CHAPTER 1 - Story

As Jennifer was napping beneath a nearby tree, Mudkip sat by the edge of the river, watching his reflection in the calm evermoving current, feeling a bit dejected.

Bayleef was playing by herself just a bit off, keeping herself amused by chasing fallen leaves and tackling them with pouncing and Vine Whip. Mudkip sighed.

It'd been awhile since she'd evolved from a Chikorita on their wedding day, and she had adapted to her new form spectacularly. Mudkip had been training every day, even winning his share of battles, but no matter what he'd did, he never seemed any closer to evolving himself.

He glanced back in the direction of Bayleef. Maybe there was something wrong with him. Of course he couldn't forget how how they'd first met. Since the time he'd met her, Mudkip had to admit he'd had more than anyone's share of... injuries involving a certain... well, embarrassing, and let's say very sensitive place. Like a lot too many for anyone's comfort, (he couldn't help but shudder at the memories). But he didn't think that'd impact evolution in anyway, would it? Besides, it's not like Pokémon moves were usually ever critical.

But still, he wasn't exactly a tough Pokémon, maybe he was just stunted or something.

It wasn't that he really wanted to evolve, not really, he liked himself the way he was (Well except for how vulnerable he was in... certain places, he'd had enough reminders of that that he felt certain that was something he could do away with); in fact, if he was being honest, Marshtomps were a bit funny looking, and it'd be another long while before he'd evolve again into Swampert...

But Bayleef was already one evolution cycle well ahead of him, and it was only a matter of time before she became a Meganium. At first it'd been fine, no two Pokémon ever evolve at the same time anyway, but if he was unable to catch up... He knew that evolution cycles didn't always indicate maturity, but... Maybe she deserved something better, someone who'd be on her level, not just a little guy like him who's biggest trait was how cuddly he looked.

In frustration, he shot watergun on the water, causing his reflection to ripple.

Sitting there in silence, he contemplated his situation.

A moment later, Bayleef was at his side, having noticed his absence as she was having all the fun, she sat down next to him.

"Bay?" She asked.

Mudkip looked at her, uncertain what to say. Finally, the obvious response, "Mudkip?" He asked back. "Do you like me like this?"

Bayleef looked him up and down, confused a moment, "Bayleef?"

"I mean a Mudkip," he asked, "Unevolved." He gestured to her, "I mean, look at you, a Bayleef. You're so cool and everything, and here I am, still a..."

Bayleef considered this, "Bay?" she asked, "Do you want to evolve?"

Mudkip shifted awkwardly, "I mean who wouldn't want to be a Swampert, they're so cool, and big... And Marshtomp, they're kind of funny looking, but..."

Bayleef couldn't contain a giggle at that.

Mudkip looked at her.

"They are funny looking, aren't they?"

Mudkip gave her a half annoyed, half playful whack with his paw, Bayleef pulled it away, "Bay!" She said indignantly.

Finally, Bayleef looked at him and rested a Vine Whip gently on his shoulder. "I like you no matter what you are," she said, "Remember what you said to me the day we got married?"

Mudkip nodded, remembering.

"It's the same for me to you," She said, "Whether wildly cool and strong like a Swampert, or just the anxious and adorable as a Mudkip. Even a bit goofy looking like a Marshtomp..."

The two shared a light laugh laugh.

"Point is," continued Bayleef, "I like you Muddy, since the moment I met you, and I'm going to continue to like you no matter what you look like, whether you continue to be a Mudkip or you evolve into something else. In the end, I married my Mudkip, MY Mudkip, and I'll always be be your Chikorita, even if I'm no longer a Chikorita, we don't stop liking eachother because that's changed or hasn't." Then, she couldn't help add the orneriness into her voice, "Besides, you're still going to look funny the way you do when you accidentally get hit in the embarrassing place regardless of evolution," she teased, "And overwhelmingly adorable."

Okay, Mudkip couldn't help himself, they both burst out laughing - why was that always so funny? - until they fell back again into silence.

Finally, Mudkip gave a sigh, watching the water run by, feeling a bit better.

Feeling nothing to lose, he closed his eyes and clinched himself, trying to evolve one last time. Nothing happened. He looked at Bayleef and shrugged, and that was fine. Maybe some other day, but he could wait. He liked being a Mudkip afterall.

"Hey," Bayleef said, "Want to see my new leaf pouncing trick?"

Mudkip got up from the river and followed Bayleef as she scrambled back to the trees; perhaps he could learn a thing or two from this leaf pouncing trick before he evolved.

Niether of them saw the Marshtomp poking its head out of the water, watching them closely.

I'm not funny looking, thought the Marshtomp.

Yep, that Marshtomp was down bad with a case of denial, but let's leave that for another story altogether.