It was Sunday evening. Toby was playing the guitar at his usual place.

This time, Memis was sitting next to him. Sometimes sleeping, sometimes looking at the bypassing people. The sound of the guitar combined with his soft voice and the setting sun created such a peaceful, calm athmosphere, one which was uncommon for someone like Memis, especially considering how stressful it was to even arrive in this world.

As it got darker after a few hours, Toby collected the money he’d made and packed up his guitar.

„You have a nice voice“, Memis said.
„Thank you.“ Toby smiled. „I don‘t always sing... I‘m not that confident with it. But I felt like it.“ He shouldered his guitarcase. „I feel like I made more money than usual.“ „Oh! Did I help with that?“ „I guess! People do like dogs after all.“ „I‘m happy!!“ „Hey, what if I bring my guitar home and we go for a little walk in the park? I haven‘t done that in a while.“ „Oh sure!!! I would love to. I haven‘t had much exercise being in your room all the time...“
„Yeah, I figured... so, let‘s go!“

„Mggrrr.... mrrghh... mrr!“

„What is it?“

„That smell... it‘s the DM-0431!“

„Oh? If that is so, go find it and bring it to me. You know your orders.“

„Yes, ma‘am!"

„So Toby... when do you want to tell your mom about me?“

The two were walking down the path in the park, past a few trees and a pond. „Hmmh...“ Toby had his hands in his pockets. „Maybe I will next week. I can‘t keep you a secret forever. She‘ll notice a dog running around the flat sooner or later.“ „And... what if she doesn‘t like me?“ „We‘ll figure out something. I can‘t imagine her kicking you out. You don‘t have anywhere to go after all! She isn‘t that heartless.“ „Hmmh... If you say so... hm?“
Memis‘ ears twitched. „Did you hear that?“ „Hm?“ Toby looked around. It wasn‘t all dark yet, but he couldn‘t see anything. „What am I supposed to hear?“
„There‘s... something...“

Suddenly, loud steps could be heard.

Memis‘ eyes widened. „It‘s the dragon!!“

„What?!“

„W-We have to go!!“

„Oh, okay!!“

Memis ran before him, Toby followed. But suddenly, a big, powerful stomp sounded, so powerful in fact that they could feel it in their bones.

„AHH!“ Toby fell to the ground.
„Toby!!“ Memis quickly turned around and ran to him. „Are you alright?!“ „Mah, I‘m fine...“ Toby held his head. He slowly looked up, and what he saw made his blood freeze.

A tall, blue dragon with a golden mane and a circular tail towered above them. She blew a huge cloud of smoke out of her nose.
„I found you... don‘t you dare run away!!“, the dragon said in a menacing voice.

„Wha.. what the... what—“ Toby stood up with shaking legs. Memis wasn‘t crazy. This was an actual dragon.

„No!!“ Memis growled. „Leave me alone!!“

„Mgrrr... If you don‘t cooperate, I will have to force you!"

„H-Hey-!“ Toby swallowed hard. „What do you even want?! Mind your own business! Memis didn‘t do anything!“

„Don‘t interfere, tiny human!“ The dragon came closer. „The DM-0431 can‘t stay here!“

„I- I don‘t care!“ Toby walked in front of Memis. „He‘s my friend, you can‘t just take him!“

„Toby! Watch out, she‘s dangerous!!“

„Mgrrrll... Go away!!“ The dragon stood up on two legs and swung her claw to push Toby away.

„Ahh!!“ He was thrown to the side and landed on the hard ground.

„Toby!!!“ Memis wanted to run to him but was quickly attacked by the dragon. He let out a high-pitched scream as she pushed him to the ground, digging her claws into his skin, tearing it slightly open.
„You won’t get away this time...“ The dragon blew out another cloud of smoke.

„Ouch...“ Toby slowly stood up. He saw to the two creatures, and as he realized that Memis was stuck beneath the dragons claws, he immediately shouted. „HEY! LET HIM GO YOU MONSTER!“ He ran to her and began to hit her ribcage with his fists. „LET HIM GOOO!!!“

„Mrrgg??“ The dragon looked up. „Mggrrrr!!“ She let go of Memis and turned around. „YOU‘RE ANNOYING!!“ With much force she headbutted him. „Ahh-!“ Toby tumbled back, hitting his head on the tree nearby. „Ff- ahh“ He wiped his mouth, a little bit of blood was dripping out.

The dragon now approached him. She took a deep breath in.

„Mmmh...“ Memis stood up again and shook his head. When he saw the dragon coming closer to Toby, and the sparks around her snout, he gasped. „TOBY WATCH OUT!!!“ He ran quickly, and within a second, he jumped up, on Toby, quickly pushing him aside. In the exact same moment a wall of fire bursted out of the mouth of the dragon, setting the tree on fire.

Toby and Memis were both on the ground. „Hahh...“ Toby panted. His eyesight was blurry, but he clearly saw the big flames in front of him, as well as the pressing heat it emitted.

Did this really just happen?

His heart was pounding so hard he could feel it in his throat. „M-Memis...“ He wrapped his arms around him. He was unconscious.

The dragon faced them again. Her breath was still surrounded by sparks. She would breathe again.

Toby closed his eyes and held Memis close. He was unable to move and certain that he‘d die now.

The dragon approached...

„ENOUGH!! STOP IT CINQ!!!“

Toby looked up again.

The dragon froze in her movement, and a woman with rose-colored hair and a white uniform approached.

„Are you crazy?! We have talked about this numerous times!! You can‘t attack humans!! And what did I tell you about using your fire? Put it out, or else!!“ „Mrrggll...“ The dragon breathed in, consuming the flames on the nearby tree. The damage it did however remained.

The woman squatted down and offered Toby her hand. „Are you okay? Did she hurt you?“

„Uhh- I‘m-“ Toby took her hand and stood up, still holding Memis in his arms. „I‘m okay... but Memis... he‘s hurt...“
„You can‘t just fight a Morpho Mon unarmed.... that's very dangerous, don‘t you know?“ She looked down on him. „Also- why do you have this Dog Morpho Mon? You‘re not a Morpho Defender.“ „Morpho Mon... Morpho Defender...? What are you even talking about?“

The woman sighed. „The creature you‘re holding there. You know that‘s not a normal dog, right?“ „Right...“ „Have you never heard of Morphing Monsters?“

„....“ Toby thought for a few seconds.

He remembered a few news articles about creatures from another dimension roaming around, as well as an organization that handled this. But... was Memis one of those monsters?

„I will take you to the Morpho Defenders HQ. Someone can take care of your and the Dog Morpho‘s wounds. And... we can talk a bit about this whole situation.“

„... I- okay...“

„I‘m Charlotte Evans. I‘m one of the Elite Morpho Defenders. And the Lizard Morpho is my partner Cinq.“

„Ah- I‘m Toby. Toby Williams. And this is Memis.“

„Hmmh... Williams, huh?“ Charlotte crossed her arms. „Follow me. The HQ isn‘t too far away from here.“

„Okay..."