Alakazam and the Wooden Cabin

Yan Yang was riding on Entei's back as Entei carried him along at a run.

Ever since that incident, there had been almost no barriers between them. They had spent a happy week together.

This time, Entei had set out intending to find Yan Yang a teacher.

He knew that Yan Yang understood many things about the Pokémon world, but most of that knowledge concerned Pokémon's abilities, personalities, and similar matters. He was still rather vague about everything else, not to mention that he had said this world differed somewhat from the one he knew.

Entei could teach him some things himself, but he was not particularly clever. Aside from matters concerning the Johto Region, there was not much else he could teach Yan Yang. That naturally would not do.

Furthermore, Suicune had mentioned Yan Yang's education to him. Entei had actually been considering the matter for quite some time, after all, he needed to prepare Yan Yang for his eventual return to the human world.

Fortunately, Entei really did know a very intelligent Pokémon. That Pokémon seemed to be quite beloved by other Pokémon.

That Pokémon also took in students. It was said that many young Pokémon had received its instruction and kindness, and even some much older Pokémon had learned a great deal from it.

Entei had met that Pokémon by chance, but it was precisely because of that encounter that he understood its character. It would absolutely never do anything bad.

That Pokémon was an Alakazam.

Pokémon of the Alakazam species were renowned for their intelligence to begin with.

And the Alakazam Entei knew seemed far smarter than other Alakazam. After all, what other Alakazam had gone so far as to develop an educational career like he had?

Entei knew that Alakazam was also well-versed in many human matters. It would be perfect to send Yan Yang there to learn, and Entei trusted his character as well.

The only question was whether he accepted human students.

He had heard that Alakazam would agree so long as someone was willing to become his student, so... probably? Entei was not entirely sure.

If Alakazam was unwilling, Entei did not know what to do either. They were merely acquaintances, not particularly close, and he did not know whether his status as a Sacred Beast would carry any weight.

And if he tried reasoning with Alakazam, Entei did not think he could win the argument. He had to admit that guy was much smarter than he was. There was a good chance Alakazam would talk him into not knowing what to say at all.

Still, with Yan Yang's personality, it would be hard for any Pokémon to refuse him, right?

Entei had tremendous confidence in his own child.

Yan Yang clutched Entei's mane and thought about what he should do later.

Entei had said he would find him a teacher, but had not said who it was. He had only said it was a very intelligent Pokémon.

Yan Yang actually had a few candidates in mind, but none of them were certain.

He would know once they arrived.

Yan Yang held teachers in great respect.

A teacher was one who imparted knowledge, taught skills, and resolved doubts. At any time, a teacher's status was honorable—like the Northern Dipper in the night sky, guiding the lost back onto the right path; like spring rain nourishing all things silently, asking for nothing in return. That truly was his impression of teachers. During his rather miserable childhood, teachers had been the only ones who cared for him at all.

A teacher was a model for others. Their words and actions were all imitated by their students, so they needed to speak and act with care. To follow a teacher was to follow a father; a teacher for one day was a father for life.

He remembered that once, in sixth grade, he had actually called their homeroom teacher "Dad." He had scared the poor man half to death.

But at the time, he had genuinely felt there was nothing wrong with calling him that...

Yan Yang was not quite sure what attitude he should take when meeting his soon-to-arrive second "father."

Before long, Entei brought him to their destination.

This truly was an unfamiliar place. No, it could be said that everywhere except the area around home was unfamiliar to him.

But Yan Yang had no time to feel strange in this place. The sight before him had stunned him instead.

Before them stood an enormous wooden cabin.

Its exterior walls were built from logs of locally grown pine and oak. Every piece of timber had been carefully polished, smooth without losing the beauty of its natural grain, and was decorated with many Pokémon graffiti elements.

The building cleverly used the naturally curved shapes of trees as design elements for its windows and doorframes, making the entire structure look both sturdy and full of life. The addition of some rocks and clay further enhanced the wooden cabin's sturdiness.

The roof was covered in a thick layer of dried grass, along with vines woven by Grass-type Pokémon. This not only effectively prevented rainwater from seeping through, but also provided excellent insulation indoors. It was clear that the designer knew what they were doing, unlike some people. Ahem.

There even seemed to be a skylight on the roof, perhaps so Pokémon could climb out at night and lie on the rooftop to count the stars.

An ordinary wooden cabin alone would not have surprised him so much, but this one had been built in an uninhabited wilderness. There was a very good chance it had been constructed by Pokémon themselves.

Pokémon could build houses on their own now, while he still seemed to be living in a cave.

Yan Yang could not help but complain inwardly.

Entei also studied the wooden cabin with great interest, wondering whether he should build one like it for Little Sun as well.

Several Pokémon came out through the door and looked curiously at the unfamiliar Pokémon before them.

But when they saw Yan Yang, they seemed somewhat afraid. Wild Pokémon were very wary of humans, which was perfectly normal, even if Yan Yang was only a child.

Yan Yang looked at those Pokémon.

Pichu, Cleffa, Igglybuff, Vulpix... They were all very young Pokémon.

Was he going to be classmates with these Pokémon?

That would be... wonderful!

Such adorable baby Pokémon—he had to properly... hehe.

After a while, a yellow Pokémon walked out.

It had long whiskers and ears, a relatively large head, and three-fingered hands, each holding a spoon.

Pokémon Alakazam.

Just as expected.

Yan Yang had considered this Pokémon in his earlier guesses, though he had placed more bets on Slowking.

The four great sages among Pokémon—Alakazam, Slowking, Metagross, and Orbeetle.

(A certain yellow mushroom known as the God of Wisdom: What about me?!)

Yan Yang remembered that the Pokédex had once mentioned how Alakazam possessed a mind faster than a supercomputer, with an IQ exceeding 5,000. The spoons in its hands had been created by Alakazam using Psychic Power.

Creating an object out of thin air with Psychic Power seemed incredibly impressive to Yan Yang.

Yan Yang still held a bit of doubt toward the Pokédex's claims. As everyone knew, Pokédex entries tended to be rather exaggerated. But since it had been recorded that way, there had to be some basis for it.

If Alakazam truly possessed an IQ beyond that of a human supercomputer, then wouldn't anything it wanted to do be effortless? How could it be so easily captured by humans?

But with such an intelligent Pokémon around, there was no need to ask who had built this wooden cabin.

With Alakazam's intelligence, it might even be able to directly recreate a world-famous building. Thinking of it that way, the wooden cabin before them suddenly seemed a little ordinary.

No, it should be said that Alakazam had directed its construction. It probably did not have the strength to move things around itself; its powerful mental strength had also left Alakazam physically frail.

Though perhaps it had used its powerful mental strength to build it directly?

Yan Yang's thoughts wandered wildly.

While he was distracted, Entei had already stepped forward to make inquiries.

After learning of Entei's request, Alakazam remained completely unperturbed.

Alakazam actually knew several humans who had been raised by Pokémon.

As long as Alakazam remembered something, it would never forget it.

Even if there were things Alakazam did not know, as long as it was willing, it could learn about them through prediction after some time. It was simply quite taxing. The move Future Sight was one thing; truly foreseeing the future was another matter entirely.

After giving it some thought, Alakazam agreed to Entei's request.

Alakazam would accept reasonable requests from Legendary Pokémon, especially since the two of them knew each other.

Besides, Alakazam was extremely interested in this child raised by Entei.

At the request of our many readers, we now offer VIP membership ad-free functionality.

Click to view