IV.

"Here he is, all awake now," Elm said. The Cyndaquil was on the floor of the laboratory, and when Theo entered, it trotted over to him, mewling.

"Hi, buddy," Theo said. He sat down to pet the little Pokemon's purple fur, but it crawled into Theo's lap. Theo laughed.

"Fast friends already," Elm said. "Though don't get too attached. If someone wants to buy him…" Elm trailed off, but understood between them was his desire for profit.

"Here," Elm said, and he tossed Theo a Pokeball. "You have to do it."

"Should I throw it at him?" Theo said. They practiced this at school, but he had never done it for real. The Cyndaquil seemed rather small to have a ball thrown at him.

"No, sometimes they'll agree to enter," Elm said. "Crouch down and ask him."

Theo pulled the Cyndaquil from his lap and placed it on the floor in front of him. It looked up at him, its narrow eyes expectant.

"Ready?" Theo said, and held up the Pokeball. The little Pokemon inclined its head.

Theo clicked the white button at the center of the Pokeball and pointed it at the Cyndaquil. A red ray of light shot out toward the little creature and absorbed him into the ball. The ball shook once, twice, a third time in Theo's grip, and then it was still.

"There you go," Elm said. He turned toward a pile of supplies. "Here's a belt to store your Pokemon while you walk. Not that you'll be battling," he said, suddenly stern. "I'll give you a few Pokeballs, though, in case you want to catch anything you meet on your way. And here's some medicine. This is antidote. There are Weedle on the way to Cherrygrove, so if the Cyndaquil gets poisoned, give him that." He checked off a list. "There's plenty of food, but don't forget to stop at the Pokemon Center. You'll both need a break by that point. You might want to sleep there and come back tomorrow, or maybe even the day after." He glanced around. "I think that's all. Anything else you might need?"

"No, sir, I'm just going to run home and say goodbye to my mother, and then I'll be off." Theo said.

"Well, Theo, I do appreciate you doing this," Elm said. This was the kindest tone Theo had ever heard from Elm. "I hope it's worth the trip." He smiled ruefully. "And that it will get Mr. Pokemon off my back."

"Happy to, sir," Theo said. Anything, really, to get out of his house for the weekend. He hadn't said a word to Elm about the egg, either, but it was the only thing on his mind as he raced home.

"Show me," his mother said when he got home, her tone weary. Theo clicked the Pokeball off his belt and released the Cyndaquil. Immediately it jumped for him. Theo picked it up and held it out to his mother.

"A funny little guy," his mother said. She stroked the Cyndaquil's head. "Doesn't look like much of a fighter, does he? This was the type of Pokemon your father always gravitated toward. The little misfits."

"Speaking of which," Theo said, "the man Professor Elm wants me to see is an expert in Pokemon eggs." He looked over at the stand, where the silver egg rested. "Could I?"

"Please," his mother said, and for once her eyes were bright. She snatched the egg down, went around to Theo's back, and slid it into his backpack. "If it's worth anything, sell it to him. We could use the money." She zipped his bag, went around to his front, and rested her hands on his shoulders. "You look quite like your father did when he was younger, wanting to be a trainer." She did not say this with pleasure.

Theo didn't smile. "Just going on an errand."

"Let that thing walk with you," his mother said. "They like that. They get restless cooped up in those balls all day. But don't get attached. We can't afford it." She walked him to the door. "And remember, anything for that egg."

V.

"Hey, hang on!" Theo said, laughing. The Cyndaquil had bounded ahead. His legs were short, but he could run. He seemed excited to be outside and on the move; Theo couldn't blame him for that.

Theo caught up to him as he was burrowing in the grass. Theo squatted down to where the Pokemon was digging a hole with his front paws.

"Find anything?" Theo said. The Cyndaquil started back with a little screech; a green Caterpie emerged from the hole, nearly as big as the Cyndaquil itself.

"Tackle it!" Theo said, suddenly excited. The Cyndaquil turned its dirty purple face to him, as if unsure, and then it launched itself at the bug. The Caterpie fired string at Cyndaquil's face, as if to slow him, but Cyndaquil bent under it and tackled the bug again.

Theo went to give a command, but suddenly lurched forward, off-balance. It felt like something in his bag was shaking. He steadied himself.

"One more," Theo said, and with a little growl, Cyndaquil knocked out the bug. Theo's hand went reflexively to his bag, where there was an empty Pokeball, but he knew better than to throw it. Caterpie were easy to take care of, but his mother still wouldn't want it around the house.

"Look at that," Theo said to the Cyndaquil, "your first victory." The little Fire Pokemon hustled back to him. Theo stroked him and looked into the Pokemon's thin eyes. Cyndaquil turned over on his back, mewing for a belly rub. Theo could feel the little creature's heartbeat thumping after the battle.

