c156 The Fainted Oddish
After drying her hair and changing into clean clothes, Chen Xiaoxiao instructed Gardevoir to continue using Rain Dance. The steady drizzle summoned by Gardevoir's psychic-imbued weather control spread across the orchards, allowing the fruit trees and berry fields in the village to soak up much-needed moisture.
"Come, Xiaoxiao, these are from the villagers as thanks!"
The village chief pointed toward the table with a kindly smile.
Chen Xiaoxiao was taken aback. The table was stacked with baskets of berries Oran, Pecha, Cheri, and even a few rarer ones like Sitrus and Leppa as well as bundles of wild mushrooms, forest herbs, and simple handmade crafts.
"This…" Chen Xiaoxiao hesitated, clearly surprised. She wanted to refuse but didn't know how to put it into words without offending their sincerity.
"Xiaoxiao, please accept it. It's the villagers' way of showing gratitude," the old chief urged.
"…Alright, thank them on my behalf," Chen Xiaoxiao said softly after a pause, nodding.
After chatting for a while, the village chief suddenly leaned closer. "By the way, Xiaoxiao, your Pokémon just used the move Rain Dance, didn't it?"
"Yes," Chen Xiaoxiao explained with a nod. "It's a weather skill. If the villagers can catch some Pokémon capable of using Rain Dance, the water shortage problem could be temporarily eased."
She emphasized the word temporarily. The real solution was not simply summoning rain, it was to find and restore the true source of the river. Secretly, Chen Xiaoxiao resolved to investigate tomorrow after leaving Route 417, to see if she could fix the root of the issue.
"Which Pokémon can use Rain Dance?" the village chief asked curiously.
Chen Xiaoxiao pulled out her Pokédex and showed him entries one by one. "Look, Poliwag can naturally learn Rain Dance once it reaches Elite Intermediate level. Lotad and its evolutions, Lombre and Ludicolo, are also common users. Wingull can learn it through training, and even some Grass-types like Oddish can be taught with the right methods."
She deliberately avoided suggesting Technical Machines. After all, weather TMs cost hundreds of thousands of Pokémon coins, far beyond the means of this poor mountain village.
The chief's eyes lit up. "I recall… by the smaller spring up front, we once saw many Poliwag." He muttered the memory as if it were distant but important.
"Poliwag are gentle in temperament," Chen Xiaoxiao explained. "They rarely attack humans and are easy to raise. If you can organize the villagers to capture some, they'd be excellent partners."
The chief nodded excitedly, committing the names to memory. "This Pokédex… it's remarkable. Truly convenient." He studied the device with awe, tracing its red casing with calloused fingers.
The Pokédex, developed decades earlier under Professor Oak and distributed to younger generations of trainers, was not something rural mountain folk owned. Its price tens of thousands of Pokémon coins was equivalent to nearly a year's income for a household here.
Many poor children in cities received subsidized versions from local Leagues, but the villagers here were left behind. Without young people around, new technology hadn't reached them.
Chen Xiaoxiao noticed this too. Everyone she had met in the village was elderly. No children played outside, no young adults worked the fields. Likely, the younger generation had long since moved to the cities, leaving behind only the old to tend to the orchards. It was reminiscent of how, in her previous life, old folks had struggled to adapt when mobile phones first became widespread.
"My wife, Xiaoxiao, the food is ready! Come eat," came a call from the kitchen.
"Coming!" The village chief smiled and gestured for Chen Xiaoxiao to follow.
Dinner was simple but hearty wild mushrooms stir-fried with herbs, freshly picked berries, and mountain vegetables. There was no meat, but the freshness and earthy aroma made every bite delicious. Chen Xiaoxiao complimented the chief's wife repeatedly, and the old couple beamed with pride.
After dinner, Chen Xiaoxiao insisted on helping to clean up. She washed dishes with the couple, then retired to the small room they had prepared for her. Closing the door, she slipped into her private Pokémon space to freshen up and review training notes, before resting early.
---
The next morning, Chen Xiaoxiao rose early. She skipped her usual morning training, leaving Solgaleo in charge of watching over her other partners within the system space. After washing up, she greeted the village chief warmly, then asked Gardevoir to summon Rain Dance several times to leave the orchards nourished for the day.
Finally, with the villagers sending her off with grateful smiles and gifts, she said her farewells and departed, heading toward Aozhou City.
She walked several kilometers before glancing back at the tiny village nestled among the hills. Then, after ensuring no one could see her, she turned to Gardevoir.
"Let's move."
Gardevoir's eyes gleamed blue. With a flash, the pair disappeared and reappeared several kilometers further up the dried riverbed.
The stream here was little more than cracked earth. Chen Xiaoxiao frowned. "Gardevoir, let's keep heading upstream."
They followed the barren river path. Along the way, Chen Xiaoxiao noted how plants were withering, their leaves curled yellow and dry. It was worse than the orchards below this area had clearly been starved of water for much longer.
After nearly half an hour of walking, they spotted several small mounds of grass clumped by the riverbank. At first Chen Xiaoxiao thought they were weeds. But as she got closer, she realized they were Pokémon.
"Oddish…" she murmured.
Indeed, several Oddish were sprawled weakly across the ground. Their leaves drooped, their roots half-buried in the cracked soil. They barely moved, their conditions clearly poor.
"What's wrong, Oddish?" Chen Xiaoxiao knelt down, gently picking one up.
"...Water…" the faint voice whimpered.
Her heart clenched. "They're dehydrated!"
"Gardevoir, quickly give them water!"
At her command, Gardevoir materialized several bottles from Chen Xiaoxiao's storage bracelet. Together, they poured water carefully at the roots and leaves of the weakened Oddish. Slowly, the Grass-types absorbed the moisture, their leaves lifting ever so slightly.
Though still sluggish, their eyes regained a faint glimmer of life. The long drought had left them severely weakened.
Chen Xiaoxiao's expression hardened. "So it's not only the villagers suffering. Even the Pokémon here are being affected. If this continues, the entire ecosystem along the river will collapse."
Her determination solidified. The mystery of the dried-up river had to be solved and quickly.
---
30+ advanced chapter on patreon....Visit patreon now to read my exclusive content... posting 5 chapters per day, Our collection is now available on PATREON
visit patreon.com/Elbertovic to view 30+ advanced chapters
Please subscribe guys