Winter faded into spring. The snow that had blanketed Mount Tensei for months finally melted away, the air warming as the days slowly grew hot.
That year, Fuyuki turned seven.
After saying their goodbyes, Ho-Oh and Suicune left Mount Tensei.
Before departing, Ho-Oh took Fuyuki into the human world one more time, helping him earn a batch of Shock Points.
Fuyuki used them to raise Raikou's level all the way to Lv100.
The result left Raikou both stunned and deeply moved.
Emotions churning, it turned to Entei and said, "You stayed behind all through last autumn and winter. Now it's my turn to stay and take care of the Little One."
Entei: "..."
It glanced at the child beside it. Despite the reluctance in its heart, Entei knew Raikou was right.
"Then I'll leave the Little One to you," it said.
"Hmph." Raikou hooked a paw around Fuyuki and pulled him over. "You don't need to worry about that."
Used to Raikou's attitude, Entei ignored the jab and looked at Fuyuki instead. "Don't run around. Stay on Mount Tensei and wait for me to come back, understand?"
Fuyuki nodded again and again. "Mm!"
Entei glanced at Raikou one last time. "Take good care of the Little One."
With that, it turned and left. Mount Tensei was soon left with only Fuyuki, Raikou, and Marshadow.
Raikou finally let out a long breath. That annoying guy was gone at last.
It brought Fuyuki home, lay down beside him, and acted as a living cushion.
With the others gone, the house felt instantly empty.
Fuyuki petted Raikou for a while, then watched some TV. But programming in this era was always the same, either Professor Oak's Pokemon lectures or news from various regions.
To someone who already knew Pokemon well and understood much of the story ahead, none of it felt fresh. After a short while, boredom crept in.
He turned off the TV and lay flat on the carpet, staring blankly at the ceiling.
"So bored…"
"Then I'll take you outside to play?" Raikou said, rising to its feet.
"But I've already explored all of Mount Tensei," Fuyuki replied.
He had lived here for seven years, often riding Entei around. He knew exactly which Pokemon lived in which areas.
The mountain held no secrets from him anymore. He probably knew it even better than Ho-Oh and the others.
"Hmm…" Raikou fell silent, realizing that was true.
Then Fuyuki's eyes lit up.
"How about we go somewhere else?" He rolled over to face Raikou.
Raikou paused. "Somewhere else?"
Fuyuki nodded. "I want to see Pokemon that live in other places, like Trainers who travel!"
Raikou almost said Entei wouldn't agree, but then dismissed the thought. Why worry about that? If the Little One wanted to go out, then it would take him and show him the world.
"No problem," it said without hesitation.
"Yes!" Fuyuki cheered.
He changed into fresh clothes, then bought a piece of Pokemon-world black tech from the system shop, something every Trainer had, a Space Backpack. He packed it with food, water, and daily supplies.
Raikou couldn't fly like Ho-Oh, and they might not return anytime soon, so preparation mattered.
"All right, let's go!"
Fuyuki locked the doors and windows, then climbed onto Raikou's back.
"Hold tight," Raikou said. Once he was secure, its powerful body surged forward.
"Ma-sha?!"
From the shadows, Marshadow watched the whole thing. After a brief pause, it slipped straight into Fuyuki's shadow.
At the same time, in Kalos, at Lumiose City Airport.
Grace was giving her daughter a serious lecture.
"When you arrive in Pallet Town, the first thing you do is visit Professor Oak, understood?"
"I know, Mom!" Serena's face glowed with excitement. She could hardly wait to attend Professor Oak's summer camp.
"And don't run around on the way. Don't eat food from strangers. If you run into trouble, find Officer Jenny right away. When you reach Professor Oak, call me immediately!"
An announcement echoed through the airport, informing passengers that the flight to Kanto was about to depart.
"Got it, Mom! Don't worry!" Serena called as she ran toward the gate.
Grace sighed helplessly. That child…
Serena boarded the plane smoothly. Sitting by the window, she gazed out at the scenery with eager eyes.
Professor Oak. She was about to meet Professor Oak.
And she had heard that Pallet Town had many Pokemon Kalos didn't.
Just thinking about it made her heart race.
Kanto, Pallet Town, Professor Oak's Laboratory.
Now seven years old, Ash looked at Professor Oak and asked impatiently, "Professor Oak, when are we leaving for the summer camp?"
"Wait a little longer," Professor Oak said with a smile after checking the time. "We still have one guest who hasn't arrived yet. That child should be on the way by now."
"On the way?" Ash looked confused.
Professor Oak nodded. "She's coming from very far away, all the way from Kalos. Once she arrives, we'll head into the wilderness and begin the camp."
"Awesome!" Ash didn't care about Kalos at all. He pumped his fist excitedly. "I get to see Pokemon in the wild!"
Professor Oak chuckled. Ash really hadn't changed.
On the third day after leaving Mount Tensei, Fuyuki and Raikou arrived at a forest teeming with Pokemon.
From the edge of the woods, a human city could be seen standing in the distance.
Raikou frowned slightly when it spotted it.
Originally, it had planned to take Fuyuki deep into the remote reaches of Mt. Silver.
But Fuyuki's pitiful pleading had worn it down. In the end, it gave up and brought him here instead.
Now, Raikou followed behind, watching the Little One dash toward the ordinary Pokemon ahead, excitement written all over his face.
"Psyduck, Mankey, Poliwag! There are so many Pokemon we don't have on Mount Tensei! Raikou... Father, come look!" Fuyuki shouted over his shoulder.
Raikou walked forward slowly, but before it could get close, the Little One suddenly froze, eyes shining.
"That Pokemon is… Bulbasaur!"
From the grass ahead emerged a frog-like Pokemon with a large seed on its back.
One of Kanto's grass-type starters, Bulbasaur.
Fuyuki was just about to step closer for a better look when Raikou moved in front of him, body tense, eyes locked on what lay ahead.
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