It was sunset when the five trainers landed on the north beach of Cianwood. The town wasn't very big—it was filled mostly with small sea cottages—but they couldn't tell which one of the small buildings was the pharmacy.
"Maybe it's this way…" Free suggested, pointing to his left. "Or, if we see someone, we could ask them."
The trainers set out in the way Free pointed and came to a slightly larger building with a red cross on a small white board in the window. Raver knocked before opening the door. A bell tinkled as the door swung open.
"Hello?" An old man's voice called from a desk at the back of the room. "Welcome to Cianwood Pharmacy!"
"Hi, we were sent by Jasmine to pick up Amphy's medicine," Heather smiled sweetly.
"Oh, yes! I received a phone call from Jasmine early to say you were coming! This secret potion I brewed up will heal him up in a day's time!" The old man replied, reaching under his desk and pulling out a small bottle of translucent-pink liquid.
"This doesn't cost anything, does it…?" Deka asked warily. "I don't have any money, and I'm not about to go begging for some."
"Deka, that's rude!" Clover whispered harshly for only her brother to hear, smacking his arm.
"Of course not! Amphy runs the lighthouse, and without him, the ships coming in would crash into that cliff! It would be a disaster!" The pharmacist replied, placing the bottle in a white paper bag. He rolled up the top and handed it to Heather, who was standing at his desk, her eyes downcast shyly.
"Thank you so much," she smiled again.
"Shuckle, Shuckle…" a quiet voice hummed through the room. A Pokémon that resembled a small turtle with a yellow body and a red shell crawled out from behind the man's desk.
"Now, now Shuckie! I have no time to play with you anymore today!" The man scolded the Pokémon.
"Shuckle…" the Pokémon said sadly and withdrew into his shell.
"Oh, a Shuckle!" Free exclaimed, pulling out his Pokédex.
"Shuckle, the Mold Pokémon. Dual bug and rock-type. Shuckle quietly hides itself under rocks, keeping its body concealed inside its hard shell while eating berries it has stored away. The berries mix with its body fluids to become a juice."
"That's disgusting! Who'd want to drink that?" Deka exclaimed after hearing the Pokédex entry.
"It's quite delicious!" The pharmacist snapped at Deka. He turned his attention to the other four trainers. "I just don't know what to do with my Shuckle anymore; I never have time to play with him! He misses the days when we were a team and battled together, but it saddens me that I'm too old to give him that anymore…" the old man sighed. Suddenly his eyes lit up as he gazed at Raver.
"You! You're perfect! You could take Shuckie on an adventure!" The man exclaimed.
"Oh, no, I'm sorry… I couldn't take your Pokémon," Raver lowered his head to look to the ground.
"Please, would you? Shuckie needs to get out!" The man begged, holding out a Poké Ball.
"Well… if it wouldn't be too much trouble…" Raver reached out his hand to grasp the ball.
"Thank you, so much! If any of you need anything, my name is Kirk. You are welcome to visit any time!"
"No, thank you for this medicine! We should get it back to Amphy," Heather sighed. "Good bye, Kirk!"
"Shuckie, return," Raver said as they left.
When the trainers made it back to Olivine on Lapras's back, they hopped off and ran as fast as they could to the lighthouse. It was now late at night and all five trainers were exhausted, but they were determined to help Amphy.
"We have your medicine, Amphy!" Heather said as she sat next to Jasmine, Flaaffy, and Amphy.
"Baa…" the Pokémon cried weakly.
"Just in time, too," Jasmine smiled with tears trickling down her face. "Open wide, Amphy."
Amphy opened his mouth and allowed Jasmine to pour the pink liquid down his throat. He smiled in content as if the medicine was already working to make him better.
"I'd battle you two now, but Amphy needs to rest up, and I don't want to leave him until I know for sure that he's alright!" Jasmine told Free and Heather.
"It's okay, we understand," Free replied.
"We're just glad we could help," Heather added before speaking to her Flaaffy. "Would you like to stay here with Amphy?"
Flaaffy nodded and took hold of Amphy's hand who then licked her face.
"That's just so sweet," Jasmine cooed.
"He just licked her face," Free frowned, confused about what was so sweet.
"You're just a boy, you wouldn't get it," Jasmine dismissed Free's comment.
"Get what?" Free persisted.
"Nothing, Free," Clover answered for Jasmine. All three girls smiled. Raver and Deka weren't paying attention. Free frowned harder, making his face even more incredulous.
"I just want my gym battle…" he pouted.
A/N Another short chapter, but one of my favorites. Raver is based off an old friend of mine, so I just like that character a lot. We're getting close to the next gym battle! Then the next gym battle after that doesn't take place till Chapter 59.
Mucho Love...o? Johto Blue