An Old Father's Jealousy

"Dongshu?"

The next morning, still half-asleep, Dongshu seemed to hear someone calling out to him.

He opened his eyes and saw Fire Emperor's massive head lowered, looking down at him.

"Dongshu." Fire Emperor's voice echoed from within Dongshu's mind.

Dongshu was startled. He stared at Fire Emperor, eyes unblinking.

How did Fire Emperor know his name from this life?

"Little One, from now on, this is your name," Fire Emperor said. "Raikou, Marshadow, and I chose it together for you."

Dongshu opened his mouth. Three Pokémon... chose a name for him together?

But then, recalling Marshadow's special ability to delve deep into human dreams, Dongshu quickly pieced it together—Marshadow must have told Fire Emperor and Raikou the name.

"Dongshu?" He feigned unfamiliarity, putting on a confused look.

"That's right, you are Dongshu, my child." Fire Emperor hummed in affirmation, its voice very soft, its heart softer than ever before.

In that moment, Fire Emperor suddenly realized that, without noticing, this human child had come to mean so much to it.

"Alright, don't just stand there." Raikou's voice suddenly came from behind.

Dongshu turned and saw Raikou carrying a basket of Berries as it walked in from outside.

It set the Berries down in front of Dongshu and said through telepathy, "Let him fill his stomach first!"

"How I take care of Little One is none of your business." Fire Emperor's eyes grew wary.

It still remembered what Raikou had said yesterday.

That Raikou had claimed Little One once told it, "Raikou is the best."

"Hmph."

Raikou snorted coldly. After delivering the Berries to Dongshu, it walked to the side and lay down like a great tiger.

Dongshu: "?"

He looked at the two Pokémon before him.

Why did the atmosphere feel so strange?

Still, Dongshu didn't dwell on it.

Because there was something he needed to do today.

After finishing the Berries, Dongshu immediately turned to Raikou, unable to contain his eagerness. "Raikou, water the plants!"

"Mm, leave it to me!"

Raikou nodded, then stood up and walked toward the Berry orchard it had personally cultivated near the cave entrance.

Seeing this, Fire Emperor frowned slightly.

It followed, and then watched as Raikou stood before a patch of land and used the Move Rain Dance.

Instantly, a dark cloud appeared in the air, and a light drizzle fell from it, watering the ground below.

"Fire Emperor, Raikou and I planted these Berries together!" Dongshu's eyes sparkled with anticipation. "In a while, they'll grow into big trees and bear lots of Berries!"

"You should have waited for me to come back and do it with you." Fire Emperor's gaze held disapproval. This was something it should have done with Little One!

"Huh?" Dongshu blinked.

Raikou snorted coldly from the side. "He's not just your child alone."

Dongshu: "?"

Fire Emperor recalled last night's events and fell silent.

It looked at Raikou and asked, "When are you leaving?"

Raikou didn't want to leave. It wanted to stay longer on Heavenly Green Mountain and spend more time with this human child.

But there were still many things waiting for it outside, Pokémon in danger needing its rescue.

What's more... it still needed to go to that place and see if it could bring that Pokémon named Miltank back to live on Heavenly Green Mountain.

That way, this human child would never run out of milk to drink.

Thinking this in its heart, Raikou didn't want to entertain Fire Emperor on the surface. It replied coldly, "None of your business."

Listening to the two big cats' exchange, Dongshu was even more confused.

But soon, he understood.

"Raikou is leaving?" he asked.

Fire Emperor looked at him and nodded slightly. "Mm. Raikou and I both have very important things to do. But don't worry—once it's done, it'll come back."

Raikou also looked over, but in its heart, it suddenly recalled those days when this human child sat atop Heavenly Green Mountain, gazing into the distance, waiting for Fire Emperor's return.

If it left, would Dongshu miss it the same way?

Dongshu was well aware that each of the Legendary Beasts had their own mission.

Though his time with Raikou had been brief, he had grown quite fond of this big cat.

A classic tsundere—tough on the outside, soft on the inside.

"Raikou, don't forget me!" Dongshu said.

Raikou thought to itself, Of course not. Having seen this human child befriend Pokémon and willingly help the injured, it had long since accepted him.

"I'm leaving. Dongshu is in your care." Raikou turned and spoke to Fire Emperor.

"Naturally," Fire Emperor replied earnestly.

Raikou glanced back at Dongshu one last time, then stretched its sturdy limbs and began to run across the land.

Its agile figure soon vanished from Dongshu's sight.

Only after Raikou had left did Dongshu suddenly remember something.

"Oh no!"

"What's wrong?" Fire Emperor asked quickly.

"Raikou's gone! Now no one's charging my Mushroom Lamp, and no one's watering my plants!" Dongshu looked like he was about to cry.

Fire Emperor: "..."

It pondered for a moment, then spoke to comfort him: "Don't worry, Little One. There may be Pokémon in the forest that can handle these tasks. I'll find them to help."

Dongshu sighed helplessly. "Ah, I guess that's all we can do."

"You really like Raikou?" Fire Emperor asked, feigning indifference. "Raikou told me you once said, 'Raikou is the best.'"

"Huh?"

Hearing this, Dongshu froze.

He turned to look, and saw Fire Emperor wearing a stern expression, acting as if it didn't care at all—like it was just asking casually.

Dongshu: "..."

Could this big cat be jealous?

But that made sense. Fire Emperor had taken him in and cared for him so diligently. Anyone would feel hurt hearing something like that.

Fire Emperor must be feeling a little sad!

Thinking this, Dongshu nodded and explained, "Because Raikou helped me find lots of Berries and kept me warm. Not only that, it even used its claws to plant those Berries for me!"

I see... Fire Emperor's heart sank.

Though its expression barely changed, a flicker of unmistakable loss showed in its eyes.

"But in my book, Fire Emperor is number one!" Dongshu continued.

Fire Emperor's eyes lit up instantly, the dim glow in them suddenly blazing with brilliance.

"Marshadow is second best, and Raikou is third!" Dongshu reached out and hugged the big cat in front of him, signaling it not to be sad.

He wasn't some ungrateful brat—after all, without Fire Emperor, he'd probably be dead by the roadside by now.

"Little One..." Hearing this, a glint of tears seemed to flash in Fire Emperor's eyes.

It lowered its large head and gently rested it on Dongshu's small shoulder.

This child—it would protect him with its life.