That afternoon, after filling his belly as usual, Dongshu settled down for a nap.
Entei's heart softened as he watched Little One sleep soundly, hugging the Clefairy Doll he had brought back.
But he hadn't forgotten his real purpose.
Taking advantage of the moment, Entei headed out.
Little One had said that the Mushroom Lamp needed an Electric-type Pokémon to Charge it, and that a single charge would keep it running for three months.
The Berry orchard, meanwhile, needed a Water-type Pokémon to help water it.
If only Suicune were here, Entei couldn't help thinking.
Suicune was a Water-type Pokémon. Compared to Raikou, he was better at controlling the power of water and more suited to watering the Berry orchard.
Entei left the cave, followed the mountain path down, and soon arrived in the forest below.
Many Pokémon lived in this forest.
Last autumn, he had searched here for food for Little One.
Entei strolled slowly through the forest, looking from side to side.
Some Pokémon, when they saw him, looked at him with awe.
Others seemed delighted to see him.
The little Krabby Dongshu had once rescued excitedly waved his bone club at Entei.
Graveler Mother stood behind him, smiling at Entei.
Entei gave the two Pokémon a slight nod.
"Cubone!" The little Krabby couldn't help asking, "Cubone?"
"Dongshu is asleep in the den," Entei replied. "When he wakes up, I'll bring him over to play with you."
"Cubone!" The little Krabby was overjoyed.
Entei nodded, then continued onward.
Caterpie, Nidoran, Weedle, Rattata, Sandshrew, Oddish, Paras, Farfetch'd...
As a Legendary Pokémon, Entei could sense the power within them.
And he was familiar with the powers of water and electricity, having seen Raikou and Suicune use them.
But none of these Pokémon gave him that familiar feeling.
That meant they didn't meet Little One's requirements.
This is a bit of a problem, Entei thought.
Still, he didn't give up.
He continued on, and after passing through a dense patch of grass, came upon a group of Pokémon called Kangaskhan.
The Kangaskhan were sitting in a clearing with their children, resting and eating.
As soon as Entei arrived, he felt a familiar surge of energy.
It was... Electric-type energy, with the same origin as Raikou's!
Entei followed the source of the energy with his gaze.
The next moment, he spotted the Electric-type Pokémon in a Kangaskhan Mother's pouch.
A tiny, very young-looking Pichu.
At that moment, it was in the Kangaskhan Mother's pouch with a Baby Kangaskhan.
The Kangaskhan Mother held several Oran Berries, offering them tenderly to the two little ones in her pouch.
That was...
The group of Kangaskhan noticed Entei's arrival, too.
Some of them watched him warily, while the little ones gazed at the Pokémon before them with curiosity.
"Don't worry. I mean no harm." Entei shook his head, then turned his attention to Pichu.
"Pichu?" Pichu's ears twitched, and he looked at Entei with round eyes.
Entei walked up to him.
The Kangaskhan Mother froze. "Kangaskhan?"
Entei glanced at the Baby Kangaskhan and Pichu in her pouch, then asked the Kangaskhan Mother:
"Did you adopt this little one, too?"
"Pichu..."
The Kangaskhan Mother looked at little Pichu, then nodded gently, giving a happy cry. "Kangaskhan~!"
"I adopted a child, too," Entei said slowly.
"Kangaskhan?" The Kangaskhan Mother stared at him in disbelief. This Pokémon had adopted a Pokémon, too? What a coincidence!
In an instant, it was as if the Kangaskhan Mother had found someone who understood her. She felt much closer to Entei.
Entei nodded slightly, then continued, "My child has run into a problem he can't solve. We need help from an Electric-type Pokémon."
"Pichu?" Little Pichu blinked. He was an Electric-type Pokémon.
"So I'd like to ask you to come to my den with me. In return, I'll give you some food," Entei said.
At this, the Kangaskhan Mother didn't answer right away.
She looked down at little Pichu in her pouch.
The Baby Kangaskhan beside him looked at Pichu, too.
"Pichu..."
The cute little Pichu blinked, remembering how he'd once been in danger and how the Kangaskhan Mother had rescued and adopted him.
Now someone else needed help, and he was willing to go help.
His eyes brightened, and he nodded happily. "Pii-chu!"
Seeing that little Pichu had agreed, the Kangaskhan Mother nodded cheerfully, too. "Kangaskhan~!"
Entei's eyes filled with gratitude.
He nodded to the Pokémon before him, then said to the Kangaskhan Mother, "Please come with me."
"Kangaskhan~"
Entei turned and led the Kangaskhan Mother along the path.
They followed the mountain trail and soon reached the cave.
The Baby Kangaskhan and Pichu poked their heads out of the pouch, curiously observing the cave.
On the clean wooden floor lay a huge, soft, comfortable Carpet. A human child was fast asleep on it, hugging an especially eye-catching Clefairy Doll.
"Kangaskhan..."
"Pichu..."
The two Pokémon couldn't help staring at the doll.
The Kangaskhan Mother, meanwhile, looked shocked.
She stared at the child, then turned to Entei, and asked in disbelief, "Kangaskhan?"
She—she—she hadn't seen wrong, had she?
That was a human?
A Pokémon... had adopted a human child?
The Kangaskhan Mother gave Entei a questioning look.
Entei nodded slightly. "That's right. He's my child."
Just then, Dongshu was woken by the cries of Pichu and the Baby Kangaskhan.
He rubbed his eyes and woke from his nap. As soon as he opened them, he spotted Pichu and the Baby Kangaskhan nearby.
Dongshu woke up completely.
"Entei?"
He stared blankly at the Baby Kangaskhan and Pichu before him.
Entei said, "These are the Pokémon I promised to find for you. They'll Charge your Mushroom Lamp."
Pichu knew it was his turn to help!
He hopped out of the Kangaskhan Mother's pouch and walked toward the human child, who was as little as he was.
Pichu...
"Pichu?" Pichu looked at the human child in confusion and tilted his head.
Dongshu finally understood. He quickly pushed the Mushroom Lamp in his hand toward Pichu.
The lamp had been in use for nearly ten days. Now that Raikou had left, there was no telling when he would return. While they could find Electric-type Pokémon to help Charge it in the meantime, they should do so to extend its usage as much as possible.
Pichu looked at the strange mushroom and began to summon his strength.
"Pii-chu!"
A dazzling bolt of electricity shot from the sacs in his cheeks and poured into the Mushroom Lamp.
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