Chapter 96: I Have to Fight for Them
In Koga's yard were a Weedle with a broken horn, a Rattata missing a front tooth, and a Meowth whose tail had strangely withered. The most normal of the group was a Growlithe that was blind in one eye. Frankly, in the wild, most of these Pokémon would have been eliminated. They were all walking a thin line between life and death.
It was clear the brave young man, Koga, had saved these lucky souls. Or perhaps, Koga was the lucky one. Growlithe were quite rare, and their evolved form, Arcanine, was known as a "Legendary Pokémon" in ancient Eastern legends. They were naturally loyal, brave, and clever—an extremely excellent partner. If Koga could gain this Growlithe's approval, it would be a companion for life.
"Come here, little one, let me take a look," Alan said, gently picking up the surprisingly trusting Growlithe. He stared at its eye; the pupil was completely gray, likely a congenital defect that would be difficult to heal.
"It rained heavily that day," Koga said, walking out of his small house with a bundle of steaming corn cobs. "This little guy ran into my field from who knows where and ate a lot of my corn. I was angry, but he was so weak, I didn't hold it against him." He handed a few cobs to the small Pokémon and gave two to Alan. "Later, he just stayed."
"It looks like you like them a lot," Alan said, sitting down with a thud.
Koga, seeming to rarely find someone he could talk to so openly, began to speak incessantly. "I've been alone since I was little, raised by everyone in the village. With them accompanying me, I don't feel lonely anymore."
"I know they're the 'Magical Beasts' those important people talk about, but I don't think they're scary. They're actually really powerful. They drive away the bugs that get into the crops. Because of that, the villagers who originally disliked them changed their minds, and now everyone keeps one or two in their own fields."
As Koga spoke, Alan came to understand why the people in this village weren't afraid of Pokémon.
"It's a shame... I have to part ways with them in a few days," Koga sighed, his gaze on the Growlithe full of reluctance.
"Why? Where are you going?"
"The Royal Capital is conscripting soldiers. I'm going to enlist, achieve great merit, and become an important figure!"
Alan's chewing stopped. He turned to the young man. "You're looking for death." He wasn't being cruel; he was stating a fact. In the coming war, a country boy with no training would be nothing but cannon fodder for a king like Sakaki.
"Sigh," Koga sighed again.
"You need to be alive to enjoy power and wealth," Alan tried to reason with him.
But at that moment, Koga interrupted his thoughts. "I have to fight for them." His gaze rested quietly on the Growlithe and the others. "I think humans and Pokémon can support each other and survive together!"
Alan opened his mouth, staring blankly at the suddenly passionate young man. He was not the only one. There were people like Liz in Johto, and people like Koga in Kanto. It was because of people like them that the peaceful Alliance Era was even possible.
"I have seen the passing Earth army slaughter so many innocent Pokémon," Koga said, his voice filled with conviction. "They didn't do anything wrong. I think the Earth King is wrong. Right now, no one will listen to me, but if I become an important figure, then won't everyone in the entire kingdom have to hear my voice?"
Alan quietly stared at Koga, his nose stinging. He could understand these ideals because he had the knowledge of a more enlightened future. Koga was different. This was a self-awakened thought, born from his own experience and compassion.
"Do you know this is a dead end?" Alan asked.
"I'm not afraid of death," Koga replied, his voice firm. "I'm afraid I'll die for nothing."
Though a thousand or ten thousand men oppose me, I will go forth. The sentence inexplicably echoed in Alan's mind.
"...Keep going," he said. His path with Liz was not lonely.
As the sky grew dim, Alan knew it was time to leave.
"Are you leaving?" Koga asked.
"Mm."
"Okay. Thank you for listening to me. Oh, right, I'm Koga of the Dama family. What's your name?"
"I'm called Ryu," Alan replied, using his original name.
"Hmm... I don't understand. Oh, wait for me for a moment," Koga said, scratching his head before running back into the house. Alan stood stunned. Dama? In the future Alliance Era, the head of the Pokémon League was a man named Mr. Dama. Perhaps this was his ancestor.
"This is for you," Koga said, returning with a red headband with a flame pattern. "When I used to wear this while farming, I always felt full of energy!"
"...Thank you. Goodbye."
"Goodbye."
[Inorin Note:
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