Chapter 223: New Life
Xiaochun stared silently at the bandaged Pidgey, her expression unreadable. Xiu, sensing her focus, offered a casual reassurance. "Don't worry, it'll survive."
But Abra, ever attuned to the nuances of unspoken thought, interjected a correction into Xiu's mind:
"Uh… this…" Xiu blinked, surprised. He'd assumed her silence was concern for the Pidgey's well-being, not a brutal assessment. He re-established a direct telepathic link with Xiaochun, facilitated by Abra.
Her mental reply was startlingly direct, colored by the brutal logic of her former life:
"How do you define 'useless,' Chun?" Xiu asked, his voice gentle but firm.
"And who defines that value?"
"And why," Xiu pressed, "should your definition of value, or anyone else's for that matter, dictate whether another being deserves to live?" He paused, gathering his thoughts. "Think of it like a gemstone. To some, it's priceless. To me, it might hold no more value than a common stone picked up from the ground. Value is subjective, Chun.
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, after all."
He looked at the Pidgey. "If that little bird hadn't fought back, if it had shown no will to live, perhaps I wouldn't have intervened. But it did, even in its crippled state. It showed a tenacious desire to survive. Because of that, I was willing to offer it a chance, to help it within my limited ability."
A flicker of understanding and confusion crossed Xiaochun's face. Her gaze remained solemn, the shackles of her past ideology still firmly in place.
"The environment changes, Chun," Xiu explained patiently. "And when the environment changes, the conditions for survival change too. Look at yourself. You left that organization. You came here. Your environment has changed. You no longer need to be judged by their definition of 'value.'
You no longer have to live in fear that one day, you'll be deemed worthless in their eyes and… discarded."
He gestured towards Professor Oak's sprawling backyard. "Look at the Pokémon out there. Do they all fight to survive? Many of them live simple, peaceful lives. A plain life, free from constant struggle, also has its own worth."
Xiaochun turned her gaze towards the field, watching the Tauros graze around and the Nidoran play all over the place. She seemed lost in thought.
Xiu didn't press further. He turned back to his own tasks, moving the remaining supplies into the more secure warehouse with Abra's help, then tidying the place.
It had only been a few days since they'd left, but the institute already felt like a remote sanctuary. After organizing the warehouse, he released Scizor and Happiny.
"Alright, you two. Out you come."
Back in familiar surroundings, free from the oppressive atmosphere and constant vigilance of Viridian City, Scizor immediately began to move, stretching its limbs, its metallic joints clicking softly. It had clearly chafed under the restrictions of the city.
Happiny, ever carefree, immediately toddled off to find its playmates among Oak's other Pokémon, its joyful cries soon echoing across the yard as it instigated a game of chase.
Xiu watched them for a moment, a faint smile on his face. He glanced towards Abra, who had already resumed its usual spot beneath the familiar, withered tree near the warehouse.
The patch of grass around the tree's base, scorched and dead from Abra's constant psychic leakage, was showing faint signs of recovery – a few stubborn green shoots pushing through the yellowed earth.
Can it withstand another prolonged dose of Abra's power? Xiu mused. The tree itself, however, remained stubbornly lifeless, no hint of green on its gnarled branches.
He stretched, feeling the tension ease from his own body. He then turned to Xiaochun, who was still watching the Pokémon in the distance. "Come on," he said gently. "Let me introduce you to some of the residents."
He led her on a slow walk through the backyard, pointing out different species of Pokémon and explaining their habits. Professor Oak's Pokémon, long accustomed to the presence of caretakers and researchers, were generally friendly and docile, making them ideal for Xiaochun's first, tentative interactions.
Even a 'little devil' like Happiny is relatively harmless here.
"It's a good place, Chun," Xiu said, as they stood on a small rise overlooking the peaceful expanse of Pallet Town in the distance. "I think… I think you'll be safe here. You can find a different kind of life."
Xiaochun stared out at the town, her expression still thoughtful and unreadable.
A little while later, Professor Oak returned from town. He found Xiu in the warehouse, organizing some of the newly stored supplies. "Xiu," Oak began, "have you made arrangements for Xiaochun yet?"
"Arrangements?" Xiu paused, looking up, genuinely puzzled for a moment.
"A bed," Oak clarified, a hint of exasperation in his voice. "Basic necessities. Those kinds of stuff. You said you would take care of her."
"Oh! Right." Xiu slapped his forehead lightly. "That. I was planning to head into town later to buy some things."
Oak raised an eyebrow at Xiu's casual dismissal. "You promised you would see to her needs, Xiu," he emphasized.
"Busy, Professor, busy," Xiu replied with an easy smile.
"Well, sort it out," Oak huffed, though his tone lacked real anger. He tossed a neatly folded bundle of cloth to Xiu. "These were from my granddaughter Daisy's. She's outgrown them, but they should still be okay." With that, he turned and left, muttering something about irresponsible youths.
Xiu looked at the bundle of clothes, then at Oak's retreating figure. A genuine smile touched his lips. He pretends not to care, but he has a soft touch underneath all that bluster.
He glanced around the warehouse. He'd already begun to partition a section of it using stacked crates and tarps, creating two small, private spaces. Everyone needs their own space, after all.
His immediate tasks done, Xiu gathered the bundle of clothes and went to find Xiaochun. "Chun! Over here!"
She hurried over, her steps light and quick.
"Slow down," Xiu chuckled. "The Professor brought you some clothes. They're a bit old, hand-me-downs, but they're clean. We can wash them properly later." He led her towards the small stream that ran through the edge of Oak's property.
"Alright, your first lesson. Laundry." He demonstrated the basics of handwashing clothes, then stepped back, letting her take over.
It wasn't that she was entirely incapable, but her understanding of normal daily life was fragmented due to her traumatic experience. She needed to relearn, to be guided back again gently.
Leaving her to her task, Xiu went to check on the Pidgey. He found it resting quietly in the shade beneath the withered tree, still unconscious. He shooed away a few curious Pokémon that had gathered nearby, then carefully mixed a nutrient paste with water. Gently prying open the Pidgey's blunted beak, he administered a few drops of the nourishing liquid.
The Pidgey stirred, its eyelids fluttering. It was waking up.