Chapter 122: Baptism of the Sacred Flame

In Entei’s view, it was the sacred fire that had healed these Pokémon, so they should be grateful to it. However, Entei felt that if not for Koyo, it would never have come to this place, let alone discovered these little ones. Therefore, it was Koyo who had truly saved them.

What’s more... Marshadow, having slipped into Entei’s shadow at some point, spoke indignantly, "Do you know? This guy actually wanted to burn the Rainbow Feather just a moment ago!!!"

Entei remained silent. The Rainbow Feather also contained the power of the sacred fire; using it would indeed have been enough to save these little ones. This meant that even if Entei hadn't arrived, these Pokémon would not have come to harm. As an emissary of Ho-Oh, Marshadow was well aware of this. Although it didn't want to see the Rainbow Feather damaged, it wouldn't have stopped Koyo from using it if Entei hadn't appeared. The reason it was complaining now was simply because, having spent this time in Koyo's shadow, it had been startled by the human’s terrifying thoughts.

Speaking of those thoughts, Marshadow began to criticize Suicune’s outrageous behavior. "And that’s not all! That guy, Suicune, actually allowed this human to ride on its back the very first time they met! It even claimed this guy had earned its recognition, so it allowed him to sit there. Hah, it’s lost all the dignity of a legendary beast!"

Marshadow looked at Entei, full of hope. "Entei, you wouldn't do something like that, would you?"

Entei watched Marshadow silently, locked in an unspoken stare.

Marshadow’s heart skipped a beat. It hurriedly added, "You absolutely must not! Do you know what he thinks about on a daily basis? He wants to ride you! He even wants to bury his face in your fur!"

This time, Entei finally spoke. It said calmly, "If he wishes to, I will not refuse."

Marshadow: "?"

Entei pointed out, "He has the qualifications to be our 'Hero of the Rainbow'." Furthermore, it had seen humans express affection in that manner before. The Hero of the Rainbow doing so would mean he likes me, Entei thought to itself silently.

Marshadow felt utterly exhausted. "..." There was no saving them.

It didn't want to talk to Entei anymore, so it turned and drifted back into Koyo’s shadow. Now, the only hope left was Raikou, the solitary one who disliked humans, right? Surely, if it were Raikou, it wouldn't be like these two and allow him to ride on its back?

Marshadow left quietly and returned just as quietly. Although Koyo was the master of the shadow, he was unaware of what had transpired within it. At that moment, he was busy receiving the gratitude of the rescued Pokémon. He did a rough count: there were eighteen subjects in this laboratory. Among them were one Charmander, one Vulpix, three Squirtle, one Raichu, five Oddish, two Cubone, two Poliwag, and three Pidgey.

Looking at the Charmander expressing its affection, Koyo couldn't help but feel moved. Charmander, Bulbasaur, and Squirtle were the first starter Pokémon players ever encountered. In his childhood, who hadn't wondered which one they would choose as their initial partner if they were in the Pokémon world? Koyo remembered that what he had wanted most back then was a Charmander—specifically, the one abandoned by its trainer, waiting on a rock for its return: Ash’s Charizard. When he transmigrated here a year ago, Koyo had also thought about catching a Charmander. He had imagined countless scenarios, but never that he would meet one under such circumstances.

Lance, who had been watching the scene quietly, asked, "How do you intend to settle these Pokémon?"

Koyo wanted to take them all home, but after a moment's thought, he realized these captured Pokémon might already have trainers or families elsewhere. Therefore, he asked, "Do you all have places to go?"

The three Squirtle scratched their heads in distress and shook them. "Squirtle, Squirtle..." (We have nowhere to go...)

Vulpix: "Woo..." (I want to go back and find my trainer...)

Raichu: "Raichu..." (Me too...)

Cubone: "Bone." (I want to go find my mother.)

The Oddish looked at one another and shook their heads. "Our home was destroyed by humans..."

Poliwag: "We want to go home, too."

Pidgey: "Coo."

Charmander looked at Koyo with bright eyes. "Char!"

"Do you want to come with me?" Koyo asked. "Did you not have a trainer before?"

"Char!" Charmander nodded, then shook its head.

Koyo breathed a sigh of relief and smiled. "Then welcome aboard."

"Gengar!" Gengar also welcomed the Charmander. This little guy could breathe fire—decided! From now on, the job of grilling meat would be left to it! Gengar happily extended its claw toward Charmander.

Koyo gave Gengar a speechless look but didn't pay it any mind, turning his attention to the other Pokémon instead. Raichu and Vulpix had trainers; the Cubone, Poliwags, and Pidgey wanted to return home; the remaining five Oddish and three Squirtle had nowhere to go.

He asked them, "Would you like to come live at my place? My home is very large, with water and meadows."

"Squirtle, Squirtle!" The Squirtles nodded rapidly, looking very happy. The Oddish also expressed their agreement.

Upon confirming that they wanted to go live there rather than travel with him like Charmander, Koyo took out his Poké Balls and caught them. He planned to send them to Professor Birch after they got back up, asking him to help transport these Pokémon to an ecological park. As it happened, there was a Poké Ball transfer machine in this laboratory. This was, in fact, the true purpose of Koyo’s trip to the Team Rocket base.

He had Gengar put the transfer machine into his treasure bag, then turned to look at Charmander and took out a new Poké Ball.

"Char!"

Charmander’s eyes shone. It lowered its head slightly, waiting to be taken into the ball. Koyo crouched down and pressed the Poké Ball against Charmander’s head. A second later, Charmander turned into a red light and was drawn inside.

At the same time, its information appeared in Koyo’s mind.

[Species: Charmander]
Type: Fire
Ability: Blaze
Base Stats: [Omitted]
Moves Learned: Scratch, Ember, Smokescreen
Current Emotion: Happy
Physical State: Frail (Long-term malnutrition has left its body weak and lacking energy)
Special Ability: Flame of Life (A special ability awakened after being baptized by Entei’s sacred fire; the power of Fire-type moves is increased, and the flames possess a slight healing effect)
Friendship: 99