Entei's Return

On the seventh day after Entei left, Dongshu began to miss him.

Perhaps it was because Entei had saved him back then, or because Entei's company had helped him get through that cold winter in peace. Whatever the reason, Dongshu had always felt something special for this Pokémon.

After what had happened, he had no family left in this world. Only Entei had treated him with unconditional kindness and protected him.

After spending so much time together, Dongshu had grown used to having the warm, fluffy big cat by his side.

Now that Entei still hadn't returned, Dongshu couldn't help but grow worried.

Though Entei was a Legendary Pokémon, it wasn't invincible—not against certain powerful Trainers.

Judging by how Raikou had nearly been captured by Team Rocket, if Team Rocket had set its sights on Entei too, he might face the same fate.

Thinking about all this, Dongshu no longer felt like performing magic tricks for the Wild Pokémon to earn more Shock Points.

Every day, aside from eating and sleeping, he sat on Heavenly Green Mountain, gazing into the distance and waiting for Entei to return.

Raikou and Marshadow watched all of this.

The two Pokémon exchanged glances. Though they had never experienced this themselves, they could both tell that the human child missed Entei.

Raikou was silent for a long while before speaking through telepathy. "He'll be fine."

"Haah!" Dongshu sighed with a worried look, like a little adult.

The sun was already setting. The fiery clouds that were hard to see in a big city like Saffron City were commonplace here on Heavenly Green Mountain.

Dongshu couldn't help yawning. He was getting sleepy.

"Let's go back." Raikou walked over and awkwardly took Dongshu by the clothes, lifting him onto his back. Then he turned and headed toward the cave.

Raikou walked very slowly. Little One wrapped his tiny arms around Raikou's neck and pressed his cheek against Raikou's fur. Vast swathes of fiery clouds spread overhead, while the Twilight Forest stretched endlessly below the mountain. Time seemed to slow to a crawl.

Raikou's heart, meanwhile, felt fuller than ever.

Until now, Heavenly Green Mountain had been nothing more than a place to meet Lord Ho-Oh. It held no special meaning for him.

If Lord Ho-Oh wasn't there, or if they didn't need to guide the Rainbow Hero, he almost never came back.

But now, everything was different.

Raikou even felt that he didn't want to leave Heavenly Green Mountain. He wanted to stay here and raise this human child.

He had already decided to raise the human child as if he were a Pokémon.

This was their Pokémon child.

Not long after they returned to the cave, Dongshu fell into a deep sleep.

Raikou stayed by his side, watching him sleep.

So when Entei returned from outside, this was the scene he saw:

His Little One was asleep on a blanket that looked incredibly soft. Beside the blanket, a glowing mushroom had appeared from who knew where, while Raikou lay next to Little One, quietly guarding him.

Entei froze at the sight.

His gaze swept over the wooden floor beneath his paws before finally settling on Raikou.

"What's going on?" Entei asked.

"It's this human child's ability," Raikou replied gravely. "He sees this place as home, and used his power to make the cave look like this."

So that was it. Entei understood. He walked over to Dongshu and set the doll he was carrying in his mouth beside him. Then he lowered his head to sniff Little One's scent and licked his face.

Only after making sure Little One was safe and sound did the weight finally lift from Entei's heart.

It seemed Raikou and Marshadow had taken good care of him during this time.

Entei turned to Raikou, gratitude in his eyes.

"Thank you for taking care of Little One all this time," he said.

Raikou understood. Entei wanted him to give up his place.

But he didn't answer. He simply stared at Entei with his tiger-like eyes.

Entei: "...You're not leaving?"

Raikou: "I already promised this human child I'd take good care of him."

At those words, Entei froze. A clear look of shock appeared in his golden-red eyes.

Seriously, man?

Question marks seemed to bubble above Entei's majestic head.

What had happened while he was away?

Who was it that had said, time and again, that humans were devious and treacherous and couldn't be trusted? Who had said that even if Entei brought the child back, he wouldn't have anything to do with him?

The two Legendary Pokémon stared at each other, utterly dumbfounded.

"Little One is the child I adopted," Entei said gravely.

Raikou didn't deny it. He simply said, "Entei, you were right. This human child is different."

"He isn't just your child. He's a child raised by us Pokémon. I've made my decision, so—this is no longer just your business."

Raikou had gone mad!

Entei was completely stunned. What was that supposed to mean? Was Raikou planning to fight him for the child?

"Little One is the child I brought back. He's my child!" Entei reminded Raikou sternly.

"Oh? If he's your child, why did he tell me, 'Raikou is the best'?" Raikou narrowed his eyes. "I've spent every day with him lately. To him, I've become the most important Pokémon by his side."

What?! Entei was shocked. Why would Little One say that to Raikou?

"Entei, I told you, this is no longer just your business," Raikou said gravely. "It's not just me. Suicune too—and sooner or later, Lord Ho-Oh will learn of his existence."

Entei fell silent.

But what had silenced him wasn't Raikou's claim that Lord Ho-Oh and Suicune would learn of Little One's existence. It was the fact that Little One had actually told Raikou, "Raikou is the best."

The two Legendary Pokémon, whose presence alone could cause a sensation in the outside world, were now caught in an extremely strange atmosphere.

Until a soft, little voice broke the silence.

"Entei?"

The two Pokémon immediately lowered their heads toward the sound.

Dongshu rubbed his eyes and climbed up from the carpet. At once, he spotted Entei nearby.

"Entei!"

His eyes lit up in an instant. Overjoyed at their reunion, Dongshu rushed forward and hugged Entei.

"Little One..." Entei bent down and rested his huge head beside Dongshu so he could hug him. "I'm back."

With that, he nudged the doll he had brought back toward Dongshu.

Dongshu looked down and saw a cute, pink Clefairy Doll sitting quietly on the floor.

"What's this..."

Dongshu stared. Wasn't this the Clefairy Doll item from the games?

You could throw it during battle to distract Wild Pokémon, guaranteeing your escape.

"It's a toy I brought back for you," Entei said.