The relentless downpour finally began to ease around dawn, softening into a fine, misting drizzle. It shrouded the coastline in a grey haze, blurring the line between sea and sky.
Huddled beneath a rocky overhang near the bay, Xiu slowly opened his eyes, blinking against the pale morning light. He felt stiff, cold, and utterly drained. Adrenaline and fear had kept him awake all night, huddled with Abra and the Kangaskhan family, listening to the receding storm, imagining masked figures emerging from the shadows. He hadn't dared to sleep.
He shifted carefully, trying not to disturb Abra nestled beside him, but the slight movement was enough to wake the small psychic Pokémon. He offered it a reassuring pat, then gently released Happiny from its Poké Ball.
Predictably, the moment Happiny saw the massive form of the Kangaskhan nearby, it started to whimper, tears welling in its eyes. Xiu sighed, already exhausted, and went through the now-familiar routine of soothing the small Pokémon, murmuring reassurances until its fear subsided.
"It's okay, little one," he whispered, rummaging in his backpack. "Time for breakfast, then maybe you can nap properly. Kangaskhan will keep us safe."
He portioned out the remaining food pellets and Moomoo Milk, sharing it between Abra, Happiny, and the Kangaskhan mother and joey. Happiny, despite its earlier fear, ate eagerly, quickly finishing its share and then eyeing its mother's portion hopefully. The Kangaskhan mother chuckled softly – a deep rumble – and nudged most of her own food towards her offspring before eating the remainder slowly herself.
Seeing this, Xiu quickly pulled out the large sack of all-purpose pellets he'd bought yesterday – a huge expense, but necessary. "Don't worry, I bought plenty," He said with a tired smile, pouring a generous amount onto a large, flat rock for the Kangaskhan. "Can't have our protectors going hungry after watching over us all night."
The situation didn't allow for lingering. They finished the makeshift breakfast quickly, the urgency to get back, to assess the aftermath, pressing down on Xiu. As they prepared to leave the relative shelter of the coast, Xiu took out the remaining Poké Balls he'd confiscated from the poachers, including the one containing the injured Scyther. He released them all.
Most of the common Pokémon – Rattata, Pidgey, Oddish – scurried away instantly, disappearing into the damp undergrowth, relieved to be free. Only the Scyther remained, looking warily at Xiu.
"Your injuries aren't too severe," Xiu told it, trying to sound reassuring. "Head back towards the main park areas. The patrols will likely find you, so allow them to give you a check up. They'll get you proper treatment at the Rescue Station."
Scyther regarded him silently for a moment, then, with a slight nod that might have been acknowledgement, it turned and vanished into the misty woods with surprising speed.
Xiu then turned to the Kangaskhan. "Alright. Thank you, truly, for everything. The park security should have things under control by now. They'll probably be looking for you two as well. Best we separate here. Stay safe."
The Kangaskhan rumbled softly again, offered a surprisingly gentle nod, and then turned, leading its joey back towards their territory deeper within the park.
Xiu watched them go, then recalled Abra, took a deep breath, and started the long walk back towards the park's central facilities alone, Happiny safely secured in its Poké Ball.
The park he returned to felt violated. The storm had passed, leaving behind broken branches and debris, but the signs of the night's conflict were far more visceral. Patches of scorched earth, discarded scraps of netting, occasional dark stains on the ground that the rain hadn't fully washed away. And, grimly, the occasional still form of a Pokémon caught in the crossfire, casualties of the poachers' greed. The air felt heavy, the usual peace shattered.
Recalling his own chaotic flight through the night, the close calls, the sheer luck involved— Xiu felt a profound wave of relief mixed with lingering fear. One wrong turn, one moment of hesitation, and he could easily have ended up like those unfortunate creatures lying still on the path.
He hadn't gotten far before a park security patrol intercepted him. Mud-caked, exhausted, clearly out of place – he matched the description of someone potentially involved. Thankfully, his employee ID, traced through the park's system, quickly verified his identity.
When questioned, Xiu kept his story simple, vague. He stuck to the narrative of hearing explosions, hiding deep in the forest during the worst of the storm, and only emerging now that things seemed quiet. He said nothing about encountering poachers directly, nothing about the Dragonair, nothing about his brief, violent interventions. 'Keep it simple. Stay uninvolved.'
Satisfied for the moment, the patrol escorted him back towards the main administrative building. The place was still buzzing with activity, staff rushing back and forth, radios crackling. The crisis wasn't over yet, not by a long shot.
He'd barely had time to sit down in a waiting area when his name was called. Not for dismissal, but for further questioning. He was led into a small, stark interrogation room – just a plain table, two hard chairs, bare walls. Nothing else.
The officer who brought him simply said, "Wait here," and left, closing the door firmly behind him, leaving Xiu alone in the sterile silence.
Okay, here we go. Xiu understood the implications. This wasn't a casual debrief. He settled himself, trying to appear calm, and pulled out his worn breeder's manual, pretending to read. 'Focus. Stick to the story.'
Time seemed to stretch. Lost in the text (or pretending to be), he didn't notice the door opening again until a man stepped inside, closing it quietly behind him. This wasn't one of the regular security officers. His suit was sharper, his demeanor colder, his eyes piercingly intelligent. The real interrogation began.
