Safe Return, News of Articuno?

The Blizzard still raged on, showing no signs of weakening. Howling winds whipped up snow that filled the sky, flakes drifting down thick as goose feathers, making it nearly impossible to see. The freezing wind cut to the bone with a shrill whistle, while dark clouds blanketed the sky, leaving everything dim and gloomy.

Yan Yang and Pikachu's group rested behind a rock, waiting for Entei to return with Togepi.

Pikachu and the others were a little worried. Togepi had been blown away by such strong winds—he had to be hurt, right?

Yan Yang was much more optimistic. He trusted Entei completely. With his abilities, nothing would go wrong.

Yan Yang quietly used God's Eye to check the status of Pikachu and the other three:

"Pikachu (Just Met)

Gender: Male

Attribute: Electric

Level: 20

Ability: Static (Close contact may cause paralysis)

Item: None

Moves: Omitted

Status: A little cold, worried and afraid.

Evaluation: An unremarkable electric mouse, yet he possessed the heart of a leader."

"Bellsprout... Level: 15

Status: Cold, worried and afraid.

Evaluation: If he spits peas from his mouth, can he turn into a Peashooter? Could bring him along to fight zombies?"

"Ledyba... Level: 15

Status: Cold, worried and afraid.

Evaluation: The Pokémon version of a seven-spotted ladybug, a Bug Catcher's favorite."

Seeing how worried the Pokémon were about their companion, Yan Yang comforted them. "Don't worry. Dad will bring Togepi back safely."

With Yan Yang's reassurance, the heavy atmosphere finally began to ease. Pikachu rubbed his face, reminding himself that he had to pull himself together.

Bellsprout and Ledyba were still worried, but they did not show it too much.

Still, this human seemed to have said something pretty unbelievable just now. What was it again?

Pikachu could not remember for the moment, but he did not keep thinking about it.

One Grass-type and one Flying-type—two Pokémon afraid of the cold—had already begun shivering. They had been out for so long, and so much had happened. Even if they were not as sensitive to cold as others of their kind, they could not endure it anymore. Fear of the cold was a shared weakness of Grass-types and Flying-types.

When Yan Yang noticed the two trembling, he hesitated briefly before picking them both up.

Thanks to the Flame Scarf, Yan Yang's body temperature was quite high. The two Pokémon also felt how warm this human was, and kept squeezing into his arms.

"Pikachu, do you want to come too?" Yan Yang gently stroked Bellsprout's body as he asked Pikachu.

The other two Pokémon also invited Pikachu to warm himself on this human.

Pikachu hesitated before agreeing. However, Yan Yang's arms were already full with Bellsprout and Ledyba. After thinking for a moment, he jumped onto Yan Yang's shoulder.

Luckily, his weight was not much, but why did this guy not seem to find it tiring at all?

His shoulder was not as warm as his arms, but it was more than enough for Pikachu, who was not particularly afraid of the cold.

And so, Yan Yang held two Pokémon in his arms, with another Pikachu perched on his shoulder. The scene was exceptionally warm and lovely.

After an unknown amount of time, Entei returned with Togepi. It seemed that nothing had happened.

Seeing Togepi return safely, Pikachu and the others were overjoyed. They all climbed down from Yan Yang and surrounded the Togepi Entei had brought back, eagerly asking questions.

"Pika pika~ How was it? You weren't hurt, were you?"

"Toge toge~ No, but the feeling of being blown up by the wind was so strange." Togepi answered happily, as though he had merely gone out to play.

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"Pika pika~ Then how about flying again? You seemed to enjoy it." Pikachu teased.

"Toge—get lost! I don't want to fall from the sky. If Lord Entei hadn't saved me, I don't even know where I would've been blown off to."

"Pika~ Be more careful from now on. Don't get blown away again."

"Toge~ Mm."

While Pikachu and the others chatted, Yan Yang and Entei began talking nearby as well.

"Dad, you weren't hurt, were you?" Yan Yang asked with concern.

"No. What kind of trouble was that? How could I possibly get hurt? Just how much do you underestimate me?" Entei's tone carried a hint of pride.

"Got it, got it. Dad's the strongest. You bravely rescued the Togepi who was blown away without suffering a scratch—so amazing!" Yan Yang switched into praise mode. He knew Entei liked hearing such things from him.

"Say more. I like hearing it."

"By the way, Dad, do you know why such a Blizzard suddenly came? I don't think it formed naturally—it feels more like it was caused by a Pokémon." Yan Yang voiced his doubts.

"Yes, it was indeed the work of a Pokémon. For a Blizzard this powerful, the other party is probably a Pokémon around my level." Entei's expression turned grave. He had a pretty good idea who it was. Why had that fellow left the Kanto Region instead of staying there properly, only to come wreak havoc in the Johto Region?

"A Pokémon about as strong as you... could it be Articuno?" Yan Yang guessed instinctively. After all, among the first two generations of Pokémon, Articuno was the only Legendary Pokémon with an Ice type. It was probably also the only one capable of creating such a massive Blizzard.

Kanto and Johto were very close to each other, so it really could only be Articuno.

"It's probably him. Wait, how do you know about Articuno?" Entei looked puzzled.

"Uh, I've heard the legends about Articuno," Yan Yang explained.

"Oh." Entei did not press the matter.

Since Entei did not ask further, Yan Yang breathed a sigh of relief.

"I'll take you home later. Stay at home and wait obediently. I'm going to meet that Articuno."

"Huh? Can't I come with you?"

"What would a child like you go there for? What if negotiations fail and we start fighting? What would you do then?"

Entei knew the temperaments of the Legendary Birds very well. Every one of them was difficult to deal with, and their tempers were even more explosive than his had once been. They might start fighting after only a few words. If Yan Yang came along, he might get caught up in it.

Of course, Yan Yang was unwilling. He had to go—this was Articuno, a Legendary Pokémon! No matter what, he wanted to see it with his own eyes.

"No. It's too dangerous. You can't go." Entei was utterly firm. There was no room for discussion.

"...All right, Dad, don't be angry. I won't go." Afraid that Entei would truly get angry, Yan Yang gave in, though he was still considering whether to sneak out later.

Forget it. He should not do that. He might get to see Articuno again in the future anyway. No bird was more important than Dad.

Entei nodded, showing his approval of Yan Yang's correct choice.

Pikachu and the other three had long since finished their conversation and were quietly listening nearby as Entei and Yan Yang spoke.

When they heard Yan Yang call Entei "Dad," the four Pokémon were quite shocked. They wondered how the lofty Lord Entei had suddenly gained such a frail-looking human child. Was there some story behind it? They really wanted to know.

Gossip was always an outsider's favorite pastime.

However, they did not dare ask Entei now. It seemed Yan Yang had already been calling him Dad before Entei returned. Damn it—why had they not noticed back then? They could have asked this human child named Yan Yang at the time and satisfied their curiosity.

"Grrr~" The four Pokémon's stomachs had begun to growl. They had come out to search for food in the first place, but not only had they failed to find any, they had also gone through so much. Their stomachs had long been protesting, though they had not shown it too obviously because they were worried about their companion.

Now that everything was all right, their stomachs could no longer hold back.

Hearing that they were hungry, Entei ran out once more. When he returned, he brought back some Berries. There were not many, but they were enough to fill the four Pokémon's stomachs.

The four of them did not stand on ceremony. After thanking him, they began to eat.

After they finished eating, Entei said that he would be taking Yan Yang away and told them to wait here until the wind and snow stopped before returning.

After a simple farewell with the four adorable Pokémon, Yan Yang climbed onto Entei's back and headed toward home.