"It's Altaria."
Stephen answered Will's confusion.
He identified it from the scattered blue and white feathers on its body. The hallmark of Altaria was its cloud-like, fluffy down feathers.
Yet, the one before them resembled a parrot he'd once seen online in his previous life—those that plucked themselves bare out of depression.
No, this was worse.
Even those self-plucked parrots weren't as emaciated as this Altaria.
"Maybe it's because a novice trainer caught these Pokémon but didn't sell them in ti—and couldn't be bothered to take care of them?"
Will speculated.
"It's more than just that."
Stephen gave a signal.
Umbreon leaped into the air, her Iron Tail slashing through several large cages.
One by one, Stephen and Will carried out Pokémon whose eyes were dull and senses numbed. A stronger stench rushed out as they worked—thick, foul, and suffocating.
Inside the cages, several Pokémon corpses lay crumpled.
"When different species are cramd into the sa cage, with no space and extre hunger, what do you think happens?"
Stephen asked.
Will didn't answer, but his pale face said it all.
The Altaria that Stephen had just carried out struggled to lift its gaze. Its eyes showed almost no will to live, but sowhere deep within, a faint glimr of light lingered.
"Murr..."
Stephen felt a weak vibration as the Altaria made a faint sound.
"Hm?"
He pressed his left hand gently against its abdon.
"Murr... Murr..."
The Altaria's voice grew slightly louder, trembling with effort.
"This texture..."
Stephen's expression turned grim. Feeling the swollen, distended belly, he realized sothing. Without hesitation, he swept the clutter off the cave's lone table.
"Ti for surgery."
Here?
Was that even possible?
Will's expression was full of disbelief.
Even as an amateur, he could tell the Altaria wouldn't survive the trip back to town. They had no choice but to try.
Knowing he couldn't help, Will stepped aside and began treating the less-injured Pokémon with dicine from his backpack. Among the wounded, the Slowpokes had fared relatively better.
...
Just over ten minutes later, Stephen froze mid-action. He muttered, barely audibly,
"It's no use..."
Performing surgery under such conditions was already a tall order.
Even if this were his secret lab in Cianwood City, the odds of saving the Altaria with these injuries wouldn't have exceeded 20%.
He was a scientist, not a miracle worker.
"Murr... Murr..."
The Altaria made two faint calls as if it had heard him. It glanced down at its swollen abdon.
For a Pokémon so emaciated that only skin and bones remained, its belly was grotesquely large.
"I'll try," Stephen said, understanding its plea.
"Murr..."
The Altaria's gaze brightened—just slightly.
Its final wish was clear: to see the seedling it had left behind before it departed.
"What?!"
Having finished treating most of the Pokémon, Will fell to the ground in shock.
He had just seen Stephen use a scalpel to make an incision in the Altaria's abdon!
Panicking, Will stumbled out of the cave, covering his mouth as he vomited.
...
When Will returned, Stephen had already dug a small grave.
The Altaria's body was laid to rest inside.
In Stephen's arms, a Pokémon egg rested.
Will took one look and understood everything.
"It left with a smile," he murmured, leaning closer.
The Altaria, now mostly buried, still had a faint curve at the corner of its beak.
"Don't celebrate too early. This egg didn't get enough nutrients inside its mother. Whether it will hatch is still uncertain."
Stephen gently covered the Altaria's face with the last handful of soil.
"Co on, can't you say sothing positive for once?"
Will sighed, exasperated.
"Scientists must always consider the worst-case scenario," Stephen replied, standing.
"Tch, what a buzzkill..."
Will kicked a rock in the cave, accidentally sending it flying into Bixias' forehead. It burst a swollen pustule on his face.
"Argh!"
Bishas jolted awake with a scream, looking around in panic.
"This... This is my base?!"
"Whoa, guess I've got so talent. This guy didn't go insane," Will remarked, surprised.
It was his first ti using his Exeggutor to invade soone's mind. He'd prepared for the possibility that Bishas might go mad.
Yet sohow, Bishas had retained his sanity—a miracle.
Suddenly, Will's expression lit up with mischief.
"Hey, I've got a great idea for an encore."
"What now?"
Stephen asked, holding the egg.
Strolling over to Bishas, Will grinned.
"This guy killed the Altaria. We can't let him off easy."
Amid Bishas' panicked gaze, Will made a gesture.
"We'll take turns kicking this guy's nuts. Whoever gets the loudest scream wins."
"What?!"
Bishas shouted in terror.
Stephen raised a brow and smirked.
"What's the prize?"
Will's smile turned wicked.
"Why, his jewels, of course!"
As the two approached, Bishas' face contorted in horror.
"Wait! Don't! I'm with Team Rocket—AHHHHHHH!"
His screams echoed through the forest, so chilling that even the Ghost Pokémon froze in confusion.
Normally, pranksters like the Gengar family would've rushed over to investigate.
But not this ti.
The cries were just too tragic.
It hurt—too much.
...
What began as Stephen and Will's vengeance soon saw other Pokémon—Nidorino, Kangaskhan, Flaaffy—joining in, using moves like Horn Attack, Brick Break, and Thunder Shock to assault Bishas' treasures.
As Stephen delivered a kick, he glanced at the egg in his arms.
"Altaria, can you see this?
This is the requiem we've composed for your mother."
=====
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