Chapter 11: One Swablu Over the Cuckoo's Nest

After the match with Brawly, Ash took Pikachu off to a more wooded area to train. Right now, they were working on Pikachu's Iron Tail, with Kirlia chucking rocks with psychic energy at him, with Pikachu breaking them apart with his tail. May's Poochyena was off to the side, ready to join in as well.

"Alright, one more time! Kirlia, throw the biggest one you can lift!"

Kirlia nodded, lifting a huge boulder into the air before chucking it at Pikachu. Pikachu concentrated, focusing all of his energy into his tail before swinging it, breaking the boulder into tons of tiny pieces.

"Now use Crunch, Poochyena!"

Poochyena charged, chomping down on Pikachu's tail. Pikachu yelped in pain, but quickly managed to throw him off, his tail no worse for wear.

"Alright, good work guys!"

"Lia!"

"Pikachu!"

"Yena!"

"Okay Pikachu, I think that's enough work on Iron Tail for now. Let's focus on your Electric attacks!"

Pikachu grinned, his cheeks sparking with static excitedly.

"Alright Pikachu, use Thunderbolt!"

"PikaCHUUUUUUUUUU!"

Pikachu fired off a massive bolt of lightning into the sky, May and the Pokemon staring in awe at how massive it was. Their awe was short lived, however, as the bolt of lightning struck an object in the sky, causing it to drop towards the ground. After a few moments, a loud thud echoed around the valley as whatever Pikachu hit made contact with the ground.

"What was that?"

"I don't know, but it landed over there! Come on!"

"Right!"

"Pika!"

And so, the two humans, Pikachu, and the rest of the Pokemon ran towards the crash site, hoping whatever Pikachu hit wasn't too badly hurt.

They found the crash site not far from where they were practicing. Peering into the impact crater, Ash found a Pokemon he had never seen before. It looked like a blue blob with white, cloud-like wings. The poor thing was heavily bruised and slightly charged, electric shocks jumping from its body as it struggled to get up.

"A Swablu? That's unusual to find out here."

"The poor thing, it looks really hurt."

Pikachu whimpered, feeling terrible for what happened.

"We can't just leave him here. We have to help her!"

Before Ash could agree, May had already climbed into the crater and gently picked Swablu up. The Blue blob whimpered in pain, making May tear up.

"Don't worry Swablu, we'll help you."

"Blu."

Quickly, May and Ash ran back to their campsite, where May laid Swablu down on the cot. The poor flying type whimpered, coughing as she struggled to keep awake. A quick touch to his forehead confirmed that she had a fever.

"This is bad. If we don't do something soon, poor Swablu may not make it."

"We need to get him back to the town, maybe someone there can help?"

May shook her head.

"Not in his state! If we moved her, the pain could…"

"Well, we have to do something!"

May paused for a moment, thinking back on all of her lessons on medicine. Then she began digging around in her pack for something, before digging out a Cheri Berry and handed it to Ash.

"This will cure its Paralysis. Keep an eye on her while I go find some roots."

"Got it!"

Pikachu jumped off Ash's shoulder, running over to May.

"Do you want to help, Pikachu?"

"Pika!"

"Alright, come on!"

With that, the two of them dashed off into the forest, leaving Ash to look after Swablu. Swablu cringed in pain as she lifted her beak, biting into the berry.

"Don't worry Swablu, you'll be better in no time."

When May and Pikachu returned, Ash had a cool cloth placed on Swablu's forehead, the poor thing shivering.

"How is he?"

"The fever is cooling down, but she's still burning up. The Paralysis is healed, but everytime you touch her she flinches."

May nodded, and began setting the gathered ingredients down.

"Alright, pass me the bowl and mortar."

Ash did so, and watched as May began to mash the roots and berries together into a liquid.

"Swablu, do you think you can open your mouth?"

Swablu weakly opened her beak, allowing the liquid to flow down her throat. She spluttered for a minute, but subsided.

"Now what?"

"Now we wait."

"Until…"

"I…I don't know."

Pikachu whimpered, feeling responsible for the whole thing. Ash pulled him into a gentle hug, Pikachu clinging to him as he buried his head in his chest.

"It's okay, buddy."

"Pika."

May didn't say anything, unable to find any words to comfort the Electric type. All any of them could do was hope.

The next morning, Ash, May, and Pikachu got up, anxious to see if Swablu was any better. To their immense relief, the dual type looked much healthier. She was no longer shivering, and her fever had gone down immensely.

"I'm glad you're feeling better, Swablu. You really had us worried!"

Swablu smiled, and chirped happily. May knelt down, and placed a hand on her forehead.

"Still a little warm, but another day of rest, and you should be fully healed."

"Blu!"

Pikachu nervously approached, sheepishly looking down at the ground instead of at Swablu.

"Pikachu Pika."

Swablu smiled, and nuzzled Pikachu in forgiveness, making everyone smile. But the relief was short lived, as Swablu suddenly cringed in pain once more.

"What's wrong?"

