Curled up around Morgan’s back, I find myself looking wistfully down at the little Vulpix my partner had found. She was a tiny thing, likely having only recently hatched considering her tail. I’d heard of such a quirk before, from an… acquaintance a lifetime ago, but it’s my first time seeing it myself.

Tinder was obviously exhausted, the little fox unable to move its little muscles little more than opening and closing its mouth. If what I suspected was true, it was perhaps a miracle that she was here with us now. Actually… How did she manage to get here? I reach out, poking the little fox in the head.

“Tinder,” I ask, with a small smile, “How did you get across the river? I know you were watching us before we crossed.”

The kit shivers, and a small rock from nearby floats up to us. Morgan and I blink, then share a knowing look. I chuckle, letting a bit of my amazement leak out to the two of them. Morgan, of course, responds with her affection, but the little kit doesn’t seem to reciprocate. That is, apparently, until I reach over and nuzzle it, as the second I touch it a cocktail of bittersweet love fills my body.

I take a deep breath as I sort through it all, allowing some of the negative emotion to filter off into my gem. That particular ability was one I hadn’t had before I met Morgan, and something I didn’t even know I could do until the incident where she gained her namesake. It was particularly useful, however, and was perhaps the only reason we were even here.

“Big sis eve…” I turn my head to the little fox, finding her staring up at me with her shining eyes, “When did you and Morgan meet?”

“I’ve been wondering about that myself.~” Running up, Cappuccino plops down beside Tinder, brushing the kit’s face with her fluffy tail as she does. “Perhaps you can share with us young folk, oh great Elder.”

Chamomile snorts from the side, but doesn't say anything as it hops over as well. Lazy plant didn't even bother talking half the time.

“I’m actually quite young for an Absol, I’ll have you know,” I grunt out, then close my eyes, “I guess it’s time I shared a bit of those details for you. It all began on a rather auspicious day two years ago.”

I had been chasing a ill omen on Glasedo mountain-

“Where’s that?” Her ears twitching, the little fox’s swinging tail shows off her interest.

“In Paldea, the region to the south, little fox,” I respond as I release a small chuckle, “Now, let me tell my story before you ask more questions dear.”

The little fox nods rapidly, and I clear my throat.

So, like I had been saying, that morning I had been searching for something that was making my danger senses go wild. I did end up finding it, namely, a young Articuno that had made its nest partway up a sheer cliff. The Legendary Pokemon is well known for its, pardon my pun, frigid temperament. It’s not a problem by itself, but humans and pokemon alike value its eggs, mostly for the power they can grant.

When I arrived to try and convince it to leave however, the Bird was already fuming, it's rather naive hiding spot having been raided just minutes before. It had no intention of listening to reason, taking off radiating a chill I can’t possibly describe. I rushed towards the nearest settlement as wild pokemon began to rampage, but I was spotted by a man as I left the nest.

Articuno's cries of anguish ended up spooking a small pod of Cetitan and Cetoddle, who quickly began rushing towards the base of the mountain, a deep rumble beginning to shake across the mountain. I sped up, my senses screaming of an incoming avalanche, when I noticed a small anomaly in my world.

Morgan.

The girl, not as she is now, stood petrified at the sight of the wave of ice and snow, unable to move her muscles in any way. Now, to add some context to the decision I was about to make, I had avoided trainers all my life, the horror stories of their actions being rather common in the wild. Something deep in me told me that girl was different somehow. I swallowed my pride, rushing over to yank her out of the danger zone, throwing my future partner over my back for the first time.

I leaped onto a tree, and immediately a small connection, likely similar to the one you formed with her, Tinder, was made. Morgan didn’t notice it, but I certainly did. The girl’s heart was an open door, screaming for someone to come inside, to make themselves home. It was honestly sort of dangerous, considering the damage a more malicious pokemon might have been able to do to her with that kind of access, or on the reverse, a less experienced Pokemon could be dragged into a relationship they didn’t want to be in. She was a walking, talking disaster herself, and well, it was sort of my role to do my best to prevent them.

What better way to prevent something terrible than to be by her side, keeping her safe?

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

I may have resolved myself, but she was still too damaged at that point. She was in shock, primarily from the threat to her life, but also from frostbite and hypothermia. I wrapped her up the best I could, doing my best to increase her body temperature for a good while. When she finally was well enough to walk, I helped her down the mountain towards the nearest settlement. At the time, I was planning to watch her from afar, then pop in later to cement our new relationship.

Then we got to the village, and the man who had spotted me turned out to be someone she was deeply afraid of. She trembled, leaning against me as the man walked towards us. He threatened me, but she, to my surprise, defended me before herself. When he refused to listen, Morgan began to wrap our bond around her heart, dragging me deeper in while slamming the door shut to anyone else. She pulled the most beautiful Pokeball I had ever seen out, and gave me the choice myself.

It wasn’t really a decision I could refuse, to be fair, but I never regretted it. At that point, she became my family, my partner. The person I could implicitly trust.

