"What is it? What do you want?" Xiu squatted down, looking curiously at the small bell the Pichu had presented.
"Pichu~" It chirped again, nudging the bell forward with its nose.
"You want to give this to me?" Xiu picked up the bell. It was simple, tarnished brass, threaded onto a faded red cord. The kind of trinket you might find on a pet collar, or perhaps a forgotten children's toy. He'd half-expected some kind of useful item, maybe even something slightly valuable the Pichu had scavenged. A 'reward' for the food. But no, just an ordinary bell. Useless, really.
Then, a thought struck him, and he chuckled softly. 'Protagonist luck… finding hidden treasures…' He really needed to stop thinking like he was in a game or a novel. This was reality. Sometimes, a bell was just a bell.
"Alright," he said, tucking the small bell into a side pocket of his backpack. "I accept. Thank you. Now, go eat before it gets cold."
"Pichu!" The little Pokémon seemed overjoyed that its gift was accepted. It did another happy little hop and scampered back towards the bench, finally starting to nibble on the pellets and Oran Berry that Xiu had left for it.
Xiu watched it for a moment, a genuine smile lingering on his face. He murmured softly, perhaps to Abra floating nearby, or perhaps just to himself, "This world… it really is interesting. I'm almost looking forward to seeing what happens next..."
Setting up the small, salvaged tent for the first time took longer than he expected, fiddling with unfamiliar poles and stakes in the dim light. Eventually, he got it erected. Inside, lying on the thin but effective moisture-proof ground mat, shielded from the damp grass and the night chill, it felt surprisingly cozy. Secure, even. He drifted off to sleep quickly, the sounds of the city muted, distant.
— — —
"…and I tell you, this location? Absolutely prime! Best spot in all of Fuchsia City, guaranteed! Convenient for everything, shops just downstairs, yet look at this view!" The landlord gestured dramatically towards the window. "Quiet neighborhood, beautiful environment, fresh air straight from the forest you can see right there! And the apartment itself, top-notch condition…"
The landlord, sensing a potential renter after what was likely a long vacancy, was laying the sales pitch on thick, hardly pausing for breath.
"It's… adequate," Xiu replied, looking around the small, sparsely furnished apartment, a faint, noncommittal smile on his face. "But the price seems a bit… steep."
The landlord's enthusiastic expression instantly deflated. He forced an awkward smile. "Steep? My dear boy, this is the lowest you'll find for a place like this in the city! An absolute bargain! You won't find a better deal, I assure you…"
After a protracted session of haggling, during which Xiu employed every trick of feigned disinterest and budget constraint he could muster, they finally agreed on a price. Considerably lower than the initial ask, but still a significant chunk of his funds for the deposit and first month's rent.
The apartment was small – one main room serving as both living area and bedroom, plus a tiny kitchenette and a cramped bathroom. Probably no more than 30 square meters in total. Furniture consisted of a single, very basic wooden bed frame (mattress not included) and a wobbly table. The conditions were arguably worse than his rebuilt cabin back at the park.
But Xiu wasn't looking for luxury. He just needed a base, a place to shelter from the elements and store his meager belongings— but most importantly, to study undisturbed. 'This would suffice.'
He looked out the window again. The landlord hadn't been entirely lying about the view – treetops were visible in the distance. And the neighborhood, situated on the far outskirts of Fuchsia City, bordering the wilder, undeveloped areas, was indeed quiet. Remote, even desolate compared to the bustling city center. 'Perfect. Cheap, quiet, and close to nature.' Exactly what he needed.
After the landlord left, Xiu spent some time cleaning the dusty apartment, airing it out, trying to inject some semblance of life into the space that had clearly been empty for a long time.
He didn't linger, though. Once the basic cleaning was done, he locked the door behind him and headed out again, walking purposefully towards the forested area he'd spotted from the window earlier.
Finding a secluded clearing deep enough within the trees to ensure privacy, he stopped. "Alright, everyone out!"
With a series of clicks, red beams of light shot from the Poké Balls clipped to his belt. Abra, Happiny, and Scyther materialized on the grassy clearing.
"Okay," Xiu addressed them, his tone serious. "We have a place to stay now, temporarily at least. But that doesn't mean we can relax. This world… its essence is the power wielded through Pokémon. If we want to survive, to thrive, to build a real future… we need to get stronger. All of us. So, starting today, we begin training."
