EPILOGUE
Cinder strode into Pallet Town with his head held high. I had had a collar made for him and set with my three trainer badges - Cascade, Rainbow, and now Thunder. It was only fair; they had been his victories. With Cinder at my side, I hoped to win many more. At Professor Oak's lab I slid off the Pokémon's back and rapped at the door.
The professor's face split into a broad grin when he saw the Arcanine.
"What a splendid creature, Skip. You should be very proud,"
"I didn't do anything. I didn't even want him to evolve," I said.
"The size and beauty of your Arcanine indicate that the Growlithe it evolved from was a strong, healthy animal. You trained Cinder well and looked after him conscientiously. Well done!"
I buried my face in Cinder's lovely fur to hide a blush.
"And your parents are coping with an Arcanine in the house? I can always take him off your hands if you're having trouble," he teased.
"Oh no," I said hastily, "they love him to pieces. Almost as much as I do."
"Well, well. Fancy that. Now, Skip, I think you're just the person I need at the moment."
He produced a Pokéball and opened it. An Arcanine came out, but one very different to Cinder - half the size, with a hangdog expression and dull, thin fur under which its ribs showed. Its head and tail were down. I felt incredibly sorry for it.
"This is what you'll get if you evolve a Growlithe too soon, or don't look after it properly," the professor said grimly, his usual smile gone. "This one's trainer wanted an Arcanine but didn't care for his Growlithe. He evolved her thinking to make her stronger, but as she hadn't been trained and loved she became a poor, stunted thing. So he abandoned her."
"Oh, poor Arcanine!" I said. The sorry creature turned sad eyes on me.
"I've done my best for her - she was near death when she was brought in, from hunger and exhaustion. But she needs a trainer of her own," he said, looking pointedly at me.
"Come here. It's OK," I said gently. The Arcanine limped over and lowered her head. I tickled and stroked and petted her until she closed her eyes and a rusty purr was heard.
"Good, I can see you like each other. Would you take her on? Her name is Smuts,"
"I'd love to!" I said quickly.
"She'll never learn any new attacks, as she was evolved too early, but she will be a loyal friend if you look after her as well as you do Cinder,"
Six Pokémon! A team! "What do you think, Cinder? Shall we take Smuts home with us?" My Arcanine's tail wagged and his mouth opened in a big doggy grin. He padded over to the smaller beast and they sniffed each other thoroughly before settling to lick each other's faces, both rumbling happily.
"It looks like that answers your question," smiled Professor Oak. As we watched the Pokémon, Cinder reached out a playful paw and tapped Smuts on the nose. She wuffed and pretended to bite him.
"And if they continue to get on that well, you won't be without a Growlithe for long - in fact, you could end up with enough to make up an entire K-9 unit!"
By Agent 99
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