"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.