He knew he couldn't rely solely on his plan to become a Breeder. That was a long-term goal. In the immediate future, they needed strength and self-sufficiency. He had to develop the potential of the Pokémon now under his care, not just for their sake, but for his own survival as well.
This was why he'd chosen this specific location – one with a close proximity to an uninhabited natural area, a perfect, free training ground less than half an hour's walk from his new apartment.
Realistically, though, only Scyther was truly ready for rigorous physical training right now.
Happiny was still effectively an infant. Its world revolved around eating, sleeping, and occasional bursts of playful energy. Serious training was out of the question.
Abra… Abra was complicated. Its species' innate tendency towards prolonged dormancy (up to 18 hours a day, according to his research) was tied to its psychic development. Forcing it into intense physical training might hinder that crucial mental growth. Ensuring it had sufficient rest and mental stimulation seemed more important for now.
He explained the situation briefly, focusing mainly on Scyther. "By the way," he asked, looking critically at the Bug/Flying type, "you seem… smaller than the adult Scyther I remember seeing illustrations of. Still young, right? Maybe adolescent?"
Scyther tilted its head but offered no confirmation.
"Never mind that for now," Xiu waved it off. "Let's talk training plans. Abra," he turned to the floating psychic Pokémon, "your primary ability right now is Telekinesis. It's incredibly versatile – offense, defense, movement augmentation, utility… our focus will be exploring its applications, increasing your control, precision, and power. We need to develop specific techniques and tap into its full potential." Developing Abra's psychic abilities felt crucial, even if traditional physical training wasn't appropriate.
He then turned to Scyther. "Scyther, your main weapons are obvious – those scythes. Speed and cutting power. Our training will revolve around enhancing those strengths. Improving your agility, striking speed, cutting precision, maybe developing specific attack patterns..." Basic, fundamental training focused on its natural attributes.
"As for you…" Xiu looked down at Happiny, who was currently trying to stuff a large leaf into its mouth. He sighed fondly. "You… just keep playing for now, okay?"
He stood up, stretching his own muscles. "Alright, Scyther," he said, nodding towards the trees. "Let's start with the basics. Stamina and agility. Follow me. Let's run some laps through the woods."
Without waiting for a response, Xiu started jogging towards the treeline. Scyther, after a moment's hesitation, took off after him, easily keeping pace. Abra gently used its Telekinesis to pull Happiny back as the small pink Pokémon tried to toddle after Xiu, keeping it safely within the clearing.
— — —
Ding ding ding!
The sharp ringing of the small alarm clock Xiu had bought jolted him from his focused reading. He clicked it off, put down the Stationmaster's notebook he'd been studying, and looked up, surveying the training clearing.
Scyther was still practicing its strikes, scythes whistling through the air, but the movements were visibly slower now, less precise. Its breathing was heavy. It had been practicing cutting drills for a long time.
Nearby, Abra floated serenely, eyes closed, while a human-head-sized rock hovered beside it, slowly rising and falling in a steady rhythm – practicing fine control and endurance with its Telekinesis.
Happiny, meanwhile, had found a sunny patch of grass and was curled up, fast asleep.
"Alright, that's enough for now!" Xiu called out, standing up. "Break time. Everyone eat, replenish your energy." He retrieved the Oran Berries, prepared food pellets, and some basic nutritional supplement powders he'd started experimenting with, portioning them out.
Training Pokémon wasn't just about endless drills. It was a careful balance. Training intensity had to be matched to the Pokémon's current physical condition to avoid injury or burnout – pushing too hard could actually hinder development, 'wasting potential' as some breeding theories termed it. Rest and proper nutrition were just as critical. High-intensity training demanded fuel, with specially formulated foods and supplements aiding recovery, repair muscle tissue, and replenish energy stores far more effectively than basic rations alone.
The Stationmaster's notebooks were invaluable here. They contained detailed sections on Pokémon nutrition, recipes for energy blocks and recovery pastes, observations on how different diets affected different species. Xiu was already putting the knowledge into practice, observing his Pokémon closely, tweaking ingredient ratios, learning by doing. It was a practical application of the Breeder knowledge he was so desperately trying to master.