"I wouldn't call it a choice -- it was just the Pokemon I had at the time." Not that he disliked Charmander, or wouldn't have chosen it given the chance, but it wasn't exactly a choice.

"I raised a Dratini of my own from an egg -- it's a Dragonite now." A wistful glance down toward his pocket where Dragonite's Pokeball rests. "It can be pretty protective of me sometimes." Not in a jealous way, just looking out for things that could potentially hurt him.