Let's Call You Dongshu!

"I have a gift too!"

With that, Dongshu ran to the other side and pulled out the candy he'd been hoarding in secret, the stash he'd kept specially for Fire Emperor.

Seeing this, Fire Emperor felt a deep warmth in its heart.

It licked Dongshu first, then cast a glance at Raikou not far away.

Raikou: "..."

That expression seemed to say, See? I, Fire Emperor, am the most important Pokémon to this human cub.

After feeding him the candy, Dongshu started rummaging through Fire Emperor's fur like he was turning over every pocket.

Watching the Little One inspect its coat, Fire Emperor was utterly puzzled.

But Raikou, watching from the side, understood—this human cub was checking if Fire Emperor had gotten hurt on its trip!

Its mood suddenly grew complicated.

Seeing that Fire Emperor had no injuries, Dongshu finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Now that Fire Emperor was back, the heavy weight in his heart had finally lifted. He no longer had to worry about Fire Emperor running into danger out there.

They could go back to living happily and joyfully together in this new home, just like before.

Speaking of the new home... Dongshu looked down at the carpet and wooden floor beneath him, then proudly asked Fire Emperor, "Fire Emperor, I turned our home into this. Pretty amazing, right?"

"Of course it's amazing." Fire Emperor's heart softened. It licked Dongshu's fur and said to him, a rare tenderness in its voice, "The Little One is the most amazing child in the world."

"It'll get even better!" Dongshu's eyes sparkled.

Once he had enough Shock Points, he could keep expanding this cave into a perfect home—one fit for him, for Fire Emperor, Raikou, and Marshadow, for every Pokémon to live in!

And then... raise a whole bunch of fluffy Pokémon!

"Mm, I believe you," Fire Emperor said.

After so long apart, Dongshu was finally back in Fire Emperor's warm, cozy embrace.

Too excited to sleep, he chattered on and on, telling Fire Emperor everything that had happened these past days.

About doing magic tricks for the Pokémon in the mountains, about planting Berries with Raikou...

Hearing that, Fire Emperor glanced at Raikou.

As he talked, a wave of drowsiness crashed over Dongshu. He simply curled up in Fire Emperor's arms, closed his eyes in peace, and drifted off to sleep.

The two Pokémon watched him quietly, neither disturbing him.

After a long while, Fire Emperor used telepathy to speak silently with Raikou.

"When will you leave?"

"What? Afraid I'll steal your Little One?" Raikou shot back.

Fire Emperor: "..."

"No." Fire Emperor shook its head gently. It looked down at the Little One beside it, its tone solemn and dignified. "You were right. This isn't just about me and one Pokémon anymore."

Raikou was taken aback.

Fire Emperor continued, "We all have our own missions to fulfill. None of us can stay on Heavenly Green Mountain for long. On my own, I'm afraid I can't take good care of the Little One."

"But I also can't bear to leave the Little One alone on Heavenly Green Mountain. So, Raikou, I hope you'll join me in raising the Little One."

Fire Emperor looked at Raikou. Even though it worried the Little One might grow fonder of Raikou, that mattered far less than other things.

When it came to what was right and wrong, Fire Emperor chose to share the Little One's upbringing with Raikou—and with Marshadow.

With more Pokémon watching over him, the Little One could grow up safer and more smoothly.

"Hmph." Raikou let out a cold snort, its voice carrying a haughty, aloof edge.

Just as Fire Emperor thought Raikou would refuse, Raikou spoke again.

"Fine then. From today on, I am this human cub's father."

Fire Emperor frowned slightly. "I am the Little One's father. I was the one who found him first!"

"You were the one who entrusted this human cub to me to raise. That makes me his father too!" Raikou snorted coldly.

"It was me!"

"No, me!"

Watching from the shadows, Marshadow: "..."

It couldn't stand it anymore and was forced to emerge from the darkness.

Seeing it appear, Raikou and Fire Emperor immediately turned their gazes on it.

Marshadow's eyes flickered dimly. "Don't misunderstand. I have no desire to fight over who gets to be this human cub's father. I'm just saying—by human customs, we should probably give this human cub a proper name now."

A name?

Hearing that, Fire Emperor and Raikou froze.

They exchanged a glance for a few seconds, then nodded.

"Indeed."

"Calling him 'Little One' and 'human child' all the time isn't ideal." Fire Emperor looked thoughtful.

It was fine for now, but once the Little One grew up, it wouldn't suit him anymore.

But the question was—what name would be fitting?

"How about calling him 'Raikou'?" Raikou suggested.

Fire Emperor immediately furrowed its brow. It shot Raikou a look, thinking, Your scheme is practically slapping me in the face!

"No!" Fire Emperor vetoed. "I think 'Little Treasure' suits the Little One better!"

Because the Little One was its treasure.

"That sounds terrible!" Raikou said haughtily. "Call him 'Raikou'!"

"Little Treasure!"

"Raikou!"

"..."

"Ma-cha..."

Marshadow let out a helpless sigh and chimed in at the right moment:

"I once infiltrated this human child's dreams. He has a name—one given to him by his two deceased parents."

Hearing this, Fire Emperor and Raikou paused slightly.

They looked at Marshadow.

Marshadow continued, "Dongshu. His name is Dongshu. That human couple gave it to him with full love and hope, wishing he could stand tall and grow strong like a winter tree, unyielding even against the biting wind and heavy snow."

"..."

Fire Emperor and Raikou fell silent.

They exchanged a glance. This time, they didn't argue. Instead, they turned in unison to look at the sleeping human child.

After a long moment, Fire Emperor's dignified and solemn voice echoed in the minds of Marshadow and Raikou.

"In that case, let's call him Dongshu."

Raikou remained quiet, then let out a low grunt of agreement, not bickering with Fire Emperor any further.

"Ma-cha?" So it's settled?

Marshadow looked at the two Pokémon.

Fire Emperor and Raikou both nodded their large heads.

Only then did Marshadow relax, silently slipping into Dongshu's shadow, leaving Fire Emperor and Raikou to watch over him.

"Has Lord Ho-Oh not returned yet?" Fire Emperor asked.

Raikou shook its head.

"And Suicune? Any news of Suicune?"

Raikou shook its head again. "I haven't seen it in a long time, but I can sense its location. It's in the Johto region now."

"I see."

Fire Emperor said no more.

The journey had been grueling. To return early and see the Little One, it had traveled day and night, barely stopping to rest. Now, its body was utterly exhausted.

Fire Emperor looked at the Little One beside it, lying on the soft carpet the child had created, and felt a deep sense of peace.

Before it knew it, Fire Emperor closed its eyes and drifted into slumber alongside Dongshu.