**Chapter 76: An Unusual Storm**
When school let out at noon, before heading home, Bai Feng first went to the Delivery Company to mail the Water Stone. After sending the item, he planned to take Chikorita home for lunch.
Just as Bai Feng and Chikorita were nearing home, the sky suddenly became covered in dark clouds. It happened in the blink of an eye; the sky instantly turned black.
The dark clouds arrived very suddenly, and then a strong wind began to blow.
The wind also came abruptly, as if from nowhere. Bai Feng was almost blown off his feet by the wind.
Although Biyi City is close to the ocean, its climate has always been mild and stable. Such extreme weather is rare. Bai Feng felt a little uneasy.
It was harvest season for the orchard, and such strong winds would cause significant damage to it.
Thinking of the Berries that were about to be harvested being blown off by the strong wind, Bai Feng felt heartbroken. He quickly shouted to Chikorita:
"Chikorita, let's hurry home!"
"Chiko~"
Chikorita responded, immediately running after Bai Feng up the mountain. Because the wind was too strong, the small Chikorita was blown back and forth, unable to run very fast. Bai Feng had to pick it up.
But before Bai Feng could reach home, the pouring rain came down with a rush. In an instant, Bai Feng was drenched.
"Gardevoir~" Darling!
Just then, Bai Ye's voice rang out. Bai Feng looked ahead through the rain curtain and saw his Mother walking towards them, holding up a Psychic Barrier.
It turned out that Bai Ye had seen the sudden strong wind from home. Thinking that Bai Feng would be returning from School soon, she was worried and came out to meet him.
Although such extreme weather is rare in Biyi City, Bai Feng and Bai Ye used to encounter it every now and then when they lived on the Island. So, Bai Ye wasn't particularly flustered.
Bai Ye quickly ran to Bai Feng's side, enveloped Bai Feng and Chikorita in her Psychic Barrier, and then hurried them quickly home.
By the time they reached home, the rain outside was falling even harder. Hidden by the rain curtain, the view ahead was almost completely obscured, and water vapor filled the air everywhere.
Rumble!!!
Just then, a flash of golden light streaked across the sky, followed by a clap of thunder that boomed right next to Bai Feng's ear, giving him a real fright.
"Why is the thunder so loud?" Bai Feng asked, taking the towel Buneary handed him to wipe his wet hair.
"Gardevoir~"
Bai Ye shook her head. Since coming to Biyi City, this was the first time she had encountered such weather.
"This weather looks so strange to me!" Bai Feng muttered, gazing out at the pouring rain.
Not only did Bai Feng find it strange, but Bai Ye and Buneary also felt it was odd. Buneary was even trembling with fear, hugging Bai Ye's leg.
"How are things over at the Staff Dormitory? Has everyone returned?" Bai Feng suddenly asked.
"Gardevoir~"
Bai Ye shook her head, indicating she didn't know. She had been in a hurry to go out and meet Bai Feng and hadn't had time to check the situation there.
Bai Feng searched around the house and found that Brionne and Helioptile hadn't returned yet. So, he found a raincoat at home, put it on, and said to Bai Ye:
"I'll go check on the Staff Dormitory."
"Gardevoir~" I'll go with you.
Bai Ye said worriedly.
Bai Feng thought for a moment and nodded in agreement. With such heavy wind and rain, if he didn't have his Mother's Psychic assistance, he might not be able to handle things if something happened alone.
"Chiko~ Chiko~" I'll go too, I'll go too.
Chikorita said, hopping up and down.
"You stay home obediently. The wind and rain are too strong outside, it's very dangerous for you to go out," Bai Feng said, stroking Chikorita's head.
"Chiko~" Okay, I understand.
Chikorita lowered its head dejectedly.
Bai Feng then released Larvitar from its Poké Ball and said to it, Chikorita, and Buneary: "I'm leaving the house to you three. Don't run around randomly."
"Chiko~"
"Yo~"
"Milu~"
The three little ones held hands, accepting the task Bai Feng gave them with serious expressions.
Afterward, Bai Feng and Bai Ye each put on a raincoat and walked into the wind and rain, disappearing into the rain curtain shortly after.
Chikorita watched Bai Feng's gradually disappearing back with longing eyes, its face full of worry.
Under the double protection of raincoats and Psychic, Bai Feng and Bai Ye struggled to reach the Staff Dormitory building.
Passing by the orchard, Bai Feng noticed that many Fruit Trees had their branches broken off by the strong wind, and many Fruit had fallen into the muddy water on the ground. This made Bai Feng's heart ache.
But he was powerless. Against the mighty power of nature, his strength was so insignificant.
Fortunately, Bai Feng's houses were built sturdily. Even in such heavy wind and rain, they stood firm.
Just as Bai Feng and Bai Ye stepped into the Staff Building, his Telephone rang. It was his homeroom Teacher Hanada calling. She told Bai Feng that he didn't need to go to School in the afternoon; the rain was too heavy and it wasn't safe.
Bai Feng thought for a moment and then called the Blue Bird Orphanage. With such severe wind and rain, he was a little worried about the situation there.
