Scyther moved its limbs deliberately, settling into a ready stance. Suddenly, the air around it seemed to hum and thicken— a faint white aura coalesced within its green carapace, then surged outwards, momentarily enveloping it in a shimmering energy field, reminiscent of the power-up auras seen in exaggerated anime battles. The aura flared brightly for an instant, then subsided, drawing back into Scyther's form.
But something had changed. Scyther's posture seemed subtly different – sharper, more focused. Its presence felt more intense, like a newly honed blade ready to be unsheathed.
"Is that the effect of Focus Energy?" Xiu murmured, observing the transformation with keen interest. 'Impressive.' He'd been working with Scyther over the past few days, trying to help it consciously tap into and control the internal energy reserves Pokémon used to fuel their special abilities or 'skills'.
Based on Yuto's explanations and the Stationmaster's notes, he'd guided Scyther through mental exercises, trying to isolate that feeling of power. This visible aura, this tangible shift in presence… it seemed they'd finally succeeded in unlocking its first non-physical technique.
"Alright," Xiu grinned, hefting the sturdy tree branch he used for sparring. "Let's test it out." Without warning, he lunged, bringing the branch down in a swift, chopping motion.
Scyther's eyes narrowed. It didn't meet the attack head-on this time. Instead, it flowed backwards, dodging the initial blow with fluid grace, then immediately surged forward, wings flaring for balance, both scythes flashing in a crossed, defensive-offensive posture. If that strike connected, Xiu had no doubt it would slice clean through the branch, and likely whatever was behind it.
But Xiu, having sparred extensively with Scyther now, anticipated the counter. He angled the descending branch sharply downwards, intercepting Scyther's crossed blades not with the 'edge' but with the flat side, redirecting the force, causing Scyther's attack to stall for a crucial microsecond. Using that brief pause, Xiu pivoted, retracting the branch and immediately thrusting it forward like a spear, aiming for Scyther's center mass.
Scyther reacted instantly to the change in attack angle. It dropped into a low, half-squatting stance, the spear-like thrust whistling harmlessly over its head. The sudden evasive maneuver unbalanced it, nearly causing it to topple backwards. But this time, the thin, membranous wings on its back beat rapidly, providing just enough lift and stabilization to keep it upright. Simultaneously, it slashed upwards with its undamaged scythe from the low stance, aiming for Xiu's exposed side.
"Come on!" Xiu met the attack with a confident shout, a thrill running through him. He hadn't retreated; instead, he'd anticipated the upward slash. The branch in his hand was already moving, intercepting the attack again, not by blocking the blade itself, but by jamming the branch firmly into the joint connecting the scythe-arm to Scyther's shoulder, preventing the 'blade' from fully closing or completing its cutting arc. At the same moment, Xiu lashed out with a quick kick towards Scyther's abdomen.
Xiu knew Scyther's rhythm, its tendencies— but Scyther was learning Xiu's just as quickly. Sensing its primary attack nullified at the joint, it didn't try to force the cut. Instead, it abruptly pulled back hard, disengaging the jammed scythe. The sudden release of tension threw Xiu's own balance off; his kick missed, striking empty air.
Seizing the opening created by Xiu's momentary instability, Scyther straightened up, instantly ready to re-engage.
"Again!" Xiu recovered his balance, grinning fiercely, and charged towards Scyther this time, branch held ready.
The two became a blur of motion, attack and counterattack, dodge and parry, a complex dance unfolding amidst the trees.
Not far away, Shirley paused her own Vulpix training, watching Xiu and Scyther spar with a mixture of awe and bewilderment. She'd seen them practice like this before, but it never failed to shock her. The speed, the intensity, the sheer risk involved… Xiu moved like a trained fighter, anticipating Scyther's moves, using the simple branch with surprising skill, while Scyther reacted with blinding speed and precision.
'He could get seriously hurt if he makes one mistake,' she thought, shivering slightly despite the warm day. Yet Xiu seemed completely absorbed, exhilarated even. "He's a lunatic!" she muttered under her breath, then resolutely turned her attention back to Vulpix's dodging drills, feeling a renewed sense of urgency.
The training continued throughout the morning. Xiu rotated through various drills with Scyther – speed, defense, attack patterns, now incorporating the new Focus Energy technique. Shirley, meanwhile, patiently continued the basic evasion practice with Vulpix, using the soft bouncy ball, her throws gradually becoming more accurate, Vulpix's dodges slightly less clumsy. Progress was slow, but steady.
