Chapter 222: Return to Pallet Town
The battered pickup truck rumbled back onto Route 1, leaving the lingering tension of Viridian City behind. With Xiaochun settled somewhat awkwardly on his lap, Xiu found his thoughts drifting back to their recent roadside rescue.
"You know, Professor," Xiu mused aloud, "a Pidgey isn't exactly what I'd consider prime pet material." He shifted slightly, trying to make Xiaochun more comfortable without distracting Oak's driving. "Pets are usually chosen for their cuteness, or unique talents, or companionable nature. Pidgey are… common. Almost aggressively so."
Oak chuckled, not taking his eyes off the road. "You're thinking of the pets of the wealthy, Xiu. Exotic breeds, specially trained companions. For ordinary folk, people with a modest income who simply desire a connection with a Pokémon, the options are more limited. And in Kanto, when you compare a Pidgey to, say, a Rattata, a Caterpie, or a Spearow…"
Xiu considered it. He has a point. Rattata were often skittish and prone to biting. Caterpie, while docile, were not particularly interactive. Spearow were notoriously aggressive and ill-tempered.
"Compared to them, a Pidgey seems like the only choice," Xiu conceded. "And they're probably cheap to acquire, I imagine." A simple way for those without the means or ambition to become Trainers to still experience a connection with Pokémon.
The rest of the journey passed uneventfully. Soon, the familiar landmarks of Pallet Town came into view. The narrow plain nestled between rolling hills, the single main road bisecting the small, peaceful settlement.
Quaint houses with colourful flower gardens dotted the landscape. People moved at a slower, more relaxed pace, exchanging warm smiles and friendly greetings. The air itself felt different – cleaner, fresher, tinged with the scent of grass and wildflowers after the smog and tension of Viridian.
Xiu rolled down his window, inhaling deeply. "Ahh," he sighed, a genuine sense of relief washing over him. "Finally back."
He leaned back, Xiaochun still on his lap. Noticing her quiet fascination as she looked out at the unfamiliar surroundings, he began to point out local features, explaining the layout of the town, the location of the general store, the path to the beach. Oak, listening with a faint smile, slowed the truck, allowing them to take in the tranquil scene.
The pickup eventually rumbled to a stop at the foot of the hill leading up to Oak's research institute. Xiu carefully helped Xiaochun out, then stretched, his muscles stiff from the long ride.
He gestured for Abra to emerge. "Alright, Abra. Let's get this unloaded." He pulled back the canvas tarp covering the truck bed, revealing the stacks of supplies Fushun had delivered – vegetables, fruits, berries, grains – and, tucked in a corner, the battered motorcycle he had 'acquired' in Viridian.
Having this will make trips into town much quicker. Half an hour's walk to the general store gets old fast.
With Abra's telekinesis, the boxes of supplies began to float effortlessly up the hill towards the institute. I only dare to use Abra's power so openly out here, where there are no prying eyes. Too risky in populated areas. What would have taken hours of manual labor was completed in minutes.
"Professor," Xiu called out as Oak prepared to drive the truck back to his own house in town, "I left a small selection of the fresh produce in the truck bed as a gift for Madame Delia, if you wouldn't mind dropping it off."
"I need to see to this Pidgey immediately, so I won't be able to deliver it myself."
Oak nodded his assent, and Xiu, with Xiaochun at his side, headed up the path to the lab.
Returning to the familiar surroundings of the institute after the chaos of Viridian felt like stepping into another world. The Pokémon in the backyard corrals lazed in the sun or played idly, their lives blissfully undisturbed.
Xiu, however, had no time to linger. He quickly gathered medical supplies – antiseptics, bandages, fine tools – from the wares, then cleared a space atop some stacked boxes in the storage area, spreading a clean cloth. He released the injured Pidgey.
Perhaps due to the rest in the Poké Ball, or simply a desperate surge of adrenaline, the Pidgey immediately tried to flutter away, struggling to escape the unfamiliar environment. However, Xiu, anticipating this, gently but firmly held it down.
"Abra, a little help," Xiu requested, one hand securing the struggling bird, the other gesturing to his psychic companion. "I need to understand what it's feeling."
The familiar sensation of the telepathic link established, but instead of coherent thoughts or emotions, Xiu's mind was flooded with a chaotic jumble of raw sensation:
Pain… hunger… fear… human… wrong… hurt… eat…
The fragmented, overlapping impressions were difficult to decipher. Telepathy is most effective with Pokémon possessing more complex thought patterns.
With a Pidgey, especially one this traumatized and weak, it's like trying to understand a scream. He could only make vague guesses at the jumbled impressions.
Despite the garbled mental static, Xiu projected a wave of calm reassurance. "Easy now," he murmured, both aloud and mentally. "I'm trying to help you." He gently extended the Pidgey's shattered wing. The limb was limp, offering no resistance. He could feel the horrifying crunch of splintered bone beneath the feathers.
Tsk. It's completely pulverized. Even if it heals, it'll never fly with this wing again.
Touching the mangled wing clearly caused immense pain. The Pidgey thrashed violently, its small body rigid with agony, kicking its tiny legs futilely.
"Abra, knock it out," Xiu commanded, his voice tight. No point prolonging its suffering, and I can't work on it while it's struggling like this. With a gentle pulse of psychic energy, the Pidgey went limp, unconscious.
Xiu carefully examined the wing again, his expression grim. "This is… bad," he muttered to himself. Despite the grim assessment, he set to work with focused precision, his hands surprisingly deft.
Xiaochun stood silently nearby, watching intently, her gaze shifting from the unconscious Pidgey to Xiu's focused expression, then back again.
After what felt like a long time, Xiu finally set down his tools. One of the Pidgey's wings was now featherless, meticulously cleaned and bandaged.
Beside him, a small tray held a collection of tiny, bloodied bone fragments. Normally, it's impossible to do this with conventional methods, but with Abra's psychic senses allowing Xiu to guide his instruments with microscopic precision and remove shards too small for tweezers, had been crucial.
Every power has its application. Psychic energy isn't just for combat or telekinesis; it's an unparalleled diagnostic and surgical tool, if used correctly.
During the procedure, Xiu had also discovered other injuries – severe bruising across the Pidgey's tiny body, consistent with being struck by a vehicle, then subsequently run over. It's incredibly lucky that only the wing was completely crushed. A few inches of a difference, and it would have been… Pidgey paste.
He looked down at the small, bandaged bird, now breathing shallowly but steadily. Whether it survives now… that's up to its own will to live.
He cleaned up the makeshift operating area, then noticed Xiaochun still standing patiently beside him. "Sorry about that," he said, offering her a tired smile. "Got a bit preoccupied for a moment. I'll give you a proper tour of the place later."
Xiaochun simply shook her head, then pointed towards the unconscious Pidgey. She raised her hands, making a series of small, questioning gestures.
"Ah," Xiu understood. "You're wondering if it will fly again?" He sighed. "Pidgey are light, with strong chest muscles. They can survive impacts that would kill other creatures.
But that wing… no. The damage is too severe. It will likely never fly again."