Director Meili quickly answered the Telephone. He told Bai Feng that everything was fine at the Orphanage. Dongyu and the others had returned early at noon from School and didn't get caught in the wind and rain; they were all at Home now.
With the Orphanage being fine, Bai Feng felt relieved.
Entering the Staff Dormitory, Bai Feng first went to check on the Talonflame and the others. As Fire-type Pokémon, their resistance to such heavy rain was naturally weaker.
Bai Feng walked to the door of the Talonflame Captain's Room and looked inside. He saw the Talonflame Captain lying in the Room, its head tucked under its wings, resting with its eyes closed.
The arrival of Bai Feng and Bai Ye caught its attention. It looked up and saw that the visitors were Bai Feng and Bai Ye, asking with a questioning look what the mother and son needed.
"The wind and rain are so heavy outside, I was worried something might happen, so I came to check on you all. Have all the Talonflame, Fletchinder, and Fletchling returned?" Bai Feng asked.
Bai Feng's concern deeply moved the Talonflame Captain. It had already taken a headcount beforehand; all the Talonflame, Fletchinder, and Fletchling had returned to their nests.
They were relatively sensitive to the weather. When the strong wind started blowing, the Talonflame Captain had already called its subordinates back to the Staff Dormitory, so not a single feather on them was wet from the rain.
They had also notified the other Pokémon in the orchard before returning. Everyone should have returned by now.
Although the Talonflame Captain said so, Bai Feng was still a little uneasy. He decided to go check for himself.
Next, Bai Feng successively checked on the Diggersby family of three, the Floette and Flabébé, Purrloin and the three Ghost-type Pokémon (Gastly, Misdreavus, and Litwick), Machamp, Nidoking, Nidoqueen, and Leavanny.
These Pokémon were all safely at Home. Only a few got a little wet from the rain, but it wasn't a big issue.
However, after checking around, Bai Feng still didn't see Vaporeon, Brionne, and Helioptile.
He had initially thought that Brionne and Helioptile might have taken shelter in the Staff Dormitory because they didn't make it home in time due to the heavy rain. Unexpectedly, not only were they not here, but Vaporeon was also missing.
After some questioning, Bai Feng learned from Leavanny that Brionne and Vaporeon wanted to take advantage of this rare rainy day to experience how to better develop the Rain Dance Move.
This is truly ambitious... For a moment, Bai Feng didn't know what to say about them.
As for Helioptile, not a single Pokémon had noticed where it went.
Just then, another clap of thunder echoed in the sky. This time it was even louder than the previous ones. Not only was Bai Feng startled, but even the Pokémon in the Staff Dormitory began to feel anxious and fearful.
For some reason, the Pokémon suddenly felt restless. This strange rainy weather faintly revealed an oppressive aura that made them feel extremely uneasy.
Bai Ye also had this feeling. She told Bai Feng about it, which made Bai Feng feel again that this heavy rain was unusual.
Because he was too worried about Brionne, Helioptile, and Vaporeon, Bai Feng could only brave the heavy rain and go out with Bai Ye to search for them.
Meanwhile, the extreme weather in Biyi City attracted the attention of the Legendary Birds in the Sea God's Cavern.
In the Sea God's Cavern, Lugia was still in a deep sleep. The residual power of Yveltal on its body would take time to slowly clear.
During this time, the Legendary Birds had been silently guarding it and hadn't gone anywhere.
On the White Jade Pillar, the Legendary Birds were lying there with their eyes closed, with the sleeping Lugia in the middle.
Just then, Zapdos suddenly opened its eyes and looked towards Biyi City, its expression showing confusion.
Articuno and Moltres, who noticed Zapdos's movement, also opened their eyes.
"What's wrong?" Articuno asked.
"Something's not right. The weather over in Biyi City has suddenly become abnormal. I sense an energy source similar to mine raging there," Zapdos replied.
Hearing this, Articuno and Moltres both looked solemn.
"There won't be a problem, will there?" Moltres asked.
"How about you go take a look?" Articuno said, looking at Zapdos.
Zapdos thought for a moment and nodded.
But just as Zapdos stood up, Articuno suddenly added, "Why don't you let Moltres go with you too?"
Since it could make Zapdos wary, it meant the opponent was not simple. Articuno was a little worried about letting Zapdos go alone.
Among the Legendary Birds, the calm-headed Articuno was always the one who made decisions. Hearing it say this, Moltres also nodded.
So, Zapdos and Moltres flew out of the Sea God's Cavern together, heading towards Biyi City.
Bai Feng searched around in the strong wind and heavy rain and finally found Brionne and Vaporeon on an empty Plot of Land. The two Pokémon were both looking up at the dark, oppressive clouds in the sky, lost in thought.
As Water-type Pokémon, they were completely unaffected by the heavy rain and even felt somewhat in their element.
"Brionne! Vaporeon..."
Rumble!!!
Just as Bai Feng shouted, another clap of thunder sounded in the sky, completely drowning out his voice. This time, the thunder felt much closer to Bai Feng than the previous times, as if it was right next to his ear.
"Brionne! Vaporeon!"
