Entei had not returned yet, and Yan Yang had no idea what he had gone off to do.
Yan Yang had Hawlucha rest on a rock inside the cave while he went deeper inside to fetch some Berries, then invited Hawlucha to eat.
Hawlucha did not stand on ceremony. After thanking him, it began eating.
Just as it was nearly finished, Entei returned with a large, bulging sack that seemed to be stuffed with all sorts of things.
Yan Yang opened the sack and found it filled with children's clothes, shoes, snacks, toys, and various other odds and ends.
Yan Yang was very curious about where all these things had come from. Given Entei's personality, he definitely had not stolen or robbed them, but how had Entei acquired them without anyone noticing?
Entei gave a simple explanation. He had run into the previous candidate for Brave of the Rainbow and asked him to buy them.
It seemed Entei trusted that Brave of the Rainbow quite a lot. He had allowed the man to appear before him, and after hearing Entei's request, the man had not asked too many questions. He had even prepared extra things that children liked.
Still, knowing that Entei knew other people somehow made Yan Yang feel a little sour inside. He seemed to be getting more and more childish.
Seeing Yan Yang's slightly dejected expression, Entei roughly understood what was going on. He raised a forepaw and patted Yan Yang's shoulder. "Don't overthink it. We're merely acquainted. He can't compare to you."
Yan Yang felt a little embarrassed when his secret thoughts were exposed, but he quickly recovered.
As long as I'm not embarrassed, then the embarrassed one is someone else.
Hawlucha watched the two of them interact. It had learned on the road that Yan Yang had a Pokémon father, though it had not quite believed it at the time. Now, it seemed that was indeed true, and it was still a little surprised.
Entei had noticed the unfamiliar Pokémon the moment he entered the cave, but he did not ask about it immediately. He waited for Yan Yang to explain.
"Father, this is Hawlucha, a Pokémon from the Kalos Region. Hawlucha, this is Entei, one of Johto's Legendary Beasts, and also my dearest Father," Yan Yang introduced them.
Looking at Entei before it, Hawlucha felt a measure of awe. Such powerful pressure meant that Entei had to be an incredibly strong Pokémon. Hawlucha absolutely would not be able to withstand even one move from him.
As a Fighting-type Pokémon that loved battle and followed the principle that the strong were respected, Hawlucha bowed to Entei to express its submission and respect.
Entei was used to the attitude unfamiliar Pokémon showed toward him. He nodded, acknowledging Hawlucha's presence.
Yan Yang then recounted the entire incident to Entei.
The moment Entei heard that such a thing had happened, he was furious. However, with his child and a guest before him, he did not show it openly. Still, the murderous intent in his eyes was unmistakable. The look of someone who wanted to kill was impossible to hide, and it made Hawlucha's scalp tingle as its body trembled slightly.
Yan Yang was not particularly afraid. After all, he had caused trouble and angered Entei before, but Entei was genuinely furious today.
Most Fire-type Pokémon really did have personalities as fierce as flames.
Entei slightly reined in his sharp aura and began considering how to proceed.
Killing those people outright would be the simplest and most brutal solution, but it might arouse humanity's vigilance and suspicion. Moreover, there was the problem of how the rescued Pokémon would return home. That seemed to require the involvement of other humans.
After thinking for a while, Entei decided to trouble that fellow Wang Yan again. Wang Yan seemed to have some connections, so Entei could have him handle the aftermath for those Pokémon.
As for those hunters, he would beat them up first and then let the humans take them away. Humans certainly would not tolerate poaching, and those people needed to experience what it felt like to be locked up.
Entei was about to leave again. After learning of his plan, Yan Yang said that he wanted to take part in the operation as well.
Entei agreed. Little Sun was no longer the Little Sun he used to be. It was a good thing that he had his own thoughts, and Entei would definitely support him.
However, there was one condition: Yan Yang could not expose himself to anyone else's sight.
There were several masks among the supplies Entei had brought. With one on, Yan Yang would not have to fear being seen, though it would be best if no one even got the chance to see the mask.
"Father, should Wang Yan not see me either?"
Entei hesitated. Anything concerning Yan Yang had to be handled carefully, or he would regret it.
Wang Yan had once been a candidate for Brave of the Rainbow. Entei did not know whether he still possessed the same fiery, sincere heart he had back then. Human hearts were fickle; someone kind in the past might later become a villain capable of every evil.
When they had met last time, Entei had not noticed any such change in him.
In the end, Entei decided to trust him. It was not only because Wang Yan had helped purchase a pile of supplies not long ago, but also because of the condition of his Charizard—it was excellent. Entei could sense Charizard's love and dependence on its owner. A Trainer who treated his Pokémon well could not be too bad.
Besides, Yan Yang would still have to return to human society someday. When that time came, Entei could continue asking Wang Yan to help Little Sun obtain a reasonable identity.
As for repayment, Entei planned to use Sacred Fire to temper the body of Wang Yan's ace Charizard, then have it train with him for a while.
Entei might have thought it was nothing, that he was only putting in a little effort, but this was an opportunity countless Trainers dreamed of.
Resources and guidance from a Legendary Pokémon—how many people would flock to that? It was said that Pokémon who received the blessings of Legendary Pokémon would undergo a complete transformation and become powerful Pokémon renowned far and wide. Some could even inherit their true teachings and gain the strength to break through their species' limits.
Some humans could even receive the blessings of legendary beasts and obtain miraculous abilities.
But Yan Yang, who was cared for by Entei at home every day, had no concept of any of this. He did not know how valuable those repeated blasts of [Sacred Fire] Entei used whenever he got sick were. To Entei, it was simply routine, as though it cost nothing.
If others found out, they would be green with envy.
A large part of the reason Trainers who had caught Legendary Pokémon rose to a higher level of strength was because of this. It truly was enviable.
But they had earned it. Their Legendary Pokémon had recognized them and were willing to become their Pokémon, so was it not natural for them to give their own Trainers a little advantage?
A little boost was not really cheating, anyway.
Entei set off with Yan Yang and Hawlucha. Although Entei disliked having other Pokémon ride on him, it was fine if Yan Yang was holding them.
Held in Yan Yang's arms, Hawlucha felt as though it were dreaming. It was actually riding on a Legendary Pokémon. That was something it could brag about for a long time. In the future, it could proudly tell its companions that it had once ridden a legendary beast and receive countless admiring looks.
Yan Yang did not know what Hawlucha was thinking. His feelings were complicated. Was he about to meet the first person he had encountered after coming to this world? He wondered whether Wang Yan would gossip about him or look at him strangely.
He had not seen other humans for far too long, and he still felt somewhat resistant to meeting people. He had always been easily embarrassed, and only around Pokémon did he feel less shy. In his eyes, other people were not as approachable as Pokémon.
Still, he had to take this step. He could not follow Entei and live in the wilderness forever. Eventually, he would have to return to human society and learn how to interact and communicate with people.
With that thought, his gaze grew resolute.
Entei's agile form darted through the forest, his steps as firm as Yan Yang's eyes.
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