Pokemon: Raised by Legends, Chapter 67-68

Chapter 67 - Starter Pokemon

"Th-This Pokemon is...?!" Professor Oak nearly jumped out of his skin. "Wh-Where's Raikou?!"

At the mention of Raikou's name, Entei's stern gaze immediately turned toward the human.

"Raikou had things to take care of and went out. This is Entei, the father who raised me." Fuyuki explained with a smile, then glanced at his panel. Another hundred Shock Points, right on cue.

That alone showed just how shocked Professor Oak was right now.

Also... his father?

The shock on Professor Oak's face only deepened.

In that moment, he suddenly recalled what Fuyuki had said at the summer camp three years ago, introducing Raikou as his "second father." Now the meaning of those words finally clicked.

So he really did have more than one father!

This Pokemon... could this be the legendary Volcano Pokemon, Entei?!

Another rare Legendary Pokemon!

Professor Oak's heart began pounding with excitement.

No Pokemon researcher could stay calm in the presence of a rare Legendary like Entei. Some Trainers could travel their entire lives without seeing one even once.

But business first. Business first.

Professor Oak reined in his excitement and turned his attention to Fuyuki at Entei's side.

Three years had passed since they last met. Fuyuki had grown, and it was clear that life in the wild with Entei and Raikou had treated him well. He looked as sturdy as a young bull.

He was taller now, but his features hadn't changed much, so Professor Oak recognized him at a glance.

"Come in, come in!" Professor Oak stepped aside to welcome them. "I was starting to think you weren't coming today!"

Fuyuki and Entei walked inside as he explained, "We live pretty far from Pallet Town."

In truth, they hadn't stopped along the way at all. The moment they left Mount Tensei, they headed straight here.

"Ash and Gary have already picked up their starter Pokemon and set off on their journeys," Professor Oak said with a smile, though his eyes kept drifting toward Entei. "You're the last one to come to my lab."

A sinking feeling hit Fuyuki.

He remembered that by the time Ash arrived, the Kanto League's standard starter trio had already been claimed. That was why Ash ended up with a Pikachu.

So now...

"Professor Oak, are all the starter Pokemon already taken?" Fuyuki asked nervously.

"Not exactly," Professor Oak said. "I still have one left that the other kids passed over. It's just... possibly due to some kind of developmental issue, this one is a bit on the small and frail side, and its control over energy isn't very refined."

That was precisely why no one had chosen it. Most aspiring Trainers wanted to become great, and when it came to their first partner, nearly everyone wanted the strongest, rarest Pokemon they could get.

"What Pokemon is it?" Fuyuki asked, a little surprised.

Professor Oak stepped aside.

Behind him stood a small Pokemon shaped like a little turtle, with a pale blue body, large reddish-purple eyes, and a wavy little tail. It was staring at Fuyuki with a mix of nervousness and anticipation.

That was... a Squirtle?

"This is the one," Professor Oak said, scratching his head sheepishly. "Its name is Squirtle. It's a Water-type Pokemon. If you're willing to choose it, I'll leave it in your care. Of course, if you'd rather not, that's perfectly fine too."

His eyes couldn't help drifting once again to the mysterious Entei at Fuyuki's side.

Since Entei treated Fuyuki as its own child, just like Raikou did, surely it would be willing to step in and help him catch a Pokemon as a partner instead.

Fuyuki looked at the Squirtle. At first glance, it didn't seem too different from a normal one, but on closer inspection, it was noticeably smaller in both height and build.

Squirtle seemed to be watching him too. Its little hands were clenched tight with nerves, eyes flickering between hope and anxiety.

Fuyuki could tell that if he refused, the light in Squirtle's eyes would go out in an instant.

"Professor Oak," he asked, "what happens to a Pokemon that doesn't get chosen by a Trainer?"

"They stay here and live at the lab," Professor Oak said.

"I see..." Fuyuki nodded thoughtfully.

Squirtle had heard the question too. The light in its eyes dimmed at once, and it lowered its head in defeat.

"Squir..."

The sound carried no real meaning. Just the soft murmur of disappointment and sadness.

Fuyuki couldn't stand seeing a Pokemon look like that.

