Entei at Your Own Risk

It had been four days since the team left New Bark Town, but Mt. Silver was still a long way away. The heroes came to a hot spring and decided to rest there for the afternoon. After traveling and training for so long, the heroes and their Pokémon needed a little vacation time. Even the sand was warm and refreshing enough for the rock and ground Pokémon to enjoy. Kaiba let Onix, Typhlosion, Houndoom, and Pupitar out to take sand baths and he also let Seadra out to enjoy the water. Joey's water Pokémon loved the water as well. Of course, Undine couldn't resist the water and wanted to go swimming. Salamando joined his friends in taking a sand bath. Shade and Sylphid were playing around as they were wrestling. Lumina was relaxing in the water to ease her nerves and soothe her complexion. Luna was giving Togepi rides on her back. The rest of the Pokémon were exercising and playing with the heroes.

Kaiba was tending to his Pokémon as they were taking sand baths. He got the dirt off of Houndoom and Quilava and sent them into the water to wash off and get refreshed. After getting Onix cleaned up and coated with sand, Kaiba saw that he was looking very well. He reached into his backpack and showed him the Metal Coat. "Briar gave this to me as a present," Kaiba was saying. "She said if I let you hold it, then you'll be able to evolve. Evolution can seem like a great thing at first, but only at its own pace. If you don't want to evolve, I won't force you to, Onix. Or if you're not ready, we can wait. But I want it to be your decision. I may be your trainer, but it will only happen to you. And don't worry, whatever you decide, I'll respect it."

Onix wanted to live up to Kaiba's expectations of him, but he also wanted to consider his own happiness. And Onix decided that seeing his trainer happy would make him happy too. They had been training together for a long time and had been through a lot together. Onix made up his mind and touched the Metal Coat and began glowing. He was evolving into Steelix.

Kaiba smiled at his Pokémon. "You really wanted this, didn't you?" In answer, Steelix softly growls. He tries to smile, but ends up just showing his teeth. As long as the both of them were happy, then that was what mattered most.

Suddenly, everyone heard roaring. They all look around wondering where it came from. Kaiba leaves the sand pit and his friends get out of the water. When they regroup, they see a great brown dog with braces over its paws and a yellow and red star-like pattern on its face. It was Entei, another one of the noble dogs.

Kaiba's eyes widened. "Can it be? The legendary Pokémon Entei?"

"It is," said Emily.

Entei slowly approaches the heroes. He lowers himself and bows in respect. "It is true, what my brethren have been saying. The chosen warriors of Millennia are traveling through these lands."

Emily nods and cautiously approaches Entei. "It's an honor to meet you, Entei."

Entei returned the gesture. "I heard you safely coveted the Cobalt Star shard and subdued the Dark Lord's evil. We are eternally grateful."

Emily was confused. "What do you mean subdued?"

"Our sovereign has guarded and protected the Cobalt Star shard for many lifetimes, my princess," Entei explained. "Humans and Pokémon who have heard about it have gone through terrible tragedies trying to find it and claim it for themselves. There was great violence between different nations of people and different species of Pokémon. Our ancestors knew of this and have helped keep the shard safely hidden while awaiting the arrival of the chosen warriors of Millennia. We hoped our servitude would repay the kindess and courage of the Children of Millennia who prevailed in the Shadow Games. Yet you and your friends would serve us more than we you by claiming the Cobalt Star shard from our sovereign. The evil emanated from the Cobalt Star shard has been subdued since you claimed it. Take it home to your world and it will leave our world."

Emily was starting to understand. "Of course. Claiming the Cobalt Star doesn't remove the evil presence emanating from it. It contains it. But what will happen when all the Cobalt Star shards are gathered?"

"That is something not even I or my brethren or even the sovereign know," Entei answered. "I will say this: we believe there may come a time when the Battle of the Gods will begin. When it does, you have our word that we will serve you with great honor as our ancestors did for yours."

"Even though we're worlds apart?" Emily wondered.

Entei nods and says, "Divided, yet untied. For that matter, our worlds will share the same influences. We were once a part of one world. So whatever influence the Gods will inflict on one world, another world will be affected in the same way."

The blonde girl clears her throat. "Well, thank you, Entei. We'll keep all of this in mind as we look for the rest of the Cobalt Star shards."

"Very well," said Entei. "You have my best wishes." He turns away and says, "I must bid you good day, Heroes of Millennia." After turning his back, he leaps away into the mountains.

Yugi noticed that Kaiba looked a little disappointed. "Are you okay, Kaiba?"

The brunette shrugged. "I know Entei just came to grace us with his presence, but I wanted the chance to challenge him to a battle."

Joey scoffed. "Yeah, like he'd give you that chance. Entei wouldn't give you chance to battle him, let alone try to capture him with a Pokéball."

Kaiba knew, but figured it would be great to have a partner like Entei. But it wouldn't be like the warriors of Millennia to want to battle a legendary Pokémon for the chance to capture them. The legendary Pokémon knew the warriors of Millennia like that. They only battled to train together and learn from each other. That was why they took Queen Mystery as their student centuries ago. They taught her everything she knew about battling honorably and she treated them equally as comrades and as family. She also treated them with great respect as free and wild beasts. So it was only right and fair that the new warriors of Millennia would have that same respect. Kaiba explained that to his friends and they agreed. Though the legendary Pokémon promised the warriors of Millennia that they would serve them, the heroes had to return the gesture. Just as the legendary Pokémon had respect for Yugi and his friends for being descendants of the Children of Millennia, Yugi and his friends had to have respect for the legendary Pokémon for being free and wild. So they agreed not to battle any legendary Pokémon for the chance to capture them.