Kanto Region, Kangaskhan, Pichu...
Could this little Pichu, adopted by Kangaskhan, be Ash's Pikachu?!
"Pika—"
"Pika—"
ZAP!
With a flash of dazzling electricity, the Mushroom Night Light's charge shot up. In no time, it was fully charged.
"Pichu~!" Done!
Pichu folded its arms, looking rather proud of itself.
Dongshu finally came to his senses. Politely, he thanked Pichu in Pokémon Language. "Thank you, Pichu!"
At his words, Pichu and the Kangaskhan mother and child behind it froze in place, utterly stunned.
[Shock Points from Kangaskhan +50!]
[Shock Points from Baby Kangaskhan +15!]
[Shock Points from Pichu +15!]
The three Pokémon stared at the human child in disbelief.
Had they heard that right? Had this human just spoken to them in Pokémon Language?
"Pi...chu?" Pichu asked uncertainly.
Huh? He could get Shock Points this way, too?
Grinning at this unexpected surprise, Dongshu said, "That's right. Entei taught me!"
Another child might not have been able to pick it up so quickly, but Dongshu had the soul of an adult and had lived in this environment for a long time. Learning Pokémon Language hadn't been difficult.
"Arroo..." Kangaskhan Mother was even more shocked. It stared blankly at the human child before it, at a loss for what to do.
Entei seemed to be used to reactions like this. Once the Mushroom Lamp was fully charged, it silently walked over to the side and carried the basket of Berries over to the Pokémon.
This was their thank-you gift.
"Arroo~!"
Baby Kangaskhan's eyes lit up the moment it saw so many Berries.
It ran to the basket, took out a Berry, and happily gobbled it down.
"Arroo!" Kangaskhan Mother was startled. Her child was being far too rude.
Pichu didn't eat right away. Instead, it looked at Entei and Dongshu.
"Go ahead. These Berries are our gift to you, to thank you," Entei said.
Dongshu nodded with a cheerful smile.
"Pichu~!"
Only then did Pichu run over to the basket, pick up a Berry in both paws, and nibble at it.
"Arroo..." Kangaskhan Mother sighed helplessly and looked at Entei, asking, "Arroo?"
Is this really all right?
She knew how much her child could eat, and worried that if they finished all the Berries, the human child would go hungry.
"Don't worry." Entei shook its head.
Dongshu added, "We planted a whole Berry orchard outside. When fall comes, we'll be able to harvest lots of Berries!"
Only then did Kangaskhan Mother feel reassured.
She gazed fondly at Pichu and Baby Kangaskhan.
Clutching his Clefairy Doll, Dongshu climbed onto Entei. He parted Entei's mane down the middle, poked his head through, and rested his chin on Entei's head, watching the two Pokémon eat with great interest.
"Is Pichu another one of your adopted children?" Dongshu asked.
"Arroo~" Kangaskhan Mother nodded gently.
That day, they had been resting beneath a cliff when something suddenly fell from above. She had reached out and caught it, and little Pichu had landed in her hands.
They had lived together ever since.
Hearing this, Dongshu knew right away that this Pichu was the very same one who would one day be Ash's Pikachu!
He remembered that Kangaskhan were nomadic Pokémon who wandered through forests and mountains.
Had they just happened to come to Heavenly Green Mountain today?
Soon, Baby Kangaskhan and Pichu had eaten their fill.
They couldn't help looking at Dongshu and the Clefairy Doll in his arms.
Just as I thought. Every Pokémon is interested in Clefairy Dolls... Is that why throwing one in battle guarantees you'll get away? Dongshu thought.
To him, Pichu and Baby Kangaskhan were both little babies.
Seeing how interested they were, Dongshu generously let them play with the Clefairy Doll.
"Pichu!"
Pichu and Baby Kangaskhan circled around the Clefairy Doll.
After playing for a while, they couldn't help looking at Dongshu—the little one who was just like them.
"Pichu?"
Dongshu blinked. Were Pichu and Kangaskhan inviting him to play with them?
W-Was that really appropriate?
But Baby Kangaskhan was very enthusiastic. It ran over, tugged at Dongshu's hand with its paw, and pulled him over.
"Arroo!" Let's play!
Dongshu: "..."
But Pikachu really had been so cute as a little one!
Dongshu couldn't resist petting little Pichu.
Its fluffy body, soft ears, big eyes, and tiny paws...
As far as Pichu was concerned, the human was simply playing with it.
Pichu grew even happier. Every so often, it would take Dongshu's hand in its little paws and spin around with him, or rub cheeks with him.
Entei and Kangaskhan Mother watched the children play together from the side, unable to hide their smiles.
But soon it was time to part.
By evening, the Kangaskhan group that had been wandering through the area was ready to leave and continue on its way.
Kangaskhan Mother and her two children were about to rejoin the rest of the group.
Before they left, Baby Kangaskhan and Pichu poked their heads out of the pouch, reluctant to go, their eyes brimming with tears as they looked at the friend who had played with them and shared candy with them.
"Arroo—!"
"Pichu—!"
Dongshu immediately exchanged for a big handful of candy and gave it to them.
"Don't be sad. We'll definitely meet again!" Dongshu said to little Pichu.
The two Pokémon took the candy, their eyes shining with even more tears.
"Pichu..."
"Go on, Pichu. Kangaskhan." Dongshu took a deep breath. "Next time we meet, don't you dare forget me!"
"Pichu!" We won't!
Baby Kangaskhan and Pichu nodded solemnly. They would remember their friend named Dongshu!
In the glow of the setting sun, Kangaskhan Mother led the two Pokémon away.
Dongshu and Entei stood on the mountain path to see them off. Only after they had disappeared from sight did Dongshu climb onto Entei, looking wistful.
"What's wrong, Little One?" Entei paused. Was he sad to see them go?
"Yeah." Dongshu replied in a muffled voice, though in truth he was marveling at the twists of fate.
Dongshu was absolutely certain that he would meet little Pichu again before long.
Maybe by then, Pichu would have a boy named Ash by its side.
Entei thought Dongshu wanted a playmate. After a moment's silence, it said:
"Today, while I was out, I ran into Krabby. It asked where you were. Tomorrow, I'll take you to the forest to play with it."
Krabby? Dongshu pictured the cute little dinosaur Pokémon and nodded right away.
Entei turned around and slowly carried him back to the cave. A hint of apology softened its usually stern expression.
"I'm sorry, Little One. I searched the forest for a long time today, but I couldn't find any Water-type Pokémon that could use Rain Dance."
"None?" Dongshu had played himself tired. Lying on Entei's back, he yawned at the news.
Then he opened the shop interface. Kangaskhan's family had been utterly shocked that he could speak Pokémon Language, and they had earned him a lot of Shock Points.
Adding those to what he had left before, and subtracting the cost of the candy, he still had 110 Shock Points.
Hmm... tools like an Automatic Sprinkler were way too expensive. He couldn't afford one.
Dongshu kept scrolling, until his eyes finally landed on an item shaped like a Squirtle.
[Squirtle Watering Can: A tool for watering plants. Helps Berries planted in the soil grow quickly. Cost: 100 Shock Points.]
"With this, I can water the plants!" Dongshu said, holding the Squirtle Watering Can he had just exchanged for.
He remembered there was a water source nearby. From now on, all they had to do was fill the watering can each day, and then they could use it to irrigate the Berry orchard!
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