Xiu crested the small hill, peering down into the grassy basin below. Just as the sound suggested, a Nidoqueen and a Kangaskhan were locked in what appeared to be a fierce battle. Dust kicked up around their powerful forms as they circled each other.
Except... it felt less like a death match and more like... sparring? Entertainment? Xiu had seen this before, more than once. Pokémon within the park, particularly the larger, more dominant ones, sometimes engaged in these displays, seemingly to burn off excess energy or perhaps even establish pecking orders. Park management sometimes even subtly encouraged it, knowing the spectacle drew crowds. Nothing draws tourists like a good old-fashioned monster brawl.
The physical contrast was stark. The Kangaskhan towered over the Nidoqueen, its sheer size and reach an obvious advantage in close quarters. But Nidoqueen possessed potent poison capabilities, the great equalizer. 'Hard to say who truly has the upper hand here,' Xiu mused, finding a comfortable spot on the hillside to observe.
He watched, fascinated despite the familiarity. The raw power, the strategic maneuvering – it was captivating. He couldn't help but imagine himself down there, not as a spectator, but as a Trainer, issuing commands, guiding the flow of battle... a familiar, wistful fantasy.
The two titans clashed again, a flurry of fists and claws. They broke apart, Nidoqueen stumbling back several steps, her stance momentarily unsteady. The Kangaskhan, by contrast, merely took a single, solid step back, absorbing the impact easily. 'Strength difference is clear,' Xiu analyzed, even with his limited practical knowledge. 'Nidoqueen can't win a pure slugfest.'
Apparently, Nidoqueen reached the same conclusion. Having tested the waters, she shifted tactics. Instead of closing the distance again, purple energy coalesced before her, solidifying into jagged rocks nearly the size of a man's head. With a grunt, she hurled them towards the Kangaskhan – Rock Throw.
The Kangaskhan didn't even attempt to dodge. With contemptuous ease, it met the incoming projectile with a swift, brutal punch. CRACK! The rock disintegrated into dust. Clean. Effortless.
But Nidoqueen wasn't finished. Hidden behind the trajectory of the initial rock barrage were finer, almost invisible projectiles – thin, sharp needles glinting with a venomous purple sheen. Poison Sting, launched under cover. They zipped out from the dissipating rock dust, aimed straight for the Kangaskhan's face.
'Clever combo.'
Yet, the Kangaskhan seemed almost prescient. As if anticipating the hidden attack, it spun, its thick, powerful tail whipping around in a blur, swatting the poison needles harmlessly out of the air. Without pausing, it surged forward again, attempting to close the distance, to force Nidoqueen back into a close-quarters brawl where its own strength reigned supreme.
Nidoqueen backpedaled, refusing to be drawn into the Kangaskhan's rhythm. More rocks materialized before her, smaller this time but far more numerous. She unleashed a rapid-fire volley – Rock Blast – creating a dense curtain of projectiles between herself and the charging Kangaskhan, buying herself space, forcing it to navigate the barrage.
Faced with the stone storm, the Kangaskhan didn't falter. It roared, lowered its head, and charged through it. Its fists became blurs, glowing with a faint white energy – 'Comet Punch? Power-Up Punch?' Xiu wasn't sure. Fist met rock, again and again, with blinding speed. Splashing fist shadows flickered, making it impossible to track individual blows. Rocks approaching the Kangaskhan simply vanished, shattering into harmless motes of light before they could connect. It carved a path through the onslaught with sheer, overwhelming force. Wherever the fists went, nothing could stand.
Breaking through the last of the rock screen, the Kangaskhan was nearly upon Nidoqueen.
But Nidoqueen wasn't idle during her retreat. As the Kangaskhan closed in, she stomped a powerful foot onto the earth. The ground rippled, visible tremors spreading outwards. Even from his vantage point on the hill, Xiu felt a faint vibration through the soles of his worn boots. The impact wasn't damaging, but it clearly disrupted the Kangaskhan's charging momentum, forcing it to hesitate, breaking its rhythm. It bought Nidoqueen the crucial second she needed.
'Is that Mud-Slap? Xiu wondered. No... the energy gathering is different.' A large glob of thick, viscous purple sludge materialized above Nidoqueen's head, pulsing ominously. With a heave, she launched it. 'Sludge Bomb!' Smaller Pokémon watching from the sidelines scattered in fear, instinctively recognizing the danger of the toxic projectile.
This time, the Kangaskhan couldn't afford to be reckless. Direct contact with that sludge could be debilitating, poisoning and burning simultaneously. 'How will it handle this?' Xiu leaned forward, eyes glued to the scene, curiosity overriding caution.
The Kangaskhan remained surprisingly calm. Facing the incoming toxic blob, it opened its powerful jaws and exhaled sharply. Not fire, but a stream of mist shimmering with intense cold blasted outwards – Ice Beam. The freezing energy struck the Sludge Bomb mid-air, flash-freezing it into a brittle, crystalline mass that shattered harmlessly upon hitting the ground. The beam didn't stop there, continuing its path, glazing the ground around Nidoqueen's feet with slick, treacherous ice, restricting her movement. Seizing the momentary advantage, the Kangaskhan charged again, hard and fast, crashing into the off-balance Nidoqueen and knocking her clear out of the impromptu 'arena'.
A smattering of 'cheers' – chirps and calls from the observing wild Pokémon – briefly broke the tension.
