Chapter 239: A Moment's Respite
With Rinko's invaluable assistance and Professor Oak's lab, Xiu made rapid progress in deciphering and adapting the formula for the purple flower. The knowledge gaps that had previously stalled him were quickly filled.
He immersed himself in work, driven by a focused intensity that bordered on obsession, often losing track of time. Professor Oak, recognizing the signs of a researcher on the cusp of a breakthrough, wisely left him to it, ensuring a steady supply of coffee and cup noodles.
Then, one late afternoon, a sudden, triumphant burst of laughter echoed through the otherwise quiet laboratory. Xiu stood hunched over his workbench, a sheet of paper covered in dense calculations and chemical notations clutched in his trembling hands. His eyes were wide, almost manic, with a mixture of elation and utter exhaustion.
Professor Oak, startled by the outburst, looked over. Seeing Xiu's ecstatic and slightly crazed expression, a knowing smile touched Oak's own lips. He remembered that feeling well – the euphoria after wrestling with a complex problem and the breakthrough when all the pieces finally clicked into place.
Ah, the joys of youth... Shaking his head fondly, Oak returned to his own research.
The initial wave of triumph gave Xiu a profound sense of accomplishment. Weeks of intensive study, of painstaking experimentation, of frustrating dead ends… it had all finally paid off.
But he quickly reined in his elation. This was just the first iteration of the Scizor-specific formula. While built upon the generations of research from the previous Bug-type Gym leaders, it was still theoretical. It would require extensive testing and refinement.
And that led to the next critical problem: the purple flower. The limited supply he possessed, while sufficient for developing the initial formula, would be nowhere near enough for the following experimentation and refinement process.
Following the original Beedrill formula would have been fair game, but adapting it for Scizor, with its vastly different physiology and metallic composition, demanded several attempts of trial and error. Which means, Xiu realized with a sinking feeling, I have to figure out how to cultivate the damn purple flower myself.
He stood there for a long moment, staring blankly at his notes, the elation fading, replaced by a new wave of daunting challenges. He sighed, then turned to Oak. "Professor!" he called out, his voice artificially bright. "Dinner tonight! Any special requests?"
"Whatever's edible, Xiu" Oak replied absently, not even looking up from his own desk.
"Let's go for dessert then!" Xiu announced with cheerfulness, then headed downstairs. He needed a break, a change of scenery, a chance to clear his head before tackling the next monumental task. The intensive research had consumed him, and he realized he'd somewhat neglected his other responsibilities.
His own Pokémon were okay since their routines are well-established as of the moment. Abra meditated, Scizor fought, Happiny… well, Happiny mostly played and ate. Xiu rarely needed to intervene in their daily lives.
It was Xiaochun who drew his attention. He found her in the backyard, a frustrated frown on her usually impassive face. She had tied a thin cord around the Pidgey's leg, and the little bird was desperately flapping its wing, struggling to escape its tether.
As Xiu approached, he saw Xiaochun staring at the Pidgey with intensity. If I'd been a few minutes later, he thought with a grimace, I might have found Pidgey roasting on a spit.
"Chun, what are you doing?" he asked, his voice carefully neutral.
She looked up, her expression easing slightly at his presence. She made a series of sharp, frustrated gestures.
"Hmm." Xiu pursed his lips, crouched down, untied the cord from the Pidgey's leg, and let the terrified bird flutter awkwardly away. He then sat beside Xiaochun on the grass. "Education isn't the same as control, Chun," he began gently.
"Controlling it like that will only make it fear you, even resent you. First, we need to understand why it's misbehaving. Then, we address the cause."
He watched the Pidgey, now cautiously pecking at some seeds a short distance away. "It's active," Xiu observed. "That means it has energy. Our goal isn't to suppress that vitality, but to channel it. Redirect it into something constructive. Like training."
Xiaochun gestured towards the Pidgey's still-drooping, useless wing.
Xiu smiled. "You misunderstand. Training isn't just about fighting. It's about discipline, focus, and conditioning. Burning off that excess energy and letting it loose some steam. We can still train its good wing and its legs. Even if it never flies again, it can still be healthy and strong."
He pointed towards the Pidgey. "Look at it. It's put on at least a third of its weight since it arrived here. It's practically a butterball. If this continues, it won't be able to get off the ground even if both wings were perfect."
Xiaochun looked at the Pidgey, then almost unconsciously, at her own less gaunt frame. She had, indeed, been eating well, regaining some healthy weight under Xiu's care.
How to train it, though? Her own 'training' had been about human combat and survival. Pokémon training was an entirely different discipline.
"Its wings are a lost cause, yes," Xiu conceded. "But its beak, its talons… they're almost fully regrown. We can work with that. Even a flightless Pidgey is still a Pidgey," he added, then chuckled at the thought of what he said.
Xiaochun probably didn't understand his attempt at humor, but she seemed to grasp the core concept. With a few more pointed explanations, Xiu outlined a basic training regimen for the Pidgey – simple exercises designed to build strength, improve coordination, and provide an outlet for its energy.
He then, perhaps unwisely, got caught up in his own enthusiasm. He gently scooped up the Pidgey. "You want to fly again, little one?" he cooed, holding it aloft. "Then you must train! Build your strength! Evolve! Then you will soar through the blue sky once more!"
The Pidgey, failing to comprehend his inspiring speech, simply pecked at his thumb as Xiaochun watched his performance with her usual silent, unnervingly direct gaze.
"Um… right," Xiu mumbled, feeling suddenly foolish. He awkwardly set the Pidgey back down and quickly changed the subject, trying to salvage his dignity.
After outlining Pidgey's new training plan for Xiaochun, Xiu found himself at an impasse. The successful formulation of the Scizor potion had lifted a huge weight from his mind, but it had also left a void. The intense focus, the driving purpose of the past few weeks, was suddenly gone.
He felt an unfamiliar resistance to diving back into study. If only I had a computer, or even a phone, he thought wistfully. Lying on a sofa, mindlessly scrolling, playing some games… that sounds like heaven right now.
Who would choose to struggle, to constantly fight, if life offered an easier path?
But the discipline that had ensured his survival in two lifetimes quickly reasserted itself. Laziness and procrastination – these were luxuries he couldn't afford. There were still too many variables and too many potential threats. He pushed aside the longing for entertainment and refocused on the next immediate challenge.
Xiaochun, observing his fleeting moment of distraction and now his subtle shift in mood, said nothing. She simply sat beside him, a quiet, constant presence.
The next morning, Xiu found himself once again climbing the familiar mountain path towards the Murasame Botanical Garden. After numerous visits, he knew Rinko's daily routine from Monday to Sunday.
For today's morning, she would be in the greenhouses, tending the plants. He walked towards the massive glass structure without hesitation.
As he pushed open the heavy door, the familiar wave of moist air washed over him, instantly clinging to his skin which was damp with sweat from the uphill climb.