#067 Machoke

Machoke, the superpower Pokémon. The evolved form of Machop. Machoke is a Pokémon of immense strength. Its muscles are as hard as steel, and it is capable of lifting extremely heavy objects with only one finger. Despite its immense strength, it is modest and often helps people with manual labour. It can be found in the mountains, where it trains daily – Nurse Evergreen.

Ever since their date at Celadon arcade, nurse Isabelle and Dominic the Pokémon ranger kept in regular contact. No matter the time of day, Isabelle could always text him during long shifts as she watched over sick Pokémon to help them through the night. She'd begun to crave his companionship.

Dominic mentioned he'd be nearby, at a Pokémon tournament, and invited her to come. One of his Pokémon would be competing and the tournament would always welcome a nurse. And, he added, he missed her. The way he said that always made her blush whenever she remembered or reread that text.

With her medical bag swung over one shoulder, Isabelle entered the town, which seemed to revolve around this tournament. Stalls where food was sold were everywhere and, between them, bets were placed, Pokémon paw prints in plaster were sold, and many other things.

As she went to the registration booth, she identified herself and volunteered as a nurse for this event. The manager was called, who shook her hand over and over in obvious ecstatic happiness. Nurses, apparently, were expensive for minor events like these. A calloused hand placed itself over theirs, preventing Izzy's wrist from being dislocated. It belonged to the tall Dominic who was backed by an even taller Machoke.

Happy to see him, she flung her arms around his neck and hugged him. His bodyheat was higher than hers, which felt amazing. She could hear him smile when he wrapped his arms around her waist, cradling her against his body before letting her go.

"Izzy, meet Machoke. Machoke, this is nurse Isabelle, my girlfriend." While Dominic grinned at this, Izzy flushed pink. It was true, though.

"Nice to meet you, Machoke. So, you'll be competing in the tournament?"

Machoke nodded with a grunt. His attention wasn't much on the two of them, as it was on the competition. The sounds of other Pokémon set his blood on fire.

"I wish the two of you the best of luck. I'm going to set up a little tent near the hill for the injured. I could use your strength." While Izzy was, in fact, talking to Machoke, she laughed when Dominic flexed. "Yes, you may help, too," she told him.

The crew of the event was willing to help and within no time, the blond nurse had a tent, a few beds, and more supplies than she would actually need. All around her feet, her Pokémon ran around. Ivysaur has not left her since he was summoned, following her every move. Wartortle was talking to Raichu on one of the beds in the back, showing the electric type a small doll she had picked up somewhere. Izzy wasn't quite sure where or what Wartortle planned to do with it. Pidgeotto kept watch near the entrance.

Then a magnified voice told everyone the event was about to start. It was a simple concept; there was this steep hill and it had to be conquered. A Pokémon could win by standing on top of it when the time ran out, which was about two hours, or when it was the last Pokémon remaining. Isabelle liked the idea. It tested strength, stamina, but also intelligence. Dom's Machoke had a good chance of winning, strength-wise, but it didn't seem intelligent. He simply did what Dom or Raichu asked of him and nothing more. A common trait in fighting types but he seemed like a well-trained guy.

When the event started, an unlikely Pokémon waggled its way to the top with ease. There, it stood, looking confused and slightly pained as it held its head. With a slight frown, Dominic ordered Machoke to push the Psyduck off the hill and claim it for his own. Shoving a Psyduck off a hill was the easy part. Only a few minutes in, Machoke would have to defend himself and keep his ground against attacks from all kinds of Pokémon. Grass types tried to tug him off while other fighting types met him in brute strength. All the while the poor Psyduck rolled and bounced down the hill, coming to an abrupt stop near the bottom.

Isabelle couldn't watch much. The initial Psyduck needed a small bandage and a kiss, and after that, many other Pokémon were brought in. A bruised Oddish, a stunned Mankey. Isabelle was surprisingly busy, but few of the Pokémon were seriously injured. Such wounds were not allowed in this competition. Most just had their prides dented.

In the end, Machoke lost. Isabelle couldn't see who or whose it was, but she was happy for it. Machoke had been tough to beat. Dominic returned with bags of Pokémon food and takeaway pasta for the two of them. Sitting outside as the buzz of the competition died down, they sat shoulder to shoulder as they ate their food, chatting softly about today's event and anything interesting that might have happened since they last met.

The situation with Wartortle worried her and she confided in him, but Dom didn't quite know the answer to the dilemma either. He offered to loan Raichu to her, but that wouldn't solve the problem in the long run. He'd keep an eye out, he promised her. He teased her a bit about her small team, suggesting she could catch a new Pokémon. She had a few ideas but hadn't put any of them into practice yet. What if they were as unwilling as Wartortle was? Still, Izzy hadn't quite let go of the idea yet to add to her team.