked Lillipup look "You know you remind me of an old animated play called The Cunning Little Vixen; it stared a little Zorua who possessed an unbreakable will and mischievous spirit," Anthony explained. "Now I might get a few odd looks if I called you Vixen but I think Vix will suffice." The Fennekin rolled her eyes with an annoyed huff glaring at the human still holding her, "well do you like it?" She gave a half-hearted smile and nodded showing that she didn't mind the name. "Good that settles that then. Shall we get a move on and get into a few battles?" he offered setting the little fox down. "I'm not sure how long you were cooped up in that pokeball but I think you wouldn't mind being out of it for a while." Vix smirked at the young trainer's offer, trotting up next to his leg and relived her bladder all over the boy's leg. "Thanks for that..." he sighed shaking his leg free of the foul-smelling fluid, "I guess you were cooped up for a while," "Fen, Fennekin," she chirped as she skipped off the path into the tall grass. Anthony followed the troublesome little fox as she pick fights with the local wild Pokemon until he could see she was getting tired. "I see that your starting to wind down little Vix," he remarked as she finished off a little Budew with a puff of her restored ember, "shall we start looking for a spot to set up camp," "Fennekin," the fire fox yawned lying atop of the defeated Pokemon using it as a pillow. "Vix let it go," Anthony chastised "Fenne?" she slyly asked "No I'm not catching it just so you can have your own personal pillow, now up," He continued picking the Fennekin up by the scruff. The tiny bulb Pokemon quickly recovered and dashed into the overgrown flowers. "Kin," she pouted as she hung limp in the teen's hand "One thing I refuse to tolerate is cruelty," the trainer announced as he tucked the tiny fox under his arm. "Now let's find a place to set up camp before it gets too dark." Anthony eventually found an old campsite off the beaten path, complete with a stone lined fire pit. "Ah perfect it looks like an old traveler's site, there should be some firewood in that box over there." He set the little fox down and began to set up the camp for the night. Vix on the other hand surveyed the camp for a moment before selecting a soft bed of grass to flop upon. "I take it you're not going to help start the fire," Anthony remarked dryly as he searched the fire-box, "wouldn't matter anyway... not enough wood to last the night," "Kin," she sighed rolling over in the sweet grass to watch her trainer try to start the small pile of wood with a flint striker, "Fenne?" "Don't worry I'll not rely on you starting the fires anytime soon," the teen replied finally getting a good spark to catch on the dry wood, "but I suppose you just too tired, battling all day is very exhausting, I guess you don't want to eat," "Fenne!" she barked in protest "Oh so you are hungry, well then get up off your ass and help me cook some food," Anthony snapped back, pulling out a small can of chili, "or would you rather have some dry nasty kibble." "Fen," Vix groaned hoisting herself to her feet to join her most loathed trainer. Anthony finished cooking the meager meal and set aside a dish for the little fox pouring some of the chili from his plate in to it. The Fennekin glared at the human as he ate waiting for him to finish or to move away from the dish, "if you don't start eating I'm going to toss it out after I'm done." "Kin," she huffed indignantly moving closer to eat from her dish. The little fox found the spicy chili tolerable as she finished. Once Vix cleaned her dish she made a hasty retreat back to her patch of grass. "Nekin," she added under her breath. "You're welcome Vix though I thought you would like a slice of this Iapapa berry," he chuckled brandishing the large yellow fruit. The Fennekin's mouth watered as she remembered how sour the berry was, "Fennekin?" "Well..." the trainer pressured slicing the fruit in half with a small knife. He placed one half in Vix's dish while he nibbled on the other, "yup that's pretty sour." She quickly hurried back over to his side and snatched up the berry half, carrying it back to her grassy bed, "Well looks like the aid told the truth, you like sour foods," Anthony set the sour fruit to one side and began to pitch his tent keeping a careful eye on the Fennekin so she wouldn't steal his half of the Iapapa berry. Soon the fire died back to embers and Anthony started his usual evening ritual. Vix watched as he set out a small spray bottle, a short plastic stand and set to work removing his shoes. She noticed that his right foot looked very funny before he stood to remove his pants, but it wasn't just his foot that looked funny but his whole right leg that looked funny. When the teen's pants littered the ground she saw that just below his right knee sat a black plastic cup that attached to a short metal poll in place of where his shin should be. It was then when she understood why he had an unusual odor and at times a bore a slight limp. "Fenne?" she asked easing herself for a closer look. "Oh yeah I forgot to tell you... um I lost my leg when I was very young," Anthony explained as he removed the prosthetic. "it can be a pain sometimes but I'm still very capable, and I've almost gotten it down to where I don't have limp but if I get tired it becomes more apparent." Anthony completed his evening ritual and crawled into the tent, "Want to come in?" "Ne," Vix replied shaking her head. "Are you sure? It might get pretty cold without the fire," "Fennekin," "Okay but I'll leave the flap unzipped if you get too cold," he finished, wiggling into his sleeping bag. True to his word the temperature plummeted and the little fox shivered even after she moved to the warm ash pile that was left of the fire. 'Damn it this is not the daycare,' she cursed to herself for being raised in a climate controlled building. She looked to the open flap on the tent and contemplated her trainer's offer. 'If he tries anything I'll bite him.' Anthony woke to the not so gentle flop into his stomach. He reached out to feel the small, ash covered and very warm weight of his Fennekin. "Cold?" the trainer asked quietly "Hmph," she retorted. "I thought so," he chuckled. Author's note, sorry for the dark period but I had a bad case of writers block after the black out. Don't worry I haven't forgotten about my other story but I feel that Anthony's adventures in Kalos deserves mentioning. Kolofox Author's post note: Hey all, I'm sure I got some CFT veterans who are rereading the story eager for updates and I'm sure I got some new comers curious to what Catch a Fennekin by the Tail is. Well as those who are returning will notice this chapter did... improve upon the grammar and to those new here welcome and enjoy the story. Your Ever crazy Kolofox