Fine. He had his cheat ability, and he had the Sacred Ash from Ho-Oh. So what if it was underdeveloped? Worst case, he'd feed this Squirtle Sacred Ash with every meal, three times a day.

He refused to believe he couldn't get it up to strength!

"I'll take it!" Fuyuki made his decision on the spot.

Squirtle's eyes, which had just gone dim, flickered with a tentative spark. It jerked its head up and stared at him in disbelief.

"Squir... Squirtle...?"

"Of course I mean it!"

Squirtle suddenly wanted to cry so badly. Was it really going to have a Trainer of its own, just like all the other Pokemon?

No, it couldn't cry. In Squirtle's mind, only weak Pokemon cried.

If the Trainer thought it was weak and decided he didn't want it after all, that would be the end of everything.

Squirtle quickly held back its tears and crept toward the boy, one careful step at a time.

Fuyuki crouched down and patted its head. "Hey there, Squirtle. I'm Fuyuki. Looking forward to being partners!"

"Squirtle!" it answered with a sniffle.

Professor Oak watched the scene with a warm smile, then handed Fuyuki Squirtle's Poke Ball and a Pokedex.

"Here you go, Fuyuki! This one is Squirtle's Poke Ball. These other five are empty. If you come across a Pokemon you like during your travels, you can use these to catch them!"

"And this is the Pokedex. It contains information on most known Pokemon. If you run into one you don't recognize, just scan it and the Pokedex will display its data automatically."

"On top of that, the Pokedex also serves as your Trainer ID. It has all sorts of uses. You'll figure them out as you go!"

So this would be his identification in the human world? Fuyuki reached out and took it.

"Thank you so much, Professor Oak!"

With the important matters settled, Professor Oak's eyes couldn't help wandering back to Entei.

He said with an eager grin, "So, uh, Fuyuki?"

"Hm?"

"Would you mind letting me study Entei for a bit?" Professor Oak rubbed his hands together, face alight with anticipation.

Chapter 68 - Professor Oak's Shock, Heading for Viridian City!

"Oh! The temperature of the flames inside Entei's body is actually higher than volcanic magma!"

"Such incredible power! As expected of a Legendary Pokemon. Its strength far exceeds that of an ordinary Arcanine!"

"Hm? This energy... The fire within Entei's body can actually resonate with elements in nature! Doesn't that mean Entei could trigger a volcanic eruption at will? What a discovery! What a discovery!"

Inside Professor Oak's lab, the professor was running test after test with specialized equipment, measuring Entei's power and internal energy readings, excitement written all over his face.

Entei looked on helplessly at Fuyuki and the little Squirtle sitting off to the side, snacking on treats.

"Entei, please don't hold back your power! Give that machine one full-power strike!" Professor Oak pleaded.

Hm? Hearing the human's request, Entei narrowed its eyes.

"Professor Oak, Father is asking if you're really sure you want him to do that," Fuyuki translated.

"Yes, of course!" As a researcher, certain tests were essential. They helped build a clearer picture of a Pokemon's capabilities.

Fuyuki smiled and didn't stop him.

Seeing that, Entei braced its front legs and struck.

A thunderous boom shook the lab. The power-testing machine exploded on contact, thick smoke billowing from the wreckage.

"What?! Its power exceeded the device's upper limit?!" Far from being upset about the destroyed equipment, Professor Oak's eyes went wide with astonishment. "Incredible!"

【Professor Oak is utterly shocked by Entei's power. Shock Points from Professor Oak +100!】

【Professor Oak is astounded by the temperature of Entei's internal flames. Shock Points from Professor Oak +80!】

【...】

Notifications kept flashing across Fuyuki's panel one after another, but he had long since learned to tune them out.

Before long, the research was finished. Professor Oak clutched his experimental data, practically glowing.

"Thank you so much, Fuyuki, Entei."

Entei didn't respond. It simply walked over to Fuyuki's side.

"Don't mention it, Professor Oak. Father and I are grateful for all your help too," Fuyuki said.

At those words, Professor Oak suddenly remembered something.

Three years ago, he had asked a friend to look into the incident that occurred in Viridian Forest ten years prior.

