That afternoon, after filling his belly like usual, Fuyuki settled down for a nap.
Watching the little one sleep soundly while hugging the Clefairy Doll it had brought back, Entei felt its heart soften.
Still, it hadn't forgotten what needed to be done.
Taking advantage of the quiet moment, Entei headed out.
The little one had said that the mushroom lamps needed an Electric-type Pokemon to recharge them, and one charge could last for three months.
As for the Berry garden, it needed a Water-type Pokemon to help with watering.
If Suicune were here, that would be perfect, Entei thought.
Suicune was a Water-type Pokemon. Compared to Raikou, it was better at controlling water and far more suitable for irrigating the Berry patch.
Leaving the cave, Entei followed the mountain path down and soon reached the forest at the foot of the mountain.
Many Pokemon lived here.
Just last autumn, it had searched this forest for food for the little one.
Entei walked slowly through the trees, its gaze sweeping to either side.
Some Pokemon looked at it with awe.
Others were openly delighted.
The young Cubone that Fuyuki had once saved excitedly waved its bone club at Entei.
Behind it, the Marowak mother smiled warmly.
Entei gave them a small nod in return.
"Cubone!" the little Cubone called out, unable to hold back. "Cu-bone?"
"Fuyuki is sleeping in the den," Entei replied. "Once he wakes up, I'll bring him to play with you."
"Cubone!" The little Cubone looked thrilled.
Entei nodded and continued on.
Caterpie, Nidoran, Weedle, Rattata, Sandshrew, Oddish, Paras, Farfetch'd…
As a Legendary Pokemon, Entei could sense the energy within them.
It was also familiar with the power of water and lightning, having seen Raikou and Suicune use it before.
None of the Pokemon here gave it that familiar feeling.
That meant they didn't meet the little one's needs.
Hmm, this is tricky, Entei thought.
But it didn't give up.
After pushing through a patch of thick grass, a group of Kangaskhan suddenly came into view.
They were resting in a clearing, eating with their children.
The moment Entei arrived, it felt a familiar surge of power.
Electric-type energy, the same source as Raikou's.
Entei followed the sensation.
In the next instant, it spotted the source inside the pouch of a Kangaskhan mother.
A tiny, very young Pichu.
At that moment, it was sharing the pouch with the baby Kangaskhan.
The Kangaskhan mother held several Rawst Berry in her hand, gently feeding both little ones with a tender expression.
And then…
The Kangaskhan noticed Entei.
Some grew alert, while the young ones stared at it with curiosity.
"There's no need to worry. I mean no harm," Entei said, shaking its head before looking at the Pichu.
"Pichu?" Its ears twitched as it looked back with big round eyes.
Entei walked closer.
The Kangaskhan mother blinked. "Kanga?"
Entei glanced at the baby Kangaskhan and the Pichu in her pouch, then asked, "Is this child one you adopted as well?"
"Pichu…"
The Kangaskhan mother looked at the little Pichu, then nodded happily. "Kanga~!"
"I've adopted a child too," Entei said slowly.
"Kanga?" The Kangaskhan mother stared in disbelief. This Pokemon had adopted a child too? What a coincidence!
In an instant, she felt a sense of kinship with Entei.
Entei nodded slightly and continued, "My child has run into a problem he can't solve. We need the help of an Electric-type Pokemon."
"Pichu?" The little Pichu blinked. It was Electric-type.
"So I'd like to ask you to come to my den with me. In return, I'll give you some food," Entei said.
The Kangaskhan mother didn't answer right away.
She looked down at the Pichu in her pouch.
The baby Kangaskhan looked over too.
"Pichu…"
The Pichu's mind flashed back to the time it had been in danger, rescued and adopted by the Kangaskhan mother.
Now another child needed help.
It wanted to help too.
With bright eyes, Pichu nodded and chirped happily, "Pi—chu!"
Seeing that, the Kangaskhan mother nodded as well. "Kanga~"
Gratitude filled Entei's eyes.
It nodded to the Pokemon in front of it and said to the Kangaskhan mother, "Please, follow me."
"Kanga~"
Turning around, Entei led the way.
They followed the mountain path and soon arrived at the cave.
The baby Kangaskhan and Pichu poked their heads out of the pouch, curiously looking around.
Inside, clean wooden floors were covered by a huge, soft carpet. On it, a human infant slept soundly, clutching an eye-catching Clefairy Doll.
"Kanga…"
"Pichu…"
Both little Pokemon couldn't help staring at the doll.
The Kangaskhan mother, meanwhile, looked completely shocked.
It stared at the sleeping infant, then turned to Entei in disbelief. "Kanga?"
Was it seeing things?
That was a human.
A Pokemon… had adopted a human child?
The Kangaskhan mother looked to Entei for confirmation.
Entei nodded. "Yes. He's my child."
Just then, the sounds from Pichu and the baby Kangaskhan woke Fuyuki.
He rubbed his eyes, stirred awake, and the moment he opened them, he saw Pichu and the baby Kangaskhan nearby.
He was instantly wide awake.
"Entei?"
He stared blankly at the two small Pokemon.
Entei said, "This is the Pokemon I promised would recharge your mushroom lamp."
Pichu knew it was time to help.
It jumped out of the Kangaskhan mother's pouch and walked up to the human infant, who was about the same size as itself.
"Pichu…"
"Pi?" Pichu tilted its head, confused as it looked at him.
Fuyuki finally reacted and quickly pushed the mushroom lamp toward Pichu.
The lamp had already been used for nearly ten days. With Raikou gone and no idea when it would return, finding an Electric-type Pokemon to help recharge it would extend its use as much as possible.
Pichu looked at the strange mushroom, then began to focus.
"Pi—chu!"
A bright flash of electricity burst from the pouches on its cheeks and flowed straight into the mushroom lamp.
=-=-=-=-=-=-=
You can read up to chapter 50 and more soon on patreon.com/NiaXD.