— — —
Hours later, Xiu emerged from the small room, mentally exhausted but outwardly composed. He smoothed down his damp, wrinkled clothes and walked purposefully out of the security wing, heading back towards the main park area.
His initial assessment had been correct. That hadn't been a simple follow-up; it had been a targeted interrogation. The man had pressed him subtly, circled his questions, tested his fabricated story from multiple angles. But Xiu, drawing on a lifetime of navigating awkward social situations and online arguments, had played dumb, stuck to his narrative of fear and hiding, offered nothing concrete. Eventually, they'd had to let him go. Insufficient evidence, or perhaps bigger fish to fry.
But right at the end, just as he was being dismissed, the interrogator had dropped an unexpected piece of information.
"The Director wants to see you."
'Director Bao Ba? Wants to see... me?' Xiu stopped in his tracks, genuinely bewildered. He barely knew the man. Bao Ba had found him (or rather, Ka Xiu's body) collapsed in the woods, arranged this menial job, and then vanished from his life. A one-time interaction, transactional charity. No personal connection whatsoever. Why would the busy Park Director, especially in the aftermath of a major crisis like this, possibly want to see him, a lowly garbage collector?
'He probably forgot I even existed.' Xiu thought. 'Could the attack have somehow reminded him? Did my name come up in some report?' It made no sense. The Director had the entire park's chaos to manage, high-level security breaches, potential traitors… why waste time on him?
The question gnawed at him, a loose thread he couldn't grasp. No clues, no context. He pushed the confusion aside. 'Worry about it later. Deal with what's in front.' And right now, that meant survival, which still meant earning money.
He headed towards the Rescue Station.
The place was overflowing. The aftermath of the night's invasion had swamped the facility. Injured Pokémon were everywhere – in pens, in temporary enclosures on the lawn outside, even lining the corridors inside. The air hummed with a frantic energy, the sounds of distress calls mingling with the calm, urgent voices of the staff.
He squeezed through the crowded entrance. Staff rushed past, too busy to offer their usual greetings. Bandages, potions, diagnostic equipment – everything was in constant motion.
"Xiu! You're here! Perfect timing!" Stationmaster Hideki spotted him amidst the chaos, relief washing over his tired face. He immediately grabbed Xiu's arm, pulling him towards a particularly crowded treatment area. "Need your help over here, now!"
No time for pleasantries. Xiu didn't hesitate. He grabbed a clean apron, washed his hands quickly, and plunged into the fray, assisting wherever needed, his movements becoming practiced, efficient.
As he was helping a nurse apply burn salve to a frightened Vulpix, a commotion erupted near the station's main entrance. Raised voices, sounds of struggle.
"Careful! It's extremely hostile!"
"Whoever dropped it off just left! How are we supposed to treat it like this?"
"Don't get too close! Someone get the restraining pole!"
"How did this Scyther even get back here in this state?"
"..."
Xiu initially ignored it – difficult, aggressive Pokémon were common arrivals, especially after traumatic events. But then he heard the name: "Scyther." His head snapped up. He quickly finished with the Vulpix, excused himself, and hurried towards the entrance.
Pushing through the small crowd of onlookers, he saw it. The same Scyther he'd released earlier that morning. It stood defensively in the middle of the entryway, blocking passage, scythes raised, body coiled tight, radiating fear and aggression. Staff members were keeping a wary distance, unsure how to approach without provoking an attack.
Recognizing it instantly, Xiu didn't hesitate. "Stand back!" he called out, his voice clear and confident. "I know this one. Let me handle it."
"Kid, stay back!"
"It's dangerous!"
Ignoring the startled cries and warnings from the staff, Xiu walked calmly forward, breaking away from the crowd, moving steadily into the Scyther's perceived threat range.
The sudden movement, the direct approach, made the Scyther tense further. Its wings vibrated ominously, a low clicking sound emanating from its mandibles.
"Hey," Xiu said softly, keeping his voice even, his movements slow and non-threatening as he closed the distance. "It's me, remember? It's okay." He stopped just within reach, not crowding it. "Everyone here just wants to help you. You're safe now. Don't be afraid. I'm here."
The onlookers held their breath, watching intently. To their immense relief, the Scyther, after a tense moment of assessment, seemed to recognize Xiu. The vibrating wings stilled. The aggressive posture softened slightly. It didn't attack.
"Alright, alright, clear out, give them space!" Stationmaster Hideki arrived, having been alerted by the commotion. He quickly shooed the onlookers away. "Crowding it is just going to cause a stress reaction! Haven't you learned anything?"
As the crowd dispersed, Xiu slowly reached out a hand, not to touch, but as a gesture of peace. The Scyther watched him warily but allowed him to gently guide it towards a quieter corner, clearing the blocked entryway.
The immediate crisis averted, the Stationmaster turned to Xiu, his expression a mixture of relief and exasperation.
"That was incredibly reckless, Xiu! You could have been seriously hurt! Handling aggressive Pokémon should be left to the trained specialists!"
Xiu knew the Stationmaster meant well. He offered an apologetic smile. "Sorry, Stationmaster. But I know this Scyther. We... encountered each other before. Let me take care of it. I think I can calm it down."