It wasn't until late afternoon, as the sun began to dip towards the horizon, that Xiu finally called a halt to Scyther's intense session. He heard footsteps approaching and looked up from analyzing Scyther's stance. Yuto and Growlithe were returning from their own training excursion.
But something was different today. Usually, Yuto returned energized, buoyant, full of cheerful chatter about his session. Today, his shoulders slumped, his usual vibrant smile was absent, replaced by a subdued, almost dejected expression. Growlithe, too, seemed less boisterous, padding quietly beside its trainer, sensing his mood. They looked like they'd encountered… trouble.
'Ah,' Xiu thought, instantly recalling his 'advice' to Bao Ba. 'Looks like Grandpa didn't waste any time implementing the plan.'
"Back so late today?" Xiu asked casually as Yuto approached, pretending not to notice his subdued demeanor.
"Uh… yeah. Just… ran into some things," Yuto mumbled vaguely, avoiding eye contact. His face flashed with hesitation, as if wanting to say more, but he ultimately remained silent.
Even Shirley, usually oblivious to such subtleties, noticed her brother's unusual mood. She stopped Vulpix's training and walked over, concern furrowing her brow. "Yuto? Are you okay? You look… sick."
"No, I'm fine," Yuto insisted quickly, waving a dismissive hand, though his forced smile didn't reach his eyes. "Just… a little tired today, that's all." He walked over to a large tree at the edge of the clearing and slumped down against the trunk, leaning his head back. Growlithe immediately curled up beside him, resting its head protectively on his lap.
Seeing Yuto clearly didn't want to talk about whatever had happened, Xiu exchanged a subtle glance with Shirley, then turned and headed back towards the house. "Give me a minute," he called back over his shoulder.
Yuto watched him go, then looked up as Shirley approached hesitantly, worry still evident on her face. "Really, Yuto, I didn't…" she began, wanting to ask more.
Her words were cut off as Xiu reappeared, walking back towards them. Something cold clinked faintly in his hand as he approached.
"Here," Xiu said simply, holding out a chilled bottle of berry juice, condensation beading on the glass. He'd grabbed it from the refrigerator inside.
Yuto looked up, surprised. He took the bottle automatically. The coolness felt good against his hand. He glanced up again at Xiu's face, seeing only that familiar, faint, unreadable smile.
For some reason, the simple gesture, the cool drink, seemed to ease the knot of tension in Yuto's chest— a small, genuine smile touched his lips, though it still looked strained.
"Summer evenings," Xiu remarked casually, handing another bottle to Shirley before sitting down on the grass near Yuto, "are always better with a cold drink." He opened his own bottle and took a long sip.
Shirley, seeing the shift in mood, also sat down nearby, opening her drink. She took a sip, then immediately relaxed, leaning back against the grass like a contented starfish, clearly exhausted from her own training efforts.
Silence settled over the small group for a moment, broken only by the chirping of evening insects and the distant sounds of the city.
Xiu glanced sideways at Shirley, saw she was practically drifting off, and knew he couldn't rely on her to break the ice. He turned back to Yuto. "So," he began gently, keeping his tone casual, "you ran into some trouble today? Sometimes talking about it helps."
Shirley, jolted slightly by Xiu's words, remembered her 'role' in supporting her brother. "Yeah!" she chimed in quickly. "Tell us what happened! We'll listen!"
Yuto looked back and forth between Xiu's calm expression and Shirley's earnest (if slightly forced) encouragement. His lips moved slightly, as if about to speak, but then he hesitated again, sighing heavily. "It's… really nothing," he insisted, shaking his head. "Just… tired. Long day."
"Alright," Xiu replied easily, not pushing. He took another sip of his drink, then raised the bottle slightly towards Yuto in a silent toast. "Well, offer stands. If you ever need help, or just someone to vent to, let us know." He leaned back against the tree himself, projecting an air of relaxed patience.
Perhaps infected by the quiet, non-judgmental atmosphere, or perhaps just needing to release the pent-up frustration, Yuto finally broke the silence after another long pause. He took a deep gulp from his own drink, then looked intently at Xiu, then at Shirley, his expression suddenly serious, contemplative.
"What," he asked quietly, the question seeming to come from somewhere deep within, "is your dream?"