At the peak of Mount Tensei.
Suicune's ribbon-like tail drifted lightly in the wind, fluid and graceful. Its calm, water-clear gaze rested on two figures far below on the mountain path, one large, one small.
Two full months had passed since the day it last encountered Entei.
During those two months, Suicune had remained on Mount Tensei.
Though it never revealed itself before Entei or the human infant, it kept watch over them the entire time.
It saw Entei harvesting Berries with the child in the orchard.
It saw the two curled together in a cave, sleeping side by side.
It saw the infant occasionally pull out human food and share it with Entei and Marshadow.
It saw Entei often take the child down the mountain to play with the Pokemon living there.
And today, once again, Suicune watched as the child and Entei shared the Berries they had gathered with wild Pokemon who had no connection to them at all.
Suddenly, a familiar presence brushed against its senses.
Even without turning around, Suicune knew who it was.
Marshadow had arrived.
Suicune kept its gaze fixed on the figures below.
"That human infant," it said softly. "His name is Fuyuki, isn't it?"
Marshadow's eyes flickered in the shadows. "Yes."
After a brief pause, it added, "He really likes Entei."
"Of course," Suicune replied. "He was raised by Entei."
It was obvious. The child relied on Entei completely, clinging to it whenever possible, as if he wished he could stay by its side all day and night.
"But…" Suicune finally turned its head, looking at Marshadow beside it. "Why are you telling me this now?"
Marshadow lifted its head, gaze deep and unreadable, and spoke slowly.
"If Ho-Oh ever turns back and holds us accountable, I hope you'll help us plead our case."
Suicune froze for a moment. "You too…?"
"That human infant is different," Marshadow shook its head. "When Entei first brought him back, he couldn't speak. He couldn't even walk. Just a tiny little thing, sleeping in Entei's arms."
"Little by little, he grew. Entei and I taught him the language of Pokemon, and now he can already communicate with Pokemon using it."
"He isn't a human child."
"He's our child. A Pokemon's child."
Suicune listened in silence.
Unlike Raikou, it wasn't withdrawn or prejudiced against humans. In fact, while carrying out its duties, it often encountered them.
Good humans. Bad humans.
Suicune understood the difference. It would not hate all humans because of the wicked, nor would it show mercy to evil ones because of the kind.
"This was Entei's choice," Suicune said quietly.
Marshadow fell silent. It was about to sink back into the shadow world and leave when Suicune spoke again.
"If Ho-Oh truly does assign blame, I'll help you plead with it."
That was the answer Marshadow wanted.
Without another word, it vanished, returning to the shadows.
Suicune turned its gaze back toward the mountain below and murmured softly,
"Fuyuki…"
Raikou returned to Mount Tensei on the second day after the first snowfall of the year.
By then, the mountain was sealed in snow, blanketed in white from peak to forest floor.
Wild Pokemon that usually roamed outside were nowhere to be seen, and the forest was unnaturally quiet.
Raikou's lithe form cut through the woods, paws sinking into soft snow as it leapt lightly to the cave entrance like a massive tiger.
The moment it appeared, Suicune arrived as well.
Entei and Fuyuki had been sheltering in the cave, watching the snow fall outside, so the instant Raikou showed itself, they noticed.
"Raikou!" Fuyuki's eyes lit up.
Suicune looked at Raikou. With all three Legendary Beasts finally gathered, it was about to speak when Raikou glanced at it, then walked straight past, heading for Entei and the child.
Suicune: ?
Don't tell me you too—
"Raikou, you're back!" Fuyuki said excitedly.
"Mm." Raikou responded coolly, then lowered the bag it had been carrying in its mouth.
"What's that?" Fuyuki's attention snapped to it immediately.
He opened the bag and found several bottles of Moomoo Milk inside.
"A gift for you," Raikou said. It remembered how much the child liked it.
Originally, it had planned to bring the Miltank itself to live on Mount Tensei.
But the Miltank had already been caught by a human and started a new life on a ranch.
Even so, after hearing why Raikou had come, it asked the ranch owner for a whole batch of Moomoo Milk and sent it along as a gift.
As it spoke, Raikou shot a glance at Entei.
The look practically said: See? The Little One's going to like my gift more.
Entei: "..."
Pointless, Entei thought quietly.
In the Little One's heart, Entei ranked first, Marshadow second.
Raikou was dead last.
"Thank you, Raikou!" Fuyuki threw his arms around Raikou in a big hug, sneaking in a good rub of the big cat's fur.
Raikou looked slightly uncomfortable, but still lowered its body, letting the child wrap his arms around its neck.
"Oh, right, Raikou!" Fuyuki said eagerly. "All the Berries we planted together grew in! We got so many this year!"
"Really?" Raikou said, though it had already noticed the orchard outside the cave.
"Come on, I'll show you!" Fuyuki grabbed Raikou's foreleg and tugged it inside.
At first, Raikou didn't think much of it. This cave was familiar territory.
But the next moment, when it finally saw what lay ahead, it froze in place.
The cave's interior had completely changed.
Not only that, there were multiple rooms inside now.
After passing through a doorway, a room filled with Berries piled like small hills came into view.
Raikou felt its pupils quake.
This was…
"This is the Little One's power," Entei explained from behind.
"Hehe," Fuyuki laughed shyly.
Noticing snow clinging to Raikou's fur, he pulled it down to lie still and carefully brushed away the melting snow.
Outside the cave, Suicune stood frozen, watching.
Snow and wind raged as flakes settled on its body. For the first time, Suicune felt like the entire world had quietly left it behind.
What it hadn't expected was that even Raikou liked the human infant this much.
After a moment of silence, Suicune turned away and left, alone in the storm.
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