Chapter 123. Bonfire Party, Legend of Faith
"That's right.
Ash Ketchum is exactly that kind of person."
Natsume nodded as a matter of course.
"Uh—"
Lara Laramie wanted to say more, but no words came out.
"Go on.
Ride her Ponyta!"
Urged on by Natsume, Ash took the reins and met Ponyta's gaze.'
After a moment, Ash swung into the saddle.
"Wow, I did it!"
He turned to share his joy, only to find everyone gone.
Creak—
The door swung open.
Misty, Brock, and Honora each held a Pokémon.
A Starmie, a Staryu lent to Brock, and a Horsea lent to Honora.
All three Water-type Pokémon aimed squarely at Ash.
"Huh?
You didn't get burned!"
Misty looked astonished.
"…"
"Ash, I'm counting on you."
Lara Laramie stepped out from behind the three, looking earnestly at Ash.
She knew her Ponyta's temperament best.
For someone to be accepted at first sight was rare.
Even she herself had needed two full days to bond with it back then.
"Don't worry, Ms. Lara.
You took us in for the night, so I'll definitely take the victory!"
Ash clenched his fist, then suddenly yanked the reins, making Ponyta furrow its brow.
With a kick of its hind legs, Ponyta bucked Ash off.
"Ow!"
Ash hit the ground.
"Looks like we're still going to need Ms. Lara to teach you the basics of horseback riding."
Misty covered her face.
"Let's head to the bonfire party.
There's a big open space there, perfect for lessons."
Lara suggested with a smile.
Before long, everyone arrived at the bonfire party.
"The day before the competition, we hold a bonfire party.
It's also a tradition of our clan."
Lara explained with a smile.
There wasn't just one bonfire—there were dozens, big and small.
By the largest bonfire stood a raised platform.
"What's that?"
Ash, leading Ponyta, pointed at the platform in puzzlement.
"That platform is where our clan head makes the oath."
"An oath—something like a rite?"
Natsume suddenly grew interested.
As far as he knew, many clan rites more or less had something to do with certain Legendary Pokémon.
"Yes.
The great god of hunting and plenty, and the god of breeding, will bless the Laramie clan to prosper forever!"
As she spoke, Lara pressed her palms together at her chest.
The bonfire reflected her devout gaze.
What the heck?
Natsume was baffled.
He had never heard those names for any Legendary Pokémon.
Traditions should be respected, so he didn't press further.
He simply turned his eyes to the platform, to an elderly man who had appeared there.
The man's whole body was smeared with brightly colored pigments, and a ring of shed Doduo feathers encircled his head like a hat.
In his hand he held a bell.
With a shake, a clear chime rang across the grounds, echoing into the night.
Natsume stared at the bell in surprise.
How could a little trinket make so loud a sound?
He probed with Telekinesis and found it was a mini speaker shaped like a bell.
"Keeping up with the times, huh."
Natsume shook his head and looked down at the detectors in his hands.
The lost Diglett still hadn't been found, and he planned to cobble these detectors together into a beefed-up version.
At the very least, the pounding of Tauros' hooves wouldn't mess with the readings.
Suddenly, Natsume looked up.
Something the elder said had caught his ear.
"Thanks to the god of breeding, who takes on many forms and mediates interspecies conflicts on the plains—"
Natsume's expression turned odd.
Had Mew once served here as a mediator?
As for why the Laramie clan would regard Mew, who holds dominion over genes, as the god of breeding, Natsume couldn't say.
Even so, he could infer this much:
The so-called god of plenty and hunting was probably also a Legendary Pokémon that had stayed here for a time.
Because it had helped the Laramie clan, the tale had been passed down by word of mouth until it gained such a title.
"Lastly, our thanks to the Laramie clan's League-designated assistance partner!
Mr. Giovanni—head of Viridian City's Rocket Co.—for his support of the Laramie clan and sponsorship of our infrastructure!"
When the clan head finished, Natsume snapped his head up.
Thinking back to Mew, he felt something was off.
"Team Rocket!"
Misty exclaimed.
"Ms. Lara, isn't Team Rocket that bad organization that steals other people's Pokémon?"
Ash was confused.
"Huh?"
Lara tilted her head.
She really didn't know.
"Team Rocket also runs a lot of legitimate businesses."
Natsume spoke up.
What's more, Team Rocket had intricate ties to many Kanto houses, which made it hard for the League to act.
As long as the market existed, an organization like Team Rocket could never be completely eradicated.
A wildfire cannot burn everything away; with the spring breeze, it grows back.
And without Team Rocket, the villainous teams of other regions wouldn't pass up such a big piece of fat.
They would undoubtedly infiltrate Kanto.
Then all those evil groups would war for turf, bringing an impact to Kanto far worse than Team Rocket.
Turning a blind eye and keeping Team Rocket within controllable bounds—using them, even—was the League's current strategy.
"But… but—!"
Ash wanted to say more, but he didn't know how to put it.
"One sentence.
Do you think Jessie, James, and Meowth treat other people's Pokémon well?"
Natsume asked.
"No."
Ash and Misty shook their heads.
"Are they bad people?"
"Yes!"
Ash and Misty nodded.
"Do they treat their own Pokémon well?"
"…They do."
Ash and Misty thought about it and still nodded blankly.
"Are they good people?"
"…Yes?"
Ash and Misty looked at each other, confusion in both their eyes.
What a contradiction.
Natsume didn't explain further, letting Ash and Misty work it out themselves.
At their age, the world in their eyes was pure black and white.
Beside them, Brock stared into the fire, nodding and then shaking his head.
"Hey there, what are you all talking about?"
A perfectly broadcast-ready voice came from behind.
Everyone turned to see Meisuke.
"Hello, Natsume!
I'm Meisuke."
The moment he saw Natsume, Meisuke stepped forward with a practiced handshake.
"Mr. Meisuke!"
Ash and Misty came to themselves and stood to greet him.
"I don't really know anyone at the other bonfires.
Mind if I join you?"
Meisuke spoke as he sat down opposite Natsume.
Behind him, a black-haired girl with delicate features also sat, hefting a huge camera.
Two Magnemite hovered beneath the camera to lighten her load.
She seemed a bit shy and kept her head down, fiddling with the rig.
"Mr. Meisuke, won't you introduce us?"
Natsume smoothly handed over one of his cards.
He felt this host was a real talent.
"Ha, this is my partner—the one who handles the broadcast directing at the venue."
Meisuke drew the black-haired girl closer.
She lifted her head and stammered:
"I… I'm Satomi.
Pleased to meet you."
"So you're the 'director' Mr. Meisuke always talks about.
I never would've guessed—I always thought you were a guy."
Ash was suddenly enlightened.
"By the way, Ms. Satomi and Mr. Meisuke are a couple, right?"
Misty leaned in, full of gossip.
Enjoyed the story? Support me and get access to early chapters by joining my Patreon!
Find me at: Patr*eon*.com/Resium
Free members can read 10+ Chapters Ahead of Release
Paid member can read 150+ Chapters Ahead of Release
Stories Available
Honkai? No, This Is Daily Life
Hogwarts Pet Master
Pokémon: Who Let Him Leave Pallet Town!
Scrolling Yu-Gi-Oh! Shorts