It was late morning on Route 1. Dex and Charmander were taking a break under a tree. Dex had just failed to catch a Caterpie again, and his ego was bruised.
"I swear," Dex muttered, chewing a dry cracker, "these bugs are cheating. That one literally laughed at me."
Charmander raised a brow. "Or maybe your throw sucks."
Before Dex could respond, the bush behind them rustled.
A small Nidoran♀ stepped out, snorting and alert. She looked ready to stab someone just for existing.
Dex froze.
Charmander whispered, "She looks mean."
Dex whispered back, "She looks beautiful."
Charmander blinked. "Are you okay?"
"I have an idea."
"No. No ideas. Your last idea got us pecked by a Spearow."
Dex handed his snack to Charmander. "Hold this."
He stepped away, turned his back to the wild Nidoran, and with a shimmer across his skin—fwip!—his human form collapsed, melting like goop into the grass. A moment later, a perfectly ordinary male Nidoran stood up, stretching his tiny blue paws.
Charmander facepalmed.
Dex (now Nidoran♂) trotted up to the wild Nidoran♀ and puffed out his chest.
"Hey," he said, trying to sound cool. "Nice spikes."
She narrowed her eyes. "Who are you?"
"Name's Dex. I just, uh, migrated from the tall grass on Route 22."
She sniffed. "You smell weird."
"I... just bathed in berry water. Real premium stuff."
She tilted her head. "You're kinda funny-looking."
Dex paused. "Funny-looking… or charmingly unique?"
She didn't answer. Just walked in a slow circle around him.
Dex stood very still, tail twitching. "You know," he said casually, "this area's super dangerous. All kinds of sketchy trainers out here. You really shouldn't be wandering alone."
"You calling me weak?" she snapped.
"No! No no no, just, uh, offering company. Handsome, brave, blue company."
Charmander, watching from the side, snorted.
Dex ignored him and kept his act up.
"I'm actually part of a super exclusive team," he said. "We battle together, eat together, nap together… you ever nap on a warm hoodie? It's incredible."
"Are you trying to recruit me or flirt with me?" she asked flatly.
"…Yes."
She blinked. Then, unexpectedly, she giggled. Just a little.
"Huh," she said. "You're weird. But you made me laugh. That's rare."
Dex smiled—awkwardly, because his mouth was shaped weird in this form.
Then she headbutted him.
"OW!"
"Tag. You're it."
She dashed off through the grass.
Dex stared after her, stunned. Then his Poké Ball on the belt (still lying in the grass with his human clothes) blinked—ping!—confirming the catch.
Charmander walked up and looked at the pile of Ditto-goop morphing back into human form.
"She headbutted you into joining."
Dex winced. "She plays rough."
Charmander smirked. "You like that, don't you?"
Dex muttered, "...I don't not like it."
That night, Dex let her out to meet the team. Nidoran♀ looked him over—now back in his human form—and raised a brow.
"So this is your real shape?"
Dex rubbed the back of his neck. "Something like that."
She leaned in, smirking. "Still kinda cute. Even with the weird skin."
Dex blushed. Charmander rolled his eyes.
"Okay, okay," Dex said, holding up his hands. "Everyone calm down. No more flirting during dinner."
"Too late," Nidoran♀ said, bumping him lightly with her shoulder.
Dex sighed.
This journey was going to be... complicated.
But maybe not in a bad way.