Tinder smiled widely at the interaction between Fateen at the young man. She thought for a long while and thought on her own interactions with her Pokemon. 

"That is...difficult to answer. I'd say they were all of those things to me. They are both my friends, my closest friends. They are also my allies in battle. They fight for me and in my defense against other pokemon. They are a means to an end, since they are the ones that allow us to free the other pokemon in Cipher's control. My pokemon are also tools, just as I am to them. My brothers spent over a year to breed my Metang. Just so I could raise it from a Beldam and realize that I could be useful. Gabite protected me, and showed me that someone other than my family could care for me enough to get mad when others mistreat me. And Metang taught me the love of something that you raised. The unconditional love I never understood, even though my foster parents did their best. It showed me that they WERE my parents. Just as I AM it's trainer, even though I didn't hatch it." the Gabite huffed in agreement and nudged her cheek. "I want to help rescue those Pokemon stolen by Cipher. I don't want them to suffer. They should feel love and care, while still being able to teach us." she said resolutely.