May knelt down to examine her. Her wing was badly bent, and in no condition to fly.

"I can't heal this here, we'll need to take her to the healer in town. Swablu, will you be alright if I carry you?"

Swablu nodded, allowing May to gently scoop her into her arms while Ash packed everything up.

"Alright, let's get moving!"

"Right!"

The healer examined Swablu's wing, the small Pokemon whimpering as she lifted.

"It must have been broken during the fall. Give it another week, and she'll be just fine."

Everyone breathed a sigh of relief.

"I guess we'll have to be a lot more careful when we practice your moves, huh buddy?"

Pikachu could only nod, still feeling terrible about the whole thing.

"It wasn't just the shock that did it. A few days ago we had a terrible storm, and the poor thing probably can't fly too well. She probably got blown out of the nest during the storm. I'd bet her flock is looking for her."

May turned to Swablu.

"Is that true, Swablu?"

Swablu nodded sadly. May thought for a minute, before smiling kindly.

"Well, we'll just have to help you find them, won't we?"

"Blu! Swablu!"

But the healer wasn't so sure.

"That may not be possible, your highness. Altaria don't tend to stay in one place for too long. Unless they noticed she was missing, they may not come back."

Swablu's face fell when she heard the news. May's heart clenched, feeling nothing but sympathy for the Pokemon.

"Well, if they don't…would you like to join us?"

Swablu's face perked up, before she nodded vigorously. This made May and Ash smile.

For the next week, Swablu stayed with May and Ash, playing with their Pokemon and resting her wings. The Pokemon were more than happy to play with her, and she felt right at home.

At last, the time came for her bandages to come off. Ash and May slowly unwrapped them, revealing two healthy wings. Swablu shook them for a minute to get feeling back into them.

"Alright, ready to try and fly?"

Swablu's face faltered, nervous.

"What's the matter, Swablu?" Ash asked.

"Maybe she's scared to try again."

To which Swablu nodded. The group was silent for a minute before May spoke up again.

"Swablu, I know you're scared, and you have every right to be. But I promise, we won't let anything happen to you. We'll be right here cheering you on, and if you fall we'll be there to catch you."

Swablu hesitated, before nodding. May smiled and gently picked her up, placing her atop a big rock to take off from.

"Alright, just leap into the wind and go!"

Swablu took a deep breath and jumped, flapping her wings frantically to stay afloat. For a moment, she struggled to stay aloft.

"You can do it, Swablu!"

"Don't give up!"

"Pika Pika!"

With her friends' encouragement, Swablu increased her effort, and before long she was no longer struggling to remain in the air. In fact, she began to glide, much to her excitement.

"Swablu!"

"You did it, Swablu!"

"Way to go!"

Swablu flew around the small space for a few moments before launching herself right into May's chest, giving her a big hug. May giggled, and happily returned it.

"Taria?"

Everyone looked up in shock to see a small flock of Altaria and Swablu flying down into the clearing. Swablu chirped happily, and leapt from May's chest to the leader's, confirming it was her mother.

"Blu, Swablu!"

"Taria!"

May and Ash smiled, but their faces quickly fell when they realized what that meant. Swablu also understood, and hopped back over to them.

"I guess…this is goodbye, then?"

"Swablu."

"Stay safe, Swablu. I'm glad we could help."

Swablu nodded, giving May one last big hug before flying back to her flock. May and Ash took one last long look at them before walking away, the flock taking back into the air.

But despite being reunited with her mother, Swablu didn't feel happy. She had grown attached to the two humans, and wished she could remain with them. Even as they flew towards their next home, she could only keep half of her attention on remaining in the air.

"Taria."

Glancing over, Swablu saw her mother giving her a reassuring smile.

"Swablu?"

"Altaria."

With a big smile, Swablu gave her mother a big hug before flying off on her own. Altaria watched with a sad, but proud smile before leading her flock away.

Back on the ground, Ash and May were heading back to town, their heads hung low. May especially took it hard.

"Hey, you okay?"

"Honestly? No. I know we only knew her for a week, but taking care of her, and helping her learn to fly…"

"I know. Sometimes the hardest thing you can do as a Pokemon trainer is say goodbye."

"Swablu!"

Surprised, the two looked up just in time for Swablu to fly back into May's arms, happy tears staining May's clothes.

"Swablu? What's wrong?"

"Blu!"

"May, I think she wants to join you!"

Swablu nodded, happy tears still running down her face. May couldn't help it, and let her own tears flow freely as she returned the hug.

"That's great! I promise, you'll love it!"

"Pika Pika!"

Immediately, May took out an empty Pokeball and offered it to Swablu, the Flying type pecking it with her beak and allowing herself to be captured. Ash watched the whole thing happen with his own smile.

"You know May, back in my time we have a saying: if you love something, set it free. If it comes back to you, it's yours."

May giggled, and placed Swablu's Pokeball in her pack.

"Welcome to the team, Swablu! I promise, you won't regret it."

And so, with a new friend added to the team, Ash and May set off for new adventures.