It will be hard to give this guy back, Theo thought.

They walked another mile, stopping every now and then so that Cyndaquil could launch himself at a bug. The Caterpie he handled easily, though the sting of his first Weedle left him smarting. Theo cracked open an antidote and slathered it onto Cyndaquil's back. The creature sighed in relief, rested a moment, and then bounded ahead again.

The Pokemon had gotten a few yards ahead when Theo saw that he had stopped in the road. Theo caught up to find Cyndaquil staring up at another person.

It was a teenager, maybe a year younger than Theo. He had a baseball cap turned backwards, and his nose was sunburned.

"That yours?" he asked as Theo approached. "I threw a ball at it, but it bounced off."

"Kind of," Theo said. Cyndaquil turned toward Theo, who saw what looked like puzzlement in his furry face. "I'm doing an errand for Professor Elm."

"Oh, fancy," said the boy. "Is it supposed to be that color? I always thought they were darker."

"Usually they are," Theo said. "This one is special."

"A little small, though." The boy looked from Cyndaquil to Theo. "I'm Joey."

"Theo," Theo said, extending his hand.

"What do you think?" Joey said. "Care for a battle?"

Cyndaquil tensed.

"I'm not supposed to," Theo said. Cyndaquil's posture slackened, and he looked at Theo sadly. "If he gets hurt, I'll be in trouble."

"I'm not very good, to be honest," Joey said, "and that Cyndaquil is looking for a fight. Come on, what's the harm?"

Cyndaquil looked up at Theo, his eyes narrowed as far as they could go, and gave a little nod.

"All right," Theo said. He and Cyndaquil backed up.

"Go, Rooster!" Joey said, and from a Pokeball at his belt, a purple Rattata emerged, hissing around its front teeth.

"Ready, buddy?" Theo said, but Cyndaquil had already bounded into their roadside ring, growling.

"Tail Whip, Rattata," Joey said. The purple Pokemon lunged toward Cyndaquil and spun its body, but Cyndaquil leaped over it.

"Nice," Theo called. "Now Tackle it!"

"Tackle back!" Joey yelled. The two Pokemon launched at each other, smashing their heads together, and then bounded back.

Cyndaquil Leered at the Rattata, who tensed, a little afraid.

"Tackle it again," Theo said. Cyndaquil lunged again, quick enough this time to make real contact, and the Rattata went flying.

"Quick Attack," Joey called, and the Rattata was a blur as it pummeled Cyndaquil.

"Try to dodge it!" Theo said, but Cyndaquil wasn't quick enough. The little creature was whining in pain as the Rattata laid blow after blow. Suddenly, Cyndaquil flexed its whole body, and from its back emerged a little plume of flame. It faced the Rattata squarely, ready for another strike.

"Ember!" Theo said, not sure if Cyndaquil could manage it, but Cyndaquil launched a mouthful of fire right at his opponent. The Rattata screamed and flew backward, but Cyndaquil lunged forward in its own Tackle, pinning Rattata to the ground.

"One more Tackle!" Theo said, and with a mighty roar, Cyndaquil ended it.

"Rooster, come back," Joey said, recalling his Pokemon. Cyndaquil padded back to Theo, panting.

"Say, that's not bad," Joey said. He bent down and rubbed his knuckles on Cyndaquil's head. "You're a natural." He looked up at Theo. "Though you must have been in a few battles before."

"No, actually," Theo said. "I'm a first timer."

"You're kidding?" Joey said.

"My dad battled a lot when I was a kid," Theo said. "I watched, but he was gone by the time I was old enough."

"Well, better late than never," Joey said.

"Why did you name it Rooster?" Theo asked.

"I was ten," Joey said, shrugging. "Ten year-olds shouldn't be trusted to have Pokemon." They both laughed. He was right. Who on earth would let a ten year-old raise a dangerous monster?

"I better head out. Nice talking to you." Joey waved and started to walk away.

"Maybe I'll see you again when I head back this way," Theo said.

"I'll keep an eye out," he said.

As Joey walked away, Theo bent down to Cyndaquil.

"You did it," he whispered. "Your first real battle."

Cyndaquil looked up at him, his glossy fur all on end, and a little fire sprouted on his back, like kindled pride.

Again, Theo felt a lurch in his backpack. He was sure this time. The silver egg was moving. Cyndaquil nuzzled at his leg, and Theo felt it shake again.

"No one at the lab thought much of you, did they?" Theo said. "Well, me neither. But look at us now." He took Cyndaquil up and held him. The Pokemon nuzzled at him, and they walked like that all the way to Cherrygrove City. Every now and then, the egg in Theo's bag shook, as if it wanted to join in.