The expression on his face gradually grew serious.

"Fuyuki, there's something I think you should know. It's about your past... where you came from."

Fuyuki stiffened slightly.

Entei, too, turned to look at Professor Oak.

"You were raised by Raikou and Entei since you were very young, and they treated you as their own child. But before you met them, you had a family of your own. A happy one." Professor Oak's tone was solemn. "If you're ready to hear about where you came from, I'll tell you everything."

His... human parents from this life?

Memories from his earliest years came flooding back.

He looked into Professor Oak's eyes, then over at Entei beside him, and slowly nodded.

"Please tell me, Professor Oak."

Professor Oak told him about the attack that had taken place in the forest all those years ago.

"Your father's name was Matsuda. Your mother was Yumiko. Ten years ago, they were taking you to the campgrounds near Mt. Moon. You were still just a baby."

"But on the way, they ran into Pokemon Hunters. Your father gave his life protecting the Pokemon. Your mother tried to escape with you by car, but she didn't make it. You were the only survivor."

Professor Oak's voice was low and measured as he recounted what had happened.

Fuyuki and Entei listened in silence. Memories from ten years ago, faded with time and growing up, slowly sharpened into focus.

Through the haze, Fuyuki remembered that his human parents had loved him very much.

A weight settled over his heart. He looked at Professor Oak and asked, "Professor Oak, can you help me find where my old home was?"

Professor Oak nodded and handed him a slip of paper.

"This is the address of your family's home, along with the location of your parents' graves. Mr. Matsuda and Mrs. Yumiko. They're both in Viridian City."

"Thank you," Fuyuki said quietly.

"Poor child." Professor Oak's face was full of sympathy, though his voice carried genuine relief. "Thank goodness Raikou happened to pass through that area and took you back to raise."

Fuyuki blinked.

Entei: "?"

It looked at the human before it, frowning, then spoke to him through telepathy.

"I am Fuyuki's father. I was the one who found him!"

"Who said that?!" Professor Oak jumped, startled by the sudden voice in his head. He looked around frantically, but it didn't take long for his eyes to land on Entei.

Telepathy!

A power unique to certain strong Pokemon, allowing them to communicate directly with humans!

"The one who passed through that area back then was me, not Raikou." Entei repeated, voice full of authority. "Fuyuki is my child. I am his father!"

Professor Oak: "!!!"

So it was Entei who found Fuyuki?

No, wait. Professor Oak quickly realized something even more astonishing.

Raikou was Fuyuki's father. Entei also claimed to be Fuyuki's father. And judging by Entei's tone, it didn't seem too fond of Raikou getting the credit.

Could it be... that these two Legendary Pokemon were fighting over Fuyuki's custody?!

The same way some Pokemon competed for their Trainer's affection?

【Professor Oak is utterly shocked that two Legendary Pokemon are fighting over your custody. Shock Points from Professor Oak +200!】

Fuyuki: "?"

The somber mood he had just built up was completely shattered by that out-of-nowhere remark. He didn't know whether to be sad or not anymore.

For a moment, Fuyuki had no idea what to say.

But more than anything right now, he wanted to leave the lab and head to Viridian City. To see his old home, and to visit his human parents' graves.

"Thank you so much, Professor Oak." Fuyuki bowed his head in gratitude. "Father and I should get going. We're heading to Viridian City to see my old home."

By now, Professor Oak had recovered from the shock that Entei had caused.

"I understand." He nodded. "Go on, Fuyuki. Take care out there! Ash should have reached Viridian City by now too, so if you run into him, say hello for me."

"I will," Fuyuki agreed.

"Squir..." Squirtle had heard its new Trainer's story too. Worry crept across its little face, as though it was afraid Fuyuki might be hurting.

"I'm okay, Squirtle." Fuyuki held up its Poke Ball. "Hop back in for now. We're about to head out!"

"Squirtle!"

Squirtle obediently returned to its Poke Ball.

Fuyuki bid Professor Oak farewell, climbed onto Entei's back, and as the evening sky deepened overhead, followed the Pokedex's built-in GPS and map toward Viridian City.

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