A Doctors Journey
A Pokemon Fanfiction
Chapter 1 - Graduation
"Well Peter, I guess this is it?" Jake said extending his hand.
Peter paused briefly regarding his friends exited, smiling face. His long brown hair was falling over his eyes almost covering them causing him to blink uncontrollably. In the background there was a huge cheer as someone set off some firecrackers and a huge ribbon that read 'Congratulations Graduates!' hung from the wall.
"Y-Yeah, I guess so…" Peter said, distracted by the loud noise. he took Jake's hand and shook it firmly, "You take care of yourself."
"You.." Jake paused as he was barged to one side by an excited blonde girl in a black and pink dress running down the hall, "Geez!"
"Sorry!" The mystery girl called, glancing back over her shoulder, "My Tepig hates loud noises, he ran off this way I'm sure of it.."
"Hey, I'll help you look…." Jake span on his heel to face the girl, who had paused looking back at the two.
Peter watched him jog a few steps before turning his head once more, wiping the hair from his eyes he shouted "Good luck in Opelucid City!"
"Thanks, and you at Striaton.." Peter replied, his words tailing off as Jake disappeared after the girl, "keep in touch I guess.." He said to himself as they disappeared into the crowd.
Jake never could turn down an opportunity to 'introduce' himself to those of the opposite sex, Peter grinned as he recalled the many failed attempts of his friend to chat up girls they had met during their studies.
One thing remained before Peter could leave the college campus and begin his travels - he was due to meet with the campus trainer to pick up his first Pokemon to accompany him on his journey. Unlike many of the others Peter had not raced to Professor Juniper when he was 10 years old to pick his starter. Instead he focused on his studies and helping his father on the farm. He didn't feel he had missed out too much until recently when he released how much his friends had grown as trainers. He loved to watch the Pokemon training battles in the playing fields, amazed by the agility and skill of the Pokemon and their trainers - but he felt so sure he didn't have time for bringing a Pokemon up to its full potential whilst studying so hard for his Pokemon Doctors certificate. Besides he often worked with Pokemon on the farm and helped to train his fathers Samurott.
But now, now he was about to start his own journey and whilst he felt confident in his new medical abilities, he was a complete novice as a Pokemon trainer.
He started pushing his was through the crowd of people along the corridor, he took a left through a set of wooden double doors and suddenly he was all alone. The walls were wood panelled half way to the ceiling with the rest painted white. There was a smell of disinfectant and the wooden parquet floor was perfectly clean. On either side of the corridor were doors to the training labs where the students would practice their skills. Peter felt he had spent a lifetime in this place, but the corridor being this empty made the place feel unfamiliar.
He took a right at the next T-Junction which lead him through another set of wooden double doors, they echoed on their hinges as he pushed through. In this corridor there was a solid wall down the right hand side, but on the left was a row of large windows overlooking the playing fields. Peter glanced over at the view.
A large neatly kept grass field with 3 Pokemon courts. The courts were ringed by a wire fence and viewing areas. On the far side of the courts was a long thin brick building with small rectangular windows.
As Peter neared the end of the corridor the smell changed from disinfectant to that of freshly cut grass. He opened the double doors in front of him and stepped outside into the sunshine. He stepped down two small steps onto a white gravel path. He paused taking a deep breath and enjoying the feeling of the warm sunlight on his face. He began his walk to the rectangular building, his shoes making a satisfying crunching sound on the gravel path.
He was directly alongside the Pokemon courts now, he could see the grass worn down where the trainers stood in battle leaving a dusty imprint. Various small imperfections could be seen in the ground where more powerful attacks had taken place. Peter let his mind wonder to all the fascinating battles he had seen here over the years, it was so strange for it to be so silent and empty.
He approached the rectangular building, on the outside a plaque read 'Pokemon nursery'. Peter glanced down at his shoes, the once brown brogues had been sprinkled with dusty white powder from the path. He crouched down and tried to wipe off the worst of it with his hand before entering. Just at that moment the door sprang open hitting Peter on the top of his head, knocking him onto his back.
"Axxxxxxx!" Shouted an excited Axew as it stood in the doorway. It jumped down the small step and was about to start running along the path when it saw Peter.
