This was the first time Tracy, Tera, or any of the other Pokemon in their team / family, were ever depicted. It also reminds me that I've been slacking off in the writing department, as Tracy's "main team of six" includes one mon that has only been briefly mentioned, and two more that haven't even been formerly introduced.

Before Tracy, we all had a human trainer, also named Tracy. I was the very last Pokemon she caught, so I didn't know her very well. The current Tracy defeated her in combat and assumed her identity via mind-reading and psychic illusions.

The only things I've been told about the original Tracy were that she was a strong adherent to the Team Rocket mantra, but was actually a really terrible excuse for a trainer who apparently thought her job was just to point at her opponent and yell "Kill!" It was so bad that Tracy's partner, Henry, not only caught all of her Pokemon for her (except for me), but trained one of them to be able act as the trainer behind her back.

The mon in question is Zangoose, who is so smart and versatile there's even a rumor that one of her parents was human. She used to do everything a trainer is supposed to do; it's even thanks to her that I know how to use this computer. Of course, when New Tracy took over, she didn't need an acting trainer. We still all respect her though, and we like to think that she's just receiving some very well-deserved vacation time.

She can be blunt at times, but she's got nerves of steel and is damn near impossible to rile. Case in point: Seviper still lives. The two of them aren't enemies; at best, they just compete with each other from time to time. Seviper teases her a lot, mostly either by rubbing it in that she's no longer the mon behind the man, or by flirting with her. I don't know if he really does have a crush on her or if he does it just to tick her off, but either way, the feeling clearly isn't mutual.

Tracy may be hundreds of years old, but we still habitually think of Walrein as our elder. He and I never really talked at length, but I know he's lived in every major region at one time or another, has had multiple trainers, at least one of which he outlived, and I'm led to believe even once shared a living space with a legendary Pokemon.

Maybe that's why he always has that look in his eyes whenever Tracy is in the room and isn't looking his way. That's right Walrein, I know you've got a crush on my mate. And I'm fine with that -- I was just in it to be a dad anyway.

Vulpix, sometimes called Tracy Jr., is the youngest of our kids, but she was the first we acquired. Tracy acquired her shortly after she took over (she says she was asleep when it happened, so we can't in good faith confirm that Pokemon actually do lay eggs), and for some reason, after she hatched, everyone, even Tracy, was really wary of her. All except for me. She was so cute, so shy, I just couldn't resist giving her a nuzzle, a cuddle, a lift up into my bill, and now it's a rare day that I can get her to come out of it (I'm typing with a mouthful of vulpix right now).

Shinx and Zorua (the latter of whom we adopted after this picture was taken), we adopted to give Vulpix some others her size that she could play with, thinking maybe that might help her overcome her shyness. It didn't work, but I don't care. I got two other cute little furry kids to call my own out of it.

Original artwork by  theroop. Please favorite the original here.