Krabby and Son

They'd picked so many Berries from this forest—wouldn't the Wild Pokémon living here struggle to survive the winter because of it?

Images of countless Pokémon starving to death flashed through his mind, and Dongshu couldn't help glancing at the Fire Emperor, trying to ask for specifics.

"Iya iya?"

Hearing the Little One on his back speak, the Fire Emperor immediately used telepathy to ask:

"What's wrong?"

Dongshu pointed at the Berry tree with only a few fruits left, then looked toward the retreating backs of the Kangaskhan group.

"Wawa, aa ya?"

Though a language gap still existed between him and the Little One, watching the worry and reluctance on that tiny face, the Fire Emperor somehow understood his meaning in that moment.

He then turned a dignified gaze toward the Berry trees and explained via telepathy:

"Don't worry. Even if we've picked some Berries, what's left won't stop them from getting through the winter."

"That's because I didn't harvest from just one place. The Berries in the cave came from many locations—I only took a little from each spot."

More importantly, Berries were a very special thing.

Even if you stripped every last one from the tree, in less than three days, the branches would be full again.

Hearing the Fire Emperor's explanation, Dongshu finally relaxed.

If any Pokémon starved to death in winter because of this, he really wouldn't be able to accept it.

Was the Little One worried that they'd taken too many Berries and the Pokémon here would go hungry?

The Fire Emperor felt a flicker of surprise, but then immense pride and joy swelled in his heart. As expected of his Little One—so kind-hearted!

One person and one Pokémon continued onward. After wandering for a while, Dongshu began to feel tired.

As drowsiness washed over him, he lay on the Fire Emperor's back and started nodding off.

Seeing this, the Fire Emperor said nothing. He immediately turned around, ready to take the Little One back to the cave for sleep.

But just as they passed the spot where the mother Kangaskhan had picked Berries earlier, the Fire Emperor's sharp ears caught a cry for help.

The voice was barely hiding its panic, tinged with a hint of desperation.

The Fire Emperor frowned slightly and immediately dashed toward the sound.

Dongshu, who had been dozing off, jolted awake at the noise.

What was that sound?

The Fire Emperor reached the destination quickly.

There, beneath the Berry tree, stood the mother-and-child Graveler pair from before.

The mother Graveler was staring anxiously at her child, Krabby.

"What happened?" The Fire Emperor frowned, his authoritative voice echoing in Graveler's mind.

"Graveler!"

Graveler looked at the Fire Emperor with a hint of awe, then began to explain.

It turned out her child, Krabby, had been too mischievous. Running over here, he spotted a Berry pit on the ground, thought it was food, and swallowed it.

But the pit got stuck in his throat—couldn't cough it up, couldn't swallow it down.

Krabby was now lying on the ground, breathing more out than in.

His eyes were tightly shut, his face twisted in agony, and only his round belly kept heaving up and down.

Clearly, this Krabby was in terrible pain.

What should he do?

The Fire Emperor frowned, trying to help Krabby, but he'd never encountered this situation before and had no idea how to handle it.

Seeing the Fire Emperor at a loss, the mother Graveler grew even more frantic. She let out mournful cries, her eyes fixed desperately on her child as his life force ebbed away.

Just then, the Fire Emperor and the mother Graveler suddenly heard a childish voice.

"I-i ya ya?"

The mother Graveler looked up and spotted a human child on the Fire Emperor's back.

"Little One?" The Fire Emperor was startled.

Then he felt the Little One on his back start squirming, as if trying to get down.

A bit puzzled, the Fire Emperor still lowered himself.

Dongshu slid off the Fire Emperor's back, crawled over to the Krabby lying on the ground, and examined him.

From the pained expression and reactions, Dongshu immediately understood—this Krabby had choked on something!

"I-i ya ya!"

Dongshu quickly turned back to the Fire Emperor and the mother Graveler, gesturing for them to help prop the Krabby up from the ground.

The two Pokémon didn't understand what he meant and stood frozen for a moment.

Seeing this, Dongshu grew anxious. He quickly crawled over to Krabby and reached out, tugging at it with all his strength.

Graveler looked bewildered, but Fire Emperor caught on.

After spending these days together, it had grown very familiar with Little One.

Its Little One never acted without reason.

Watching Little One's movements, Fire Emperor spoke in a low, firm voice to Graveler:

"Lift it up!"

Graveler was utterly confused, but soon realized that this being before it might have a way to save its child!

It immediately propped up Krabby, who was lying on the ground.

Seeing this, Dongshu crawled behind Krabby and began pounding the spot between its shoulder blades and spine with his soft little fists.

But nothing happened.

Too weak.

Left with no choice, Dongshu looked at Fire Emperor and gestured for it to take over.

"Ee-ya-ya!"

He grabbed Fire Emperor's large claw and pulled it toward Krabby.

Fire Emperor understood his intent. It swung its claw in one swift motion, and the immense force sent Krabby flying, along with the berry pit lodged in its throat.

"Cough, cough, cough, cough!"

Krabby let out a violent fit of coughing, then grimaced in pain.

The round berry pit rolled across the ground.

Seeing this, Graveler's face lit up with sheer joy.

It rushed over to check on its child.

When it found that Krabby had only suffered a few minor injuries and was otherwise fine, it let out a long sigh of relief.

It looked at the human and Fire Emperor with overwhelming gratitude.

The cloud-like mane behind Fire Emperor swayed in the wind as it stood still, its usually stern and majestic face now softened with a trace of tenderness.

Dongshu grinned at Graveler and let out a giggle.

With the matter resolved, Fire Emperor picked up Dongshu, set him on its back, then turned and slowly walked away.

Neither of them noticed that within their shadows, a small figure was quietly watching everything with a dark, gleaming gaze.