"Axew?" It asked, cocking its head.
"Oh my goodness!" Came a voice from the door way. Peter looked up to see a kindly grey haired old woman wearing a brown knitted jumper, long thick blue skirt and fluffy pink slippers, "Peter, is that you? Are you alight?"
"I think so…" Peter said blinking deeply and rubbing his head. He looked at his hand after touching his short brown hair, no blood.
"Axew, what have I told you about bursting through that door! You need to check the window first!" The old woman called to the Axew, who had started to walk back towards her slowly, its head bowed in shame.
"Its ok, I was bent over, he couldn't have seen me. I am sure he checked - right Axew?" Peter said, looking over at the small dragon type and winking.
"Ax-Axew!" Axew said, jumping up and down and pointing at Peter.
"Hm, very well then," The old lady said knowingly, "Well if you are ok I guess there is no harm done… You are sure you are fine?"
Peter noticed he had been sat on the floor this whole time. He climbed to his feet, noting his shoes were still coated with the powder.
"Yes, don't think anymore of it, Mrs Clague." He said, touching his head again he could feel a small bump starting to appear, "May I come in?"
"Of course," Mrs Clague said, picking up the Axew, "Actually there may be something you can help with!"
Peter followed the pair, inside was a large long room with an office space at one end. The rest of the room was filled with interesting toys and games for Pokemon. The old lady walked slowly towards the office space.
Along one the back of this space was a large sliding glass door which lead out to a small play area with a small wooden fence. There was a slide and a tyre swing which hung from the branch of a large old tree which grew next to the building. The old lady opened the door and put the Axew outside on the grass. It ran off giggling and climbed up onto the slide.
Along the other wall was a large shelf split into box like compartments. Each one had a padded floor and held a Pokeball. These were the college Pokemon, which were loaned to students during classes and for training.
"Peter, what do you make of this.." The old woman took a Pokeball from the shelf and threw it into the air, "Fraxure come out!"
Peter watched as the evolved form of Axew appeared in front of them. It stood about 3 feet tall, had a grey and red spotted body with a green "hood." It had long white tusks protruding at right angles from the side of its head with red tips.
"Yes, I remember Fraxure." Peter said, crouching down and reaching out to pet the Pokemon. As Peter's had approached the Pokemon recoiled and stepped backwards.
"Dont take offence," The old lady said, scratching her nose, "He's been like this with everyone for a day or so now."
"Hey Fraxure," Peter said softly still crouching down, "Its ok you remember me right?"
The fraxure looked at Peter but continued to back away, it growled slightly as it did so.
"Very odd isn't it?" The old woman said, leaning back on the desk and sighing.
"Indeed," Peter frowned, looking up noticing on the desk was a box of Pokemon food, "could you pass me one of those?" Peter gestured to the pot of biscuits.
The old woman took one of the treats from the box and tossed it to Peter. He edged closer to fraxure, "Here buddy, this is for you.."
Fraxure sniffed the treat then groaned and turned his head away, "Fraxure…." It moaned.
At this point the young Axew outside had noticed there was food on offer and came skipping in. As he got a alongside Fraxure it snapped at the younger Pokemon as a warning not to come near. Axew jumped and ran under Peter's white lab coat for protection.
"Fraxure, please - Im here to help you.." Peter said, edging closer still. He could feel Axew pulling on his lab coat tugging him back. He glanced back, "Its okay Axew." he said tossing him the Pokemon food.
Axew caught it carefully and ran back to a comfy chair near to the main door. It struggled up onto the cushion and turned around to watch Peter and Fraxure.
Peter edged ever closer to the Pokemon, ever wary of its huge tusks which were about head height whilst Peter was crouched like this. He reached out his hand again slowly. The Fraxure bowed its head slightly, but allowed Peter to touch.
Peter felt the Pokemon's smooth skin under his palm. He gently stroked Fraxure's snout.
"Hes very hot," He remarked, taking his other hand he checked the Pokemons arms before moving his hand to the chest plate and belly. As Peter's fingers rested on the small dragons belly it let out a growl and swiped with his tusks. Peter dodged backwards and fell on his backside.
