Disclaimer: I don't own Pokemon; it belongs to Nintendo, Gamefreak, etc. All of the OCs and the Doren region, however, are mine.

Professor Alder crossed his arms and smiled. As annoying as the boy had been, he had to admit he felt sympathetic. After all Zane had been through, it was high time something went right for him. Now that he knew that at least his Cyndaquil had survived, perhaps things would begin looking up for-

"There's been some sort of mistake, Professor," Zane said suddenly. "I don't have a Cyndaquil."

WHAT? The professor nearly shouted. After all the trouble he and his assistants (when they were around) had gone through, Zane didn't even have it in him to thank them? No "Gee, Professor, thanks for looking after it"; no "I appreciate it, thank you"; not even an off-handed "Thanks"? This child had no grasp of the concept of… wait a minute…

"I beg your pardon, Zane," the professor said in a confused voice, as though he was trying to get his facts straight, "did you just say that Cyndaquil doesn't belong to you?"

"That's what I said, Professor," Zane said. "Why'd you think it did? I told you my parents…" (he had to stop for a moment to compose himself) "my parents tried to make me a doctor, not a Pokemon trainer. Heck, they even tried to stop me from being a trainer. Sort of a strange view for a couple of league champions to…" Zane stopped abruptly. Talking about his parents was making his eyes mist up.

He cleared his eyes and continued. "Anyway, this Cyndaquil isn't mine."

"Are you sure?" Professor Alder asked. "We found its poke' ball on the beach right after Dirge flew you here. It was sitting in almost exactly the same place as you."

Zane stared at the Cyndaquil as the Pokemon continued sniffing the air in a cold manner. It was different from any Cyndaquil he had ever seen. It seemed leaner; almost unnaturally so, and aside from its swiveling head, it stood completely still, as though it was waiting for a command. More obviously, weren't most Cyndaquils cream-colored with blue backs, as opposed to pale white with silver backs, like this one was? In any case, the Cyndaquil's features lent it a distinctly ghostlike appearance. Wait, maybe wraith was a better word…

Zane turned his attention back to Professor Alder. "Well, maybe it belonged to one of the other passengers. Did you think of that?"

"Well, if that was the case, there are only two options: find it a new owner, or release it into the wild."

Zane didn't immediately answer. He was fighting a losing battle with the majority of his brain. Come on, he thought, trying to rationalize his idea to himself, this is what you've always wanted! Besides, you're parents are gone now! Sure, it's sad, but maybe it's just a new window of opportunity!

Zane nearly hit himself for the last comment.

Okay, he thought, rephrasing his argument, there's no one stopping you from doing this anymore besides you. Why hold back? Why not live the life you want?

"Okay," Zane thought aloud, shrugging. "Whatever."

Professor Alder nodded. "In that case, I'll take this Cyndaquil to the forest just outside of town. Maybe it can start a new life there." He bent down, picked up the Cyndaquil around the belly, and began to carry it towards the door.

"Wait!" Zane barked, "That's not what I meant. What I meant was… well… um…"

He sighed. This was definitely not coming out right.

"So, no one else has a claim on that Cyndaquil, right?" Zane asked. "'Cause if not, I'd…

um… I'dliketotakeit," he said, his last words blurring together in his excitement.

"Come again?" Professor Alder asked, turning around. The Cyndaquil just sat there in his hands, looking completely indifferent to its fate.

Having gotten rid of his jitters (at least, externally), Zane strode forward and held out his hand.

"If no one else is going to take that Cyndaquil, I want to train it," he declared, hoping to sound completely self-assured instead of nervous.

Professor Alder smiled and walked over to the table in the center of the room. He picked up the battered poke' ball that had held the Cyndaquil, and tossed it to Zane, who fumbled it at first, then reached down to pick it up, his face slightly red. The professor walked over to Zane and set the Cyndaquil down on the floor. It sniffed Zane's feet with its long nose, then shrugged its tiny shoulders.

"Looks like there are no objections," Professor Alder observed. "It's yours. By the way," he remarked, "some trainers like to name their Pokemon. Is there anything you'd like to call Cyndaquil?"

Zane smiled slightly, then looked down at the Cyndaquil. He had had a name in mind ever since he took his first good look at the little Pokemon.

"I'll call you… Wraith."

Wraith looked up at its new trainer and stared at him attentively. "Quil?" it whispered.

Zane grinned. The Cyndaquil seemed to approve of its name. He was reaching down to pick Wraith up when Professor Alder suddenly shouted at him.

"Zane, get clear of the door!"

Zane grabbed Wraith in his arm as best he could and ran towards the right side of the lab.

The door flew open and slammed against the wall.