Fire Emperor Returns

It had been seven days since Fire Emperor left, and Dongshu began to miss him.

Maybe it was because Fire Emperor had saved him back then, or perhaps because Fire Emperor's company had helped him safely through that cold winter, but Dongshu always felt something different about this Pokémon.

After what happened, he had no family left in this world. Only Fire Emperor treated him without reservation, protecting him.

So much time spent together had made Dongshu's heart used to having that warm, fluffy big cat by his side.

Now that Fire Emperor hadn't returned for so long, Dongshu couldn't help but start worrying.

Even though Fire Emperor was a Legendary Pokémon, it wasn't invincible against some powerful Trainers.

From how Raikou had almost been caught by Team Rocket, if Fire Emperor had also caught their attention, it would probably face the same situation.

Thinking about all this, Dongshu had no mood to perform magic tricks for the Wild Pokémon to earn more Shock Points.

Every day, aside from eating and sleeping, he just sat on Heavenly Green Mountain, gazing into the distance, waiting for Fire Emperor's return.

Raikou and Marshadow watched all of this.

The two Pokémon looked at each other. Though they had never experienced it themselves, they could tell that this human child was missing Fire Emperor.

Raikou was silent for a long time, then said through telepathy, "It won't be in danger."

"Sigh!" Dongshu let out a worried sigh, like a little adult.

The sun was already setting. The fiery clouds that were rare in a big city like Saffron City were so common here on Heavenly Green Mountain.

Dongshu couldn't help but yawn. He was getting sleepy.

"Let's go back!" Raikou stepped forward, awkwardly picking up Dongshu's clothes by the teeth and placing him on its back, then turned and walked toward the cave.

Raikou walked very slowly. Little One wrapped his small arms around its neck, his cheek pressed tightly against its fur. Above them were vast stretches of fiery clouds, below them the endless Twilight Forest. Time seemed to slow down at that moment.

But Raikou's heart felt incredibly full.

Before, Heavenly Green Mountain was just a place to meet Ho-Oh for it, with no special meaning.

If Ho-Oh wasn't there, or if they didn't need to guide the Rainbow Hero, it would almost never return here.

But now, everything was different.

Raikou even felt like it didn't want to leave Heavenly Green Mountain, like it wanted to stay here forever, raising this human child.

It had made its decision—it would raise this human child like a Pokémon.

This was their Pokémon's child.

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

Raikou stayed by his side, watching him sleep.

So when Fire Emperor came back from outside, this is what it saw:

Its Little One was sleeping on a soft-looking blanket. Next to the blanket, a glowing mushroom had appeared from somewhere, and Raikou was lying beside Little One, silently guarding him.

Seeing this, Fire Emperor froze on the spot.

Its gaze swept across the wooden floor beneath its feet, finally settling on Raikou.

"What's going on?" Fire Emperor asked.

"This human child's ability," Raikou replied in a deep voice. "He's made this place his home, using his power to turn this cave into what it is now."

So that's it, Fire Emperor realized. It lifted its paw, walked over to Dongshu, placed the plush toy it had been carrying beside him, then lowered its head to sniff the scent on Little One and licked his face with its tongue.

Only after making sure Little One was safe did the heavy stone in Fire Emperor's heart finally settle.

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

Fire Emperor turned its gaze to Raikou, a hint of gratitude in its eyes.

"Thank you for taking care of Little One during this time," it said.

Raikou understood—Fire Emperor wanted it to step aside.

But it didn't answer. It just stared at Fire Emperor with its tiger-like eyes.

Fire Emperor: "...Aren't you leaving?"

Raikou: "I've already promised this human child that I'll take care of him."

Hearing this, Fire Emperor froze on the spot. A clear shock appeared in its golden-red pupils.

Wait, what?

Question marks practically popped up on Fire Emperor's dignified, large head.

What exactly had happened while it was away?

Who was it that had insisted humans were all treacherous and untrustworthy, saying, "Even if you bring him back, I won't take care of him"?

The two Legendary Pokémon stared at each other, eyes wide.

"Little One is my adopted child," Fire Emperor said in a deep voice.

Raikou didn't deny it. It simply said, "Fire Emperor, you were right. This human child is different."

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

Raikou has gone mad!

Fire Emperor was utterly stunned. What did Raikou mean by that? Was it trying to steal the child from it?

"Little One is the child I brought back. He is my child!" Fire Emperor declared with a dignified air, reminding Raikou of the fact.

"Oh? If he's your child, then why did he say to me, 'Raikou is the best'?" Raikou narrowed its eyes. "These past days, I've spent every moment with him. To him, I've already become the most important Pokémon by his side."

What?! Fire Emperor was shocked. Why would Little One say something like that to Raikou?

"Fire Emperor, I told you, this is no longer just your affair alone," Raikou said in a low voice. "It's not just me—Suicune too. And sooner or later, Lord Ho-Oh will learn of his existence."

Fire Emperor fell silent.

But what silenced it wasn't Raikou's mention that Lord Ho-Oh and Suicune would eventually know about Little One. It was the fact that Little One had actually said to Raikou, "Raikou is the best."

The two legendary Pokémon, capable of causing a stir in the outside world, were now trapped in an eerily tense atmosphere.

Until a soft, gentle voice broke it.

"Fire Emperor?"

Both Pokémon immediately looked down toward the source of the voice.

Dongshu rubbed his eyes and climbed up from the carpet. The moment he spotted Fire Emperor not far away—

"Fire Emperor!"

His eyes lit up in an instant. The joy of reunion after so long apart sent him running forward to hug Fire Emperor.

"Little One..." Fire Emperor lowered its head, resting its large face beside Dongshu so he could hold it more easily. "I'm back."

With that, it pushed the doll it had brought back toward Dongshu.

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

"This is..."

Dongshu was taken aback. Wasn't this the Clefairy Doll item from the games?

Its purpose was to be thrown during battle, drawing the attention of wild Pokémon to guarantee an escape.

"This is a toy I brought back for you from outside," Fire Emperor said.