As I finish my story, the two young pokemon contemplate my words. I expect questions, some kind of interrogation from them. Yet, nothing. They quietly sit there, then eventually just walk over and hug Morgan. My partner is a bit confused, but tears up a bit again at the sheer weight of the love that Tinder had begun to spread through our bond.

She soon falls asleep, and Sofie takes that time to pick the small girl up, then carry her to the tent. I sigh, following right behind. Morgan is so hopeless with this kind of thing, I swear. Actually, so is Sofie, I think but the two of them just can’t seem to grasp the shift that had occurred between them yesterday.

Human romance is strange.

I watch Sofie wrap Morgan up tight with Tinder and Cappuccino, then yawn as she dips into her own tent for the night. I snort, looking down at the small oven that had formed around my partner. She didn’t need my warmth anymore, thanks to Tinder, so that leaves me with more liberty to do a bit more elsewhere.

I shake my head as I walk over, extinguishing the fire that they had forgotten to put out. Sofie really didn’t have an excuse, but I didn’t really blame her. That had in fact been a long day for the two of them. I walk out of the camp, heading to the south, towards a rather large blip in my senses.

I walk into a small clearing, where quite a few rather terrifying pokemon were gathering this evening. Beside her kids, Lucario stands off to the side, arms crossed and obviously pissed. Honchkrow rests on a nearby tree, his murder around him. An Arcanine lies majestically off to the side, a whole pack of growlithe lazily keeping guard. Finally, and the most intimidating for me at least, is the two Haxorus standing menacingly on the far edge. I clear my throat, letting my Pressure emit from my gem.

“I thank you all for coming tonight,” I state, slowly stepping forward, “I apologize for the short notice.”

The Honchkrow is the first to respond, after quieting down his flock.

“Well, I for one am perfectly fine with it, considering your info was good.” He tips his hat, pointing a wing to the west. “She wasn’t lying, there truly were more humans chasing after her group. They encroached upon our territory, recklessly marking their paths and not giving the proper greetings.”

The murder once again erupts in noise, but it immediately stops with a simple raised wing. Lucario steps forward, her raging aura lighting my senses up like crazy.

“One of the fools tried to catch my son.” Growling, Lucario cracks her knuckles. “I’m gonna send any human that steps past that river flying.”

Arcanine breathes in, and every Pokemon goes quiet.

“I understand the uproar, but I have something to say.” Standing up, the giant canine moves to stand over me. “You promised your humans would do no harm in our territory. They have not, and I give my thanks.”

He doesn’t sit down, and I take a moment to figure out why.

“You’re concerned about the kit.” I mutter, taking a breath.

The dog nods, looking out in the direction of our camp.

“It’s been roaming around the route for a few days, but stayed well away from humans until yours arrived.” A small flame ripples over the beast’s body, making my fur stand on end. “If you know what that implies, do you not think it better that we raise it in your stead?”

“It’s not that simple. I know not who her parents were, nor why she chose my partner exactly.” Shaking my head, I step away, looking up to the star filled sky. “Yet, she willingly agreed to our mission, to prevent any more like the ones she lost.”

A foot slams into the ground, the Haxorus making its presence known.

“What is that mission, then? What purpose is so great that you brazenly request to cross our domain? ” The dragon shifts its jaw, glaring at me. “Unless you give me a good reason, I will never let you cross my mountain without a fight.”

I sigh, then look at the giant Haxorus with a smile.

“Our work is just.” I take a breath, then a single step forward. “We work to save anyone, Human or Pokemon alike. As many as we possibly can.”

The dragon scoffs, crossing its arms, “And what pray tell, are you working against?”

I chuckle, tilting my head.

“Well, anything really,” I point my horn to the south as I speak, “It’s a bit curious, did that cerulean meadow do anything mischievous on its journey through this place?”

The whole clearing murmurs for a few seconds, and I nod.

“Exactly, my partner sated their whims, and then some,” I state, slowly looking between each powerful pokemon’s eyes, “She sacrificed herself for you all, and she’d more then likely do it again if she had the chance.”

The smaller Haxorus walks up to the one that had been speaking, and after a moment of conversation, He begrudgingly sighs.

“Fine, we’ll let you pass,” He grumbles, then adds, “I do ask you don’t disturb the rocks, if you can. They’re quite annoying to get right.”

I chuckle, then nod in agreement, but the conversation doesn’t seem to be over, as the Arcanine clears his throat.

“I still have yet to get an answer to my question, beyond a deflection.” The large canine tilts its head. “Why are you a better option for raising that pup than me?”

Bringing my paw to my mouth, I wipe my eyes and yawn. Sleep seems to be encroaching on me in the end. Yet, the need for an answer remains. Thankfully, I have the perfect one.

“Because, great one,” I announce, “Little Tinder is now my family. And I will do anything for them now that they are.”

[author]A bit of a short one, but that's generally the case with non-Morgan POVs. They just don't over analyze everything the same way she does, lol. I hope you enjoyed the little look into a pokemon world, and I hope the little meeting worked at the end. Poor little Tinder. MUST PROTECT THE SMOL FOX. [/author]