#080 Slowbro

Slowbro, the hermit crab Pokémon. The evolved form of Slowpoke. Slowbro's tail has a Shellder firmly attached with a bite. As a result, the tail can't be used for fishing anymore. This causes Slowbro to grudgingly swim and catch prey instead – Nurse Evergreen.

The Vermillion Pokémon centre, which Nurse Isabelle worked at for a little while, had built a new care unit. Until the new hire arrived, Izzy agreed to work there, for which the centre was very grateful. This new enclosure was for abandoned Pokémon, where, after they had recovered from any physical illnesses in the main centre, they would be taught to trust humans and Pokémon again in the new unit. So, mental issues were the primary focus here.

All kinds of Pokémon came here. If a trainer released their water Pokémon in the sea, for example, they came here via Vermillion harbour. Having been with a human too long, they could not join their wild kin anymore, so they sought out humans in the harbour. The Pokémon specifically bred to be starters did not have an exact wild counterpart anymore. They had been bred to be domesticated.

The treatment centre was a separate building of the Pokémon centre, less in view of travellers. Pokémon would first have to go through the main building anyway, before being placed in the rehabilitation unit. Most Pokémon that arrived did not have Pokéballs anymore, so they had to be accommodated in a different manner. There were huge tanks for the water types and fenced off areas for the other types. Stray Pokémon sometimes showed up as well, drawn by food left outside for just such an occasion, who were also fed and treated there.

Working at the new unit for a few days, Isabelle discovered that most Pokémon responded well to this treatment. Many were deemed ready for either release or adoption rather soon after arrival. Ivysaur helped too, talking to some downhearted Oddish. Ivy loved his human a lot, and Izzy hoped he could convince the Oddish that not all humans were bad.

On her second day, a Slowbro was brought in. This massive, pink water type turned out to be a very tricky case. He liked Izzy well enough, but even after a week, he did not respond at all to other trainers. It did not help that he took an unusually long time to respond to anything. Isabelle could have sworn it had taken him five minutes this morning to even realise she had entered the unit. It soon became clear that Slowbro would not be released back in the wild anytime soon, as he would likely starve.

Sitting with one of the Oddish in her lap, taking a break, Izzy noticed a woman standing in the doorway. To greet her, the young nurse stood up, causing Slowbro to hug her leg, which he occasionally did as she was about to leave for the day. Normally, Slowbro were almost as tall as she was, but this one was extraordinarily tiny, about Slowpoke size, reaching to her waist. No one really knew why, but it made it easier to handle, Izzy thought.

The woman at the door had a Slowbro of her own, who called out to Izzy's protege. Over and over, they called "Sloooow" at each other, in some sort of slow form of communication. Leaving them to it, Isabelle extended her hand to the lady.

"Good day. I'm Nurse Isabelle. And who might you be?"

"My name is Lorelei of the Elite Four. You may have heard of us. I've come to check out Vermillion's answer to the great number of abandonment cases over the years. I had not expected to find you here. I occasionally stumble upon some of your research. Good job on the Abra case. You are younger than expected, though."

Isabelle gave a soft smile. "I'm staying here for a small while. I've been here since coming back from Cinnabar, while I work here and, soon, at Vermillion Gym too. What brought you here?"

The lady with the red hair and spectacles sighed for a moment, looking at the unsure Oddish in Izzy's arms, giving it a little rub over the head. "We, as the Elite Four, are trying our best to be the good example for Pokémon trainers in the entire region. You'd never see us abuse our Pokémon. Yet people still do it, and it makes me so mad!" Her voice became frighteningly sharp as her eyes narrowed behind her spectacles. Isabelle nodded quickly.

"I've recently happened to discover a box of Growlithe puppies, this winter. Left out there to starve to death, or to freeze, whichever would come first. I was too late for some of them. It broke my heart…" Isabelle took a step back as Lorelei shed her cool exterior to become somewhat like a Charizard with her burning eyes and fiery hair. "S-So, I'd love to help you guys with your cause. I'll do what I can. Okay?" She held out her hand.

Lorelei shook it, gripping it painfully tight. "Deal. We'll get those who harm Pokémon and make them pay!"

Lorelei scared Isabelle, very much so. They exchanged numbers and Lorelei followed her blog where she made posts of her journey.

"I made need you, soon. Keep an eye out on a team of Pokémon poachers. They're bad news. There's a large reward out for any tip that leads to their capture, as well as any of their bases. The Abra case was only a small tip of the iceberg that is Team Rocket, as they call themselves."

Promising to call as soon as she discovered anything, Isabelle sighed in relief when Lorelei left the unit. After lunch, the new hire for the department finally arrived, relieving Izzy of her week-long task. As she received her wages for the week, she overheard that the Slowbro at the care unit had been adopted by Lorelei.