Wanderer of the Pokémon World

Chapter 231: Beneath The Shade Of A Tree

Xiu demonstrated a few basic kicks for Scizor then stepped back, allowing the Pokémon to attempt them. "Don't just copy me," he instructed. "Your body structure is different. Adapt the movements. Feel how your own limbs, your center of gravity, wants to move. Find what works for you."

This was where a Pokémon's innate independence and intelligence became crucial. Scizor, while perhaps not possessing the complex cunning of a human, had the sharp intellect of an adolescent, fully capable of learning, imitating, and then innovating.

It watched Xiu's demonstrations intently, then began to practice.

As expected, the moment Scizor tried to exert significant force into a kick, its hard-won balance crumbled. It stumbled, nearly falling, forced to plant both feet firmly to stabilize itself.

Xiu saw frustration in its usually impassive eyes. The heavy, metallic armor that provided such excellent defense also restricted its agility, a stark contrast to its nimble Scyther days. It felt… caged.

"It's alright, Scizor," Xiu said quickly, sensing its discouragement. "That's normal. You're still adapting. Don't try to force the power yet. Slow it down. Focus on the motion, the feel of the movement. Smoothness first, then speed, then power."

The summer heat was intensifying, and Xiu knew that could frustrate a Pokémon even more, especially when combined with the stress from their time in Viridian. A Trainer's role isn't just to command, but to guide and offer positive reinforcement.

After observing Scizor's practice for a while longer, offering occasional pointers, Xiu left it to its drills. He needed to focus on his own work – deciphering the ancient texts, trying to adapt the Beedrill-specific potion formula for Scizor.

Later, passing by the withered tree, Xiu found Xiaochun patiently interacting with the injured Pidgey. He hadn't paid them much direct attention for a few days, busy with his research and Scizor's training. So, he paused to observe.

It seemed Xiaochun and the Pidgey had settled into a routine, becoming accepted members of the backyard's diverse Pokémon community. There were no major conflicts, the other Pokémon largely accustomed to new arrivals.

The Pidgey, however, had developed a rather obnoxious habit. Now that it was more familiar and less fearful, it had started bullying the other, more docile Pokémon, often stealing their food.

The resident Pokémon, unaccustomed to such aggression and not particularly possessive of their meals, usually just let it happen. The Pidgey would then greedily guard its own bowl while having already filched from others.

Xiu, noticing this, had put a stop to it. Whenever the Pidgey tried to steal, Xiu would intervene, then allow another Pokémon to eat the Pidgey's own portion while it was forced to watch. After a few such lessons, the Pidgey had reluctantly learned to stick to its own bowl.

"Hey there, little one," Xiu said now, squatting down. "Let me see that wing."

The Pidgey, still somewhat wary of Xiu despite Xiaochun's care, hopped away. Xiu sighed, too lazy to chase it. He simply sat on the grass and observed. The bandages had been removed days ago.

Tiny, new pinfeathers were beginning to emerge, a testament to its vitality, but they couldn't conceal the mangled scar tissue beneath. The wing was healed, structurally, but the severe bone damage meant it would remain useless.

Good for making honey-garlic boneless Pidgey wings, perhaps, Xiu thought with a flash of dark humor, then mentally chastised himself.

He watched the Pidgey move. Its permanently drooping, broken wing clearly hampered its balance and movement, dragging awkwardly. Then, an idea formed. He rummaged in his pack, pulling out some scraps of durable canvas and a length of elastic cord. He began to fashion a simple sling.

The Pidgey, its fear apparently short-lived, or perhaps just overridden by its inherent (and rather dim-witted) curiosity, hopped back over while Xiu was working, tentatively pecking at his clothes, then at the canvas scraps. It pecks at anything that moves or doesn't move, Xiu thought with amusement. Not the sharpest beak in the flock.

He ignored its gentle nips and continued his impromptu craft project. Soon, a small, functional sling was complete. Taking advantage of the Pidgey's momentary distraction, Xiu quickly scooped it up.

It thrashed its legs, struggling wildly, but Xiu held it firmly, deftly fitting the sling over its broken wing, securing it snugly against its body with the elastic cord. He tugged it gently to ensure it was secure, then released the bird.

The Pidgey immediately hopped away, then stumbled, surprised by the new restriction. It rolled twice, then righted itself, tilting its head, looking down at the now-supported wing. It pecked curiously at the sling.

Even Xiaochun, watching the Pidgey's bewildered antics, couldn't suppress a faint twitch at the corner of her lips, an expression that on her usually impassive face looked remarkably like annoyance mixed with amusement.

Xiu chuckled. "You can think of Pidgey as a one-year-old child." he explained. "Not many complex thoughts. Mostly driven by instinct. We don't need to overthink our interactions with it. Sometimes, direct intervention is best. Unlike, say, trying to reason with Happiny when it's decided to…" He trailed off, a strange expression crossing his face. He shook his head slowly, then turned to Xiaochun. "What do you feel like eating tonight?"

Xiaochun, who had been watching him intently, looked back, her silence a response.

"What, bored already?" Xiu teased gently.

She made a few quick, hesitant gestures.

After weeks of constant interaction, Xiu had begun to understand rudimentary sign language.

"A simple life is a true life." Xiu said, a touch of wistfulness in his voice. He smiled, then walked over to a patch of soft grass and lay back, staring up at the sky. "It's a pity this world isn't quite what I imagined it would be. Or maybe my starting point was just… less than ideal.

Always struggling, always fighting." He sighed. "Otherwise, I think I'd quite enjoy just… sitting on the grass just like this. Living day to day, without a care."

He often found himself speaking more freely around Xiaochun. Perhaps it was her silence, her non-judgmental presence, or perhaps their similar experiences of being outsiders.

"Imagine," he continued, his voice growing softer, more dreamlike, "playing with Pokémon all day. Living in a quiet, peaceful town where everyone knows your name, where the folks are simple and kind.

Never having to worry about where your next meal is coming from, or whether you'll have a roof over your head." He smiled faintly. "Best of all, a comfortable villa, not some cramped rental apartment. A huge bed, piled high with soft hotdog pillows and a life-sized Snorlax plushie.

And maybe," he added with a wistful chuckle, "two or three cute little maids to look after things…" He trailed off, a strange, almost goofy grin on his face.

Xiaochun, sitting nearby, couldn't understand all his words, but she was exceptionally sensitive to emotion. Beneath his lighthearted, nonsensical rambling, she sensed a profound, unspoken loneliness, a yearning for something lost, or perhaps something never attained. He seemed to be talking about a life he wished he had, a life that felt impossibly distant.

She listened intently, her gaze fixed on him. Suddenly, his voice stopped. She looked over. Xiu had fallen asleep, right there in the shade of the tree, a faint, peaceful smile gracing his lips.

Xiaochun watched him for a long time. A strange, unfamiliar feeling stirred within her chest. Was it concern? Or… something softer? Pity, perhaps? She didn't have the words, even in her mind, to define it.