'Freeze the projectile, restrict movement, close the distance, and overwhelm.' Xiu mentally broke down the sequence. 'Effective... but risky, though. That last charge... either win big or lose hard.' He frowned. 'Not a tactic I'd rely on without overwhelming power. Too much uncertainty.'
The 'battle' was clearly over. Nidoqueen pushed herself up, shaking her head as if merely dusting herself off. The Kangaskhan stood casually, its earlier intensity fading. It had been a spar, a display, not a fight to the finish. Neither had used their full power.
Xiu shook his head, clearing his own speculative thoughts. 'Time to go.' He carefully made his way down the hillside towards the two titans.
As he approached, the smaller Pokémon that had been watching scattered again, wary of the human intrusion. Only the Kangaskhan remained, turning its large head to regard him calmly.
Xiu noticed several small, dark purple smudges staining its thick brown hide. Despite dodging most of the Sludge Bomb, some splashback had clearly connected. 'That Nidoqueen's poison is quite potent,' He noted. 'Even a glancing blow affects something this tough.' The slight discoloration around the smudges suggested minor burns accompanying the poison.
"You okay?" Xiu asked tentatively, not really expecting an answer.
The Kangaskhan shook its head gently, a gesture that seemed to convey 'it's nothing.' Then, surprisingly, it reached down, scooped up a handful of damp earth, and began rubbing it firmly onto the purple stains. After a few moments of scrubbing, the dark marks faded, the slight redness around them dissipating.
'Neutralizing the poison? Healing itself?' If this were a game, Xiu mused, Kangaskhan just cleared its status condition and regained some HP. 'Natural Cure...'
Once the Kangaskhan seemed satisfied, Xiu took a deep breath, organizing his thoughts. He needed a favor. A big one. He explained, slowly and simply, about the newly hatched Happiny, about his need to work during the day, his inability to provide constant care. He hoped the Kangaskhan might understand, might feel some obligation after yesterday's rescue, or perhaps just possess a natural nurturing instinct.
He held out the Poké Ball containing the sleeping Happiny. "Could you... watch her? Just during the day? I'll come back for her every evening after work."
He didn't want other humans involved, didn't trust anyone else at the park with this vulnerable, potentially valuable hatchling. Asking the Kangaskhan felt like his only option.
The giant Pokémon looked from Xiu to the Poké Ball, then back again. A low, soft rumble vibrated in its chest. It seemed to contemplate the request. Then, to Xiu's immense relief, a gentle expression softened its features. It reached out one of its massive, clawed hands, palm open, seemingly willing to take the baby. 'Maternal instinct? A sense of debt repaid?' Xiu didn't know, but didn't care too much, glad that she hadn't refused.
Just as it got closer, however... Xiu released the Happiny from the Poké Ball, cradling the small, sleeping form gently in his hands to present it to the Kangaskhan.
Perhaps it was the sudden proximity to the Kangaskhan's overwhelming presence, or maybe just waking abruptly in an unfamiliar situation, but the moment Happiny's eyes snapped open, it saw the giant, clawed hand reaching for it and reacted with pure, unadulterated terror. It shrieked, flailing its tiny limbs wildly, desperately trying to squirm away from the perceived threat. Trapped in Xiu's hands, unable to escape, it did the only thing it could: it clamped its surprisingly strong little mouth down onto Xiu's thumb.
"Ow!" Xiu yelped, startled more than hurt. 'What the-?'
Luckily, Happiny was newly hatched, its bite lacking real force. It was more of a desperate pinch.
'Right. Xiu suddenly understood. Power difference.' To the tiny, vulnerable Happiny, the Kangaskhan must seem like an active volcano, an overwhelming force of nature. The fear, the instinct to bite, to fight back against the perceived danger – it was perfectly normal. Self-preservation etched deep. 'My fault.' He, the rookie caretaker, hadn't considered the hatchling's perspective. Introducing them like this... 'Stupid move. Probably damaged any trust I was building.'
He quickly pulled Happiny back, cradling it against his chest, trying to soothe its frantic cries. "Shh, shh, it's okay, you're safe."
But Happiny wasn't listening. It pummeled Xiu's chest with its tiny fists, sobbing pitifully, clearly terrified of the giant Pokémon still standing patiently nearby. Its small size made the 'attack' completely ineffective, but its distress was palpable. Xiu could only hold it, rocking it gently, a helpless, bitter smile forming on his face.
'Well, so much for that plan.' Happiny was clearly too terrified of the Kangaskhan. Babysitting was off the table. He'd have to take responsibility himself. Somehow.
The baby Kangaskhan, which had been playing nearby, cautiously approached, attracted by Happiny's cries. It peered curiously at the small pink Pokémon in Xiu's arms but seemed too shy to get any closer.
His primary reason for seeking out the Kangaskhan was now moot. No point wasting more time. Muttering apologies and thanks to the patient Kangaskhan, Xiu recalled the still-sobbing Happiny into its Poké Ball. He nodded a farewell to the giant Pokémon, then turned, beckoning Abra to follow. Work still needed doing. And now, he had to detour back to the park store to stock up on even more supplies, especially food for the demanding hatchling. He mentally calculated his remaining funds. ,'This is going to drain everything.' He practically threw the last of his savings into buying enough Moomoo Milk and basic supplies to hopefully last a few days.