Someone was talking. He scanned the square idly, and his eyes latched onto two men, both probably in their early twenties. One was obviously a trainer, with belt full of Poké Balls and a Marowak sitting on the low wall behind him. The other was less obvious – a research assistant, perhaps? They were standing close together, speaking to each other in hushed tones. The research assistant stole a glance in his direction.

Paul smiled, and laughed inside. He knew what this was about. Unable to help himself, he swerved, and strode confidently across the square. The Marowak called out, and the trainer looked in his direction. He blushed visibly, and shrank back slightly. His friend glanced at him for a second, then stepped forward and called out.

“Uh, hey there, mister. Sorry, we didn’t mean to pry. It’s just that, well, your Growlithe ...”

Paul covered the remaining distance, and laughed – openly this time.

“He’s quite something, isn’t he? Here, meet Terry!”

Terry bounded up to the research assistant, and extended a paw. The assistant knelt down, and shook it. His trainer friend waved shyly, staring with an obvious curiosity.

“How did he get so ... big? I’ve never seen a Growlithe as big as him!”

Paul reached down and scratched Terry on the top of his mane. His partner thrummed deep in his throat in pleasure.

“I’m guessing you’ve never experimented with Everstones, have you?”

The trainer’s eyes widened. His friend started briefly, and then began to laugh.

“You mean –”

“Yep, it’s just his age! Terry and I have been training together for almost 10 years now.”

“It’s not unusual?” said the trainer. “I’ve been through three regions now, and I’ve never seen a Growlithe that size. Why aren’t there more of them out there? Uh ... if you don’t mind me asking?”

His friend answered before Paul could.

“Let me guess: instincts, and availability of the Evolution stone, yes?”

Hmm, smart kid.

Paul smiled again. Most people were rather slower in figuring this out. He nodded.

“That’s right. It’s very rare to see a Growlithe at this age. Fire Stones are relatively common in the wild, and easy to obtain for trainers. Wild Growlithe almost always evolve around puberty, and trainers can sometimes evolve them even earlier, if they are ready. Arcanine are powerful Pokémon, after all!”

The trainer grinned.

“Yeah, that’s true. Maybe with an Arcanine I could finally beat the Grass Gym. I’ve been butting my head against it for months now!”

The research assistant’s reaction was more confused.

“But why haven’t you evolved your Growlithe, mister? Don’t you want him to be more powerful? Doesn’t Terry want to get stronger, too?”

Paul closed his eyes for a moment, lost in thought. His mind went back to the first time, deep in the woods on the route to the Rock Gym. And that time, several months later, when he and Terry had lain out together under the stars. He’d looked up into the bright evening sky as his partner licked his face, purring gently, and it was as if both of them came to the decision together. He’d shown Terry the Fire Stone later, and the Pokémon had batted it out of his hands.

“It’s rare, I know, but we and Terry are happy as we are, you know? Terry doesn’t have the inherent strength of an Arcanine, perhaps, but his experience, wisdom, and size more than make up for that. And he has a much wider move set than any Arcanine, you know! He –”

He should really stop there. He shouldn’t say any more. And yet ...

“We just *fit*, you know? We work together so well like this. We like each other this way! If Terry evolved, he’d get so much bigger. And we just wouldn’t fit the way we do now. He’d be so big we just ... our connection wouldn’t be the same. Playing with him would be like playing with a truck!”

He found himself suddenly blushing, full of embarrassment.

What? Why on earth did I say that? I need to more careful!

But the trainer simply nodded, and then laughed suddenly. In the meantime, Terry rubbed up against Paul’s leg.

“I can imagine. How do you play ball with an Arcanine? He just bite it in half! Or knock you down when he returned it! Or get bored at the ball not getting thrown far enough!”

Paul stood gaping for a moment, stunned. And then he laughed too.

Yes, yes, that’s exactly what I meant. Totally.

“You’ve got it, buddy!”

“Lithe, lithe!” added Terry.

Narrow escape, huh?

“Say, I was on my way to the Pokémon Centre. Want to tag along? I’d love to see your Pokémon, and I’m sure you two have some stories to tell.”

“Sure. Absolutely!”

Paul smiled again, and the three of them turned and walked back across the square. The Marowak sat on the wall a moment longer, mirth in her eyes. She knew, even if her trainer didn’t. And then she jumped down, and followed the trio towards the squat building in the distance.