> Arcanine
>You lay languidly against the side of your Arcanine on the deck of the boat that is slowly ferrying you and her to the Hoenn region.
>It’s nothing fancy, you had simply convinced some fishermen to give you passage to the next region for cheap.
>You take a deep breath of the salty, sea air and look up into the clouded sky. You and Arcanine have come such a long way since that first fateful meeting just outside Pewter city.
>To think, a stray Growlithe and a young boy, who didn't even want to be a trainer, brought together to form a bond nigh unbreakable and a team almost unstoppable.
>A soft smile finds this way to your face as you think about incredible hardships, beautiful landscapes, uncountable pokémon and seemingly impossible battles, all of it alongside your partner. It’s truly the ideal life.
>Turning your head to face the large canine, you watch her eye the rolling waves around the fishing vessel with visible distaste. Obviously she’s not enjoying the sight of so much water.
“Not a fan of the ocean, eh girl?”
>She turns her large head around to stare you with a flat expression. Just her eyes conveying the unspoken “Really? Did you need to ask that?”
>You grin and reach a hand up to her, scratching her chin right where you know she loves it.
>The condescending expression on Arcanine’s face melts into one of contentment at the affection.
“You know that I'm just messing with you,” you say as you savor the look of bliss on your partners face. It’s times like these that make the boring days between battle and adventure bearable.
>She snorts in a dismissing fashion, ruffling your hair with her warm breath.
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