Chapter Text
- Pachirisu and Gible didn’t interact with one another much during their initial Sinnoh journey. There was nothing negative between them, they just both had a habit of being inside their own heads and not focusing on much else unless otherwise prompted.
- Their relationship changed the following year, when Dawn joined Ash on his return tour through Kanto. Gible, now a Garchomp, continued his habit of gnawing on anything in sight. Feeling a tad mischievous, Pachirisu began stealing food and objects for him to gnaw. This turned into an impromptu game until they caused chaos and drew scolding.
- Their dynamic continued during the rare times they were both on the team at the same time. This mostly happened while the group was in Pallet Town, training for the Indigo League and Grand Festival, and on Ash and Dawn’s venture to Two Island, where Ash sought tutoring under Ultima; the fabled tutor of the three Ultimate Moves.
- The ‘thing’ between them was never really defined or agreed upon, up until Two Island. In fact, neither of them had put too much thought into what they were. Pachirisu thought him snatching food and various other victims of his chewing was funny and charming. He liked her company and the little bit of warmth she provided by huddling up to him.
- During a night of training where Dawn helped Ash and Peeks perfect Zippy Zap, they huddled together by the campfire, and Pachirisu kissed Garchomp on a whim.
- They don’t particularly spend a lot of time talking about their relationship, until they’re older and they’ve both slowed down just a tad. It’s just a fact that they like each other.
- Nor are they particularly lovesick when apart. With their simple-minded pursuits and enthusiastic approach to life, they do a good job keeping themselves occupied.
- When Ash apologized to Pachirisu that Garchomp wasn’t with him, for example, she brushed it off rather quickly.
- When Garchomp’s run out of suitable toys to chew on, Pachirisu will badger Ash or Dawn until they can find time to buy him new ones. Either that, or she’ll start stealing others’ food until it gets results. She’ll blame their trainers for not doing so, first.
- Garchomp sometimes burrows through the dirt with just his head and tail poking out. Pachirisu likes to ride on top of his head when he does. It’s a relaxing joyride.
- When she and Empoleon get into spats, Pachirisu threatens to sic Garchomp on him. He always boasts that he conquered his fear of Draco Meteor, but he always shivers a little. She can sniff out that weakness like a Houndoom.
- They’re far more talkative about their relationship, when they’re older and more mature. Their base personalities never quite go away, but Pachirisu is a bit less capricious and more happy to boast about him, and Garchomp is much the same.
- Incidentally, Pachirisu is named Klep, for her covetous petty theft behavior. Garchomp is named Mach, for the speed at which he devoured everything, even as a wild Gible.
- Klep is trans. She has the longer stripe on her head, but always felt more like a woman. Brock informed Dawn of her biological sex, not yet knowing her gender, but Klep quickly made her identity clear, and it wasn’t questioned again. Mach is a supportive king.
