A/N: This is based on an idea I once came up with for Writing Prompt Wednesday on r/MysteryDungeon. No one went through with it, though I did get a (now-deleted) tirade about how "cursed" it was, followed by a message from a moderator saying that it had been removed for having the potential to lead into NSFW territory. This story doesn't do that, hence the T rating, and it's also a little less... out there than Inflated Ego. That's a given, since Inflated Ego was written as an experiment to see how readers would react to stories containing material that isn't objectively NSFW but could still be interpreted as "kinky", like Bowser's Inside Story with its emphasis on vore and macro.

But what makes this "cursed"? Just read to find out.

Cascade walked through Post Town with his navy blue tail swishing directly behind him like a metronome. He took his shell off his belly to give it a little polish before putting it back on. He turned around to see his Pikachu companion hopping loyally with him, her speed in sync with his for the most part. They passed Swanna's Inn and other such significant locales of the town, and after their short walk of enjoying the presence of one another, they ended up back at their small house.

Sophia nestled her head under Cascade's chin. As her yellow ears tickled him, his cheeks flushed a deep red.

"Thanks for all your help with Paradise today!" Sophia chirped, retracting. "I'm grateful for a partner like you."

"...Don't mention it," Cascade replied, feeling a little disappointed that the moment couldn't have lasted a little longer. "I'd do anything for someone as cute as you." 'Frick. FRICK. Why did I let that slip out?'

"Me? Cute?" Sophia snorted for a moment, then broke out into a fit of giggles.

Cascade remained silent to let her finish. Though he suspected that other Pokémon in the town found her overly bubbly, cheerful demeanor somewhat annoying, the sound of her laughter was the most blessed, wholesome thing he could imagine.

"You're funny, Cascade!" Sophia said at last. "Anyway, I'm going to Swanna's Inn for a coffee, want one?"

"...Sure. I guess so."

"Okay! Be right back!" Sophia hopped away. Cascade started to walk to the entrance of their home, but stopped next to the mailbox, behind which he watched Sophia head on her way.

Inside the hut, Cascade lay back on the ground, staring at the ceiling, his partner's gesture of affection still fresh in his mind. Had she simply intended to reinforce their friendship? Or did she return his secret feelings for her? He wanted to think it was the latter.

Hazy as his memories of his human life were, he'd know if someone who was as grateful for his presence as Sophia was rang any bells. But someone who had shown him so much kindness in his situation, from finding him somewhere to live to always having his back, as he did for her, while he got used to honing his abilities, was unlike anyone he remembered. Her unfalteringly-uplifting demeanor never failed to brighten up his day, and he knew for a fact his life in the Pokémon world wouldn't be nearly as happy without her around.

What could he do about the situation? Asking to take their relationship to the next level ran the risk of ruining the friendship they already had if she said yes. And if the answer was no, things would never be the same again. There would always be an air of awkwardness that hadn't been present before.

Was his only option to simply live with his feelings for her, bottling them up and only receiving an occasional innocent gesture like the one from earlier?

'She'd never let something like this bother her,' he thought. 'I wish I was her.'

Cascade suddenly remembered something about this world of Pokémon, and that combined with his momentary thought gave him an idea. It wouldn't completely solve the problem, merely tide him over until he decided what to do.

Early the next morning, Cascade came back to the small house. But the Pokémon behind him wasn't his partner. It was, in fact, a Zorua. When they reached the house, Cascade gestured for Zorua to come inside with him.

"Alright, now work your magic," Cascade prompted her.

Zorua's form became obscured by bright light all over her body. Cascade got a slight uneasy feeling in his stomach from watching as Zorua's shape changed from a quadruped fox to a bipedal mouse. Her tail changed from a teardrop shape to a lightning bolt with a dent in the end.

The light finally faded to reveal a Pikachu, a fairly close approximation of Sophia. Not perfect, owing to Zorua only having accompanied them on two or three missions, but Cascade would simply have to make do with it.

"I like it!" he complimented Sophrua. "And now for the main event. You do what I want for half an hour, and… how does 500 Poké sound?"

"Erm, sure thing," Sophrua accepted a little hesitantly.

Cascade edged closer and placed his paws on Sophrua's shoulders. He leaned forward to the side so that his head was next to Sophrua's, but facing the opposite direction. He brushed against the faux Pikachu, taking in her furry surface. He shifted his chin to be on top of Sophrua's, feeling its crest like he had done with Sophrua's the day prior.

He retracted his head and aligned his eyes with Sophrua's. He closed his eyes and drew slowly closer, his lips puckered and ready to make contact with Sophrua's.

"Why, hello, Sophia! How long have you been there?"

Cascade opened his eyes — their pupils pinpricks — at Sophrua's words. He looked to the side to see the real Pikachu standing in the doorway looking very surprised indeed.

"I noticed a Zorua inside with Cascade so I snuck over to watch," Sophia answered. "What exactly is going on here?"

"Cascade here is paying me 500 Poké to do what he wants," Sophrua explained. "Presumably, we were just about to make out!"

Sophia stepped inside the hut. "Is that true, Cascade?"

"...Yes." He knew that denying it would be futile. "But nothing beyond that."

Sophia continued stepping over to them, but mainly to Cascade. "You could have just told me you liked me so much."

Cascade wasn't sure how to respond to that. But the closer Sophia got to him, the worse off Sophrua looked by comparison. Seeing the real deal before him gave him something to compare the substitute to, and that lessened the desirability of the latter considerably.

Sophia zapped Cascade with the proportionate number of volts for this offense.

"Owowowowowowowowowow!" When it was finished, Cascade lay on the ground, charred black with smoke rising from him. His eyes were spinning swirls.

"No one in Post Town or our list of recruits can compare to yours truly in the looks department," Sophia boasted. "Accept no substitutes. Do I make myself clear?"

"Yes, yes, of course…"

"Truth is, Cascade," Sophia began. "I wouldn't mind trying it with you."

"You really wouldn't?"

"'Course not! I'd be pretty lonely if I didn't seek out my other half. And why wouldn't you be a candidate? I mean, aside from going behind my back and getting around my knowledge and permission just now, but we all do crazy things for love."

"That is what motivated this," Cascade hastily clarified. "I genuinely am crushing on you, it wasn't just your body I wanted."

"Well, you can still have it," Sophia offered. "But my services are not cheap. 1,000 Poké for a half an hour of what you and Zorua were going to do."

"Deal."

"Uh, yeah, I think I'll just leave you guys to it," came a voice from in the corner. Cascade and Sophia watched as Zorua, who had returned to her default form, wisely left.

Now that their attention was back on each other, Sophia closed her eyes and pursed her lips for a kiss. Cascade was briefly hypnotized by the joyful expression on her face, but soon followed suit and let his lips connect to hers.

Neither of them were sure how long they passionately engaged with one another, on account of how lost they were in each other's grasp. Cascade toppled over onto Sophia, pinning her down, as if to reinforce that he was the only one she was to pay attention to right now, and vice versa. Once he was done savoring the taste of Sophia's lips, he flipped her onto her side and nibbled gently on her neck.

That evening, the two of them rested on their respective beds. Sophia counted out the Poké banknotes Cascade had given her. "Having any buyer's remorse, Cascade?" she teased.

"Nope."

Sophia smirked. "Guess I really am as good as I said, then."

"Here's the real reason," Cascade began. "You and I are a team, right?"

"...Yeah?"

Cascade grinned at her to counter the smirk she wore. "So that means we share our finances."

Sophia opened her mouth, but realized she had nothing to say. She looked at the money in her hands, then back at Cascade.

Cascade was forced to sleep outside that night.