Bai Feng shouted again. This time, the two Pokémon finally heard him. They turned back towards Bai Feng and Bai Ye, looked surprised to see them in the heavy rain, and then quickly ran to Bai Feng and Bai Ye's side.
"Are you two okay!" Bai Feng yelled at the top of his lungs. If he didn't, his voice would be drowned out by the sound of the rain, and others wouldn't be able to hear him at all.
Brionne and Vaporeon quickly shook their heads, indicating they were fine, and urged Bai Feng to hurry back and not worry about them.
Seeing that they were truly fine, Bai Feng stopped worrying and instead asked, "Have you seen where Helioptile went?"
Brionne pointed in a direction. Bai Feng looked in the direction it pointed and saw that it was the spot on the mountain where the Lightning Rod Location was set up.
Over there? Bai Feng looked surprised.
"Be careful out here, I'm going to look for Helioptile!" Bai Feng shouted loudly. Then, protected by Bai Ye's Psychic Barrier, he walked step by step towards the Lightning Rod Location.
Moving in the storm was incredibly difficult. It took Bai Feng and Bai Ye quite a while to reach the location. To the mother and son's surprise, there were faint, thin golden Electric Current wrapped around the Lightning Rod Location, and Helioptile was lying below it, absorbing those Electric Current bit by bit.
Every time it absorbed a trace of Electric Current, Helioptile's body would shiver, but its face showed a look of pleasure, exactly the same reaction as when it was receiving Rejuvenation.
"Helioptile!"
Bai Feng didn't get close to the area but called out to Helioptile from a distance.
Helioptile had just finished a shiver when it heard Bai Feng calling it. It quickly ran to Bai Feng's side.
"Eli~ Eli~ Eli~" Bai Feng, why are you here? It's raining so hard, you should hurry back.
Water droplets kept dripping from Helioptile's body. It looked up at Bai Feng with a worried expression and said.
Bai Feng said crossly, "You're telling me? What are you doing here? Don't you know to go home when it's raining this hard?"
"Eli~ Eli~ Eli~"
Helioptile pointed at the Lightning Rod Location not far away and chattered a long explanation to Bai Feng. Only then did Bai Feng understand that Helioptile had originally planned to go home when it started raining.
At that time, it was passing near the Lightning Rod Location. Then a startling clap of thunder sounded, and Helioptile saw faint, weak Electric Current flashing on the Lightning Rod Location, and those Electric Current seemed to have a strong attraction to it.
So, Helioptile couldn't resist walking over.
Under the strong temptation of the Lightning, Helioptile couldn't help but try absorbing a trace. Unexpectedly, once it tried, it couldn't stop.
After the Lightning entered Helioptile's body, it felt like bathing in a hot spring. Every cell in its body seemed to learn how to breathe, absorbing those Electric Current without leaving a single trace.
Because the feeling of absorbing Lightning was too wonderful, Helioptile forgot about the time until Bai Feng came looking for it and it realized quite a while had passed.
While Bai Feng was communicating with Helioptile, Zapdos and Moltres happened to be passing over Fangxing Mountain. Through the layers of dark clouds, the extremely sharp-sighted Zapdos spotted Bai Feng at a glance.
"Look, it's that Human!" Zapdos said to Moltres.
Moltres also noticed Bai Feng at Zapdos's reminder.
"So that Human lives here. I remember his name seems to be Bai Feng, right?" Moltres said.
Although it was still raining in the air, the raindrops that fell on Moltres were instantly evaporated by the flames wrapped around its body.
Such weather certainly couldn't bother Moltres, but it didn't like it either.
"That's right, that's the name," Zapdos replied.
These two Legendary Birds couldn't help but be impressed by this Human youth who saved Lugia.
Zapdos and Moltres didn't linger over Fangxing Mountain just because they saw Bai Feng. They found the source of the abnormal weather was in the distant mountains beyond Fangxing Mountain and were eager to go resolve it, having no time for pleasantries with Humans.
Because the sky was covered by layers of dark clouds, Bai Feng naturally didn't see Zapdos and Moltres. After understanding the reason why Helioptile hadn't come home, he couldn't help but check its body.
He was then surprised to find that the Origin Energy in Helioptile's body had become purer, more Refinement, and the total amount had also increased significantly.
Because he helped it with Rejuvenation almost every day, Bai Feng was very familiar with Helioptile's physical condition and naturally noticed its changes immediately.
Was that Lightning a miraculous medicine? It could increase Helioptile's Strength so significantly! Bai Feng didn't think ordinary Lightning could do this.
Thunderstorms are rare in Biyi City, but not non-existent. He had never seen other Lightning have such a big impact on Helioptile before!
Thinking of this, Bai Feng couldn't help but look up at the sky again. Indeed, this storm was very unusual!
Unfortunately, the sky was obscured by the rain curtain and covered with pitch-black dark clouds, so Bai Feng couldn't see any abnormalities.
Besides this, Bai Feng also unexpectedly discovered that Helioptile's Hidden Energy Circuit had also been lit up a little more.
Originally, there wasn't much left of Helioptile's Hidden Energy Circuit that hadn't been lit up. Now, there was truly only a tiny bit left.
(End of Chapter)