"Well, I think thats where the issue is!" He exclaimed, "Has Fraxure eaten anything different to the other Pokemon recently? Or in battle did he take any body blows or anything like that?"
"Not that I can remember." Mrs Clague said, running her fingers through her grey curly hair.
"Interesting." Peter said, climbing to his feet. He scratched his chin thoughtfully, "Has he been off the campus recently where he could have eaten something bad perhaps?"
"Well, a group of the students did take him with them to dinner with them to celebrate the graduation- but that was a couple of days ago - he was perfectly fine when they brought in back."
"Well, I suggest you have one of the professors take a look as soon as…" Peter was cut off by a deep voice,
"Have you just graduated as a Pokemon Doctor, Son?" The voice asked.
Peter turned around and was face to face with a short bald man with thick glasses and neatly trimmed moustache. He had deep lines on his face from age which gave him a very intellectual look. He was wearing white shirt with thin red and blue stripes. He had a lab coat similar to Peters with a high collar which ran to his knees showing brown corduroy trousers. The man reached into his lab pocket and produced a small pipe which is took to his mouth and chewed on.
"Professor Fir… "
"Well son, you ARE a Pokemon Doctor aren't you?" The professor pressed.
"Yes sir, but…" Peter was cut off again,
"And what is your diagnosis?" The professor asked ignoring Peter's protest.
"Well," Peter paused looking over at the Fraxure still standing by the desk, "I would say its clearly some kind of stomach upset, or perhaps an obstruction."
"Obstruction you say?" The professor raised an eyebrow, "And why would you think this?"
"Well, since the symptoms only occurred after Fraxure came out of the Pokeball some time after he was dropped off by the group…. sir." Peter paused, "If it were some bad food, or poisoning from that I would expect that he would have had some reaction before this point."
"Hmm, very good.. " The professor nodded, "OK, I will trust your diagnosis. So what would you do if this is the case?"
"Well, we really need to examine further." Peter looked back at the professor, "but the first thing I want to do is relieve this Pokemon's obvious discomfort."
"Very good, Mrs Clague please return Fraxure to his Pokeball…" The Professor gestured towards the old lady. She called for Fraxure to return and the Pokeball released a stream of energy which surrounded the Dragon which then disappeared back inside.
"So, if you are on your journey and you come across a weakened Fraxure who is in this situation - what would you do next?"
"Well, I think we would need to release any pressure there, we'd need some tubing and…."
"No, we would always return the Pokemon to the pokeball and go to the nearest medical centre. At this point, you can continue your work but remember, we would never risk the health of a Pokemon by making a snap judgement call - the Pokeball can keep the Pokemon safe until we can reach a safe environment to treat them." The professor jumped in.
"Yes sir, I m…."
"THAT being said," The professor again interrupted, "not bad for a first "real world diagnosis." The professor grinned, patting Peter on the shoulder roughly, "I think you will do just fine out there."
"Axxx!" Axew shouted and started clapping from the easy chair.
"Thank you, sir!" Peter smiled.
The old lady shuffled over and extended her arm containing Fraxures Pokeball in order to offer it to Peter.
"I'll take that, Peter needs to think about getting going…" Professor Fir said, taking the Pokeball.
"Actually sir, i'm here to pick up my Pokemon." Peter said, scratching the back of his head awkwardly.
"Oh yes!" Mrs Clague said urgently, "Your Pokemon will be waiting for you when you get to Opelucid City."
"Oh, I thought I was to collect it here.. " Peter stopped before he sounded too much like he was complaining, "Great, thanks."
"I do have this for you, however.." The lady took a small red and white device out of the desk drawer and handed it to Peter.
"Ah great, you updated my Pokedex!"
The old lady nodded and smiled.
Peter thanked the professor and the old lady. Before he left the nursery he made sure to make a big fuss of the young Axew who gave him a big hug before he stepped out of the building.
He felt bitterly disappointed that he would not meet his new Pokemon until Opelucid as this meant he would be travelling alone. Still, at least that would mean he had time to read up on the texts again and be ready for any challenge in the new hospital. He also couldn't help but get a surge of pride after diagnosing the Fraxure to the professors expectation. He felt more confident than ever of his abilities.