c18: The Feeling of Homecoming
Shencheng Airport.
Chen Xiaoxiao stepped through the arrival gate and inhaled deeply. Though the air itself was no different from anywhere else, there was something uniquely soothing about the scent of her hometown familiar, grounding. For a child returning home, the air at home always carries a feeling words can't quite explain.
In her previous life, Chen Xiaoxiao had also been a native of Shencheng. She'd grown up as an orphan and had never left the city limits. Or more accurately she hadn't had the means to leave. A single outbound fare might've cost her weeks' worth of living expenses. When she did get time off from her endless grind of odd jobs, she used it not for travel but just to eat a little better, maybe sleep a little longer.
Now, in this second life, she was still a Shencheng native. The city itself was quite different in this world more technologically advanced, augmented by Pokémon-related infrastructure but the sense of place, of belonging, remained.
She had no shortage of money now; her inherited assets were more than enough to fund travel across the entirety of Huaxia. But still, this was her first time being away from home for nearly two months. Even with all the excitement of Gym challenges, Pokémon trades, and the vastness of new regions… she missed it.
She hailed a taxi outside the airport, declining the option of Teleport. Even though her Gardevoir could have easily transported her in seconds, she chose instead to sit quietly in the back seat, watching as familiar landmarks blurred past the window.
The towering buildings of Shencheng glided by, contrasted by emerald-green roadside hedges and a colorful band of flowers blooming across the median. Above them, tiny Cutiefly flitted from blossom to blossom.an unspoken sign that summer was nearing its end.
Looking at the scenes through the tinted glass, Chen Xiaoxiao felt something settle inside her. A peaceful stillness. It was as if her spirit had been soothed just by seeing home again.
"Grandma, Grandma! I'm back!"
Instead of heading straight home, Chen Xiaoxiao directed the taxi to the small Pokémon breeding farm run by her grandmother, just a few blocks away. She knew her grandma wouldn't be home at this hour she was always busy tending the fields.
In her past life, Chen Xiaoxiao had never known the feeling of family. But here, she'd been blessed with kinship. And she cherished it deeply. The first thing she wanted to do upon arriving home wasn't unpack or rest it was report to her grandmother, safe and sound.
Her grandmother, seeing her granddaughter for the first time in nearly two months, felt a mix of relief, joy, and frustration. The joy came naturally, but the worry had been growing. Chen Xiaoxiao hadn't given proper notice before leaving the city, and hadn't checked in regularly. For a grandmother, that silence had been torment.
She masked her anxiety with mock anger, raising her voice as soon as she saw her:
"Oh, look who remembered to come home! What were you thinking, running around out there for weeks? Playing until you forgot the way back? The semester starts the day after tomorrow! You plan to skip school and become a wandering monk with your Pokémon?!"
Chen Xiaoxiao grinned, unfazed by the scolding.
"Alright, alright! I'm back now, safe and sound. Come on, Grandma let's go inside. I want to show you the new Pokémon I've caught!"
She knew her grandmother wasn't truly angry. Her worry had merely bubbled over in the form of nagging. Taking her hand, Chen Xiaoxiao guided her toward the private paddock behind the main house the family's breeding enclosure.
There, standing on familiar turf, she spread her arms theatrically.
"Come out! Gardevoir! Solgaleo! Sunflora! Metang! Espurr! Togepi!"
With a flourish, she retrieved her Poké Balls. Her right hand held the standard red-and-white capsules, while her left gripped three specialized Yearning Balls custom Poké Balls optimized for capturing and bonding with Psychic- and Fairy-type Pokémon.
With six successive flashes of light, her team materialized onto the grass.
Gardevoir, her elegant Psychic-Fairy partner, radiated grace as always, maintaining a quiet stance by her side.
Solgaleo, the Legendary Sunne Pokémon obtained during the Meteor Festival arc, let out a deep, echoing roar, its radiant frame pulsing with celestial energy.
Sunflora, formerly referred to as Sun Pokémon, stretched its leafy limbs and turned instinctively toward the sun, cheerful and bright.
Metang, freshly caught during the northern mountain expedition, hovered silently, its steely body gleaming.
Espurr, the quiet Psychic-type kitten Pokémon she recently traded for, observed cautiously from behind Gardevoir's legs.
Togepi, nestled in Chen Xiaoxiao's arms, chirped and wiggled happily, clearly better nourished and much more energetic than when she'd first been traded.
Her grandmother's eyes widened, marveling at the diversity and strength of the Pokémon now under her granddaughter's care. From Elite-grade psychic types to a literal Legendary Pokémon her little girl had grown.
Chen Xiaoxiao beamed. The warmth in her chest wasn't from pride but from something else entirely.
This… felt like home.
"Gardevoir, Solgaleo, Sunflora it's been a while since you came home. Go on, greet Grandma first. Metang, Espurr, Togepi this is my grandma. She's just like me, so be good and respectful. Go say hi to her, alright?"
"Sha~nai! (Hello, Grandma!)"
Chen Xiaoxiao's Gardevoir, ever elegant and graceful, stepped forward and bowed slightly with perfect manners. In the manga, Gardevoir is often depicted as deeply loyal, and this one was no different polite and poised as she greeted Grandma Chen.
Sunflora, once referred to as "Sun Pokémon" by Chen Xiaoxiao, waddled over cheerfully, its leafy arms swaying with joy as it nuzzled Grandma's leg. Its blooming face practically radiated sunshine, a perfect fit for the garden atmosphere of the family farm.
Then came Solgaleo towering, radiant, and majestic. Though over three meters tall, this Solgaleo was nothing like its fierce battle form. Around Chen Xiaoxiao and her family, the legendary Sunne Pokémon acted more like a big, docile housecat. It gracefully lowered its front paws, knelt beside Grandma, and gently rubbed its leonine head against her side. The contrast between its divine power and its kittenish behavior was startling and heartwarming.
Next was Espurr, the Psychic-type kitten Pokémon known for its intense gaze. Though it was Grandma's first time seeing it, Espurr instinctively understood her connection to its Trainer. It leapt lightly onto her shoulder and affectionately nuzzled her cheek. The manga often shows Espurr as withdrawn, but this one perhaps nurtured in the warmth of Chen Xiaoxiao's team showed pure affection.
Togepi, the baby Fairy-type Pokémon traded recently at the Beijing Exchange Square, tried to copy Espurr's acrobatics. But with its tiny arms and unsteady footing, it couldn't quite manage the climb. Instead, it toddled over with its stubby legs, held out its arms, and bounced in place with a teary-eyed expression that silently begged for a hug.
Grandma laughed warmly and, without hesitation, bent down to scoop up the little Pokémon. She gently cradled Togepi in her arms, stroking its smooth, eggshell-like body with a motherly tenderness that made even Solgaleo purr in delight.
Metang, however, stood off to the side. With its heavy metallic body and stiff demeanor, it was far less suited to affectionate gestures. Attempting to climb onto Grandma's shoulder would have been a disaster both for the shoulder and the house.
Metang shifted uncomfortably, unsure of what to do. Finally, it gave a mechanical-sounding hum and offered a shy salute from where it hovered. Though its tone was stoic, there was clearly some awkward effort in its greeting.
But Grandma didn't neglect the Iron Claw Pokémon. She reached up without hesitation and gave Metang a gentle pat on the steel dome of its head, smiling in appreciation. Even a half-machine Pokémon could feel welcome in this home.
Seeing her team assembled her graceful Gardevoir, radiant Solgaleo, cheerful Sunflora, Rare Shiny pseudo-legend Metang, and her two adorable newcomers Espurr and Togepi Grandma's stern expression softened entirely. Her smile was warm, proud, and touched by awe.
All of them were rare, powerful, or especially well-bred Pokémon. It showed that Chen Xiaoxiao wasn't just collecting, but nurturing.
"Metang, you already know I've shown Grandma some videos of your battles. But Espurr and Togepi are new. I picked them up during the exchange meet at the Beijing Free Trade Square. Didn't even spend much! They've got amazing potential."
Chen Xiaoxiao's eyes sparkled as she boasted to her grandmother, expecting praise for her cleverness.
But instead of being impressed, Grandma's eyes narrowed, and her smile faded.
"I know, alright! A Shiny Gardevoir was seen in the Beijing Free Trade Square fighting off black-market traders, and some undercover cop used her Pokémon to help crack an illegal trafficking ring. You think I don't read the UC headlines?! 'Gardevoir's Radiance Exposes Black Hearts!' you made the front page!"
Her voice dropped low with that last line, her glare sharpening like a well-trained Gliscor.
Chen Xiaoxiao froze.
"…It wasn't me! It was Leng Yue! She got involved—I told her not to! I just… kind of… laid low and got caught up in it!"
She waved her hands defensively, clearly panicked. In her heart, she cursed the UC app's "shock headline" writers. Those guys could turn a mild incident into a full-blown international scandal.
"Oh really?" Grandma's voice took on that dangerous sweetness only elders possess. "That gentle, well-behaved little Leng Yue? That demure Stephanie who wouldn't hurt a Cutiefly? She got you into trouble? Poor child probably had to clean up after you! You're still dragging her into things, are you?"
Chen Xiaoxiao's jaw dropped.
"L-Leng Yue is… gentle? Quiet?! You mean that Leng Yue?! She once threw a Steelix over a bridge!"
She didn't say it aloud, but her internal monologue screamed like a Whismur in panic.
"You've always been like this," Grandma declared, crossing her arms. "Since you were a kid wild, reckless, poking your nose into every Gym brawl, Trainer challenge, or Pokémon spat you came across. Don't think I don't know you!"
Chen Xiaoxiao slumped in defeat. Grandma's words hit harder than any Hyper Beam.
"…It really wasn't my fault. Blame Leng Yue… and UC News… and the whole dumb world."
She buried her face in her hands as her heart screamed:
"Damn that UC Shock Department!!"
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