Chapter 15
Saturday, May 1st
Route 4 was among the northern extremities of Kanto, where the forests and lowlands came to an end, and the 'badlands' began. Vast canyons met with the sharp inclines of many mountains. Barren and undisturbed, the badlands to the north were once populated with many cities until the Great Devastation. Survivors who escaped the earthquakes spoke of a kaiju-like Pokemon that laid waste to civilization.
Dust and smoke filled the air, enough to suffocate anyone standing upright. The wail of sirens resounded through the streets. The fragments and remains of once great buildings were nothing but rubble, crushed beneath the massive feet of these beasts. Their breath was hot, radiating heat that could melt through steel. Their wild and jagged skin ripped through cement, stone, and concrete as though it were tissue paper…and their eyes glowed with an ominous red that pierced through the smoke.
Ash gulped and licked his bottom lip. "Man, this is like straight out of a horror movie," he noted with a breath.
"What is?" Brock inquired.
They sat together in the back of the car with Gary at the helm, guiding the vehicle through the twists of turns of Route 4.
"I was reading an excerpt on Tyranitar," Ash answered as he motioned to his Pokedex. Brock seemed to cringe at the mention of this Pokemon.
"What's got you interested in them?" Brock asked him.
"When we were still in Cerulean City, I was reading up on a dark type specialist named Grimsley who had a Tyranitar," Ash explained before he motioned to the barren landscape. "Plus, we're so close to the badlands…I read somewhere that Tyranitar was responsible for what this area looks like now."
Brock nodded slowly. "That's basically what I've heard too, though there haven't been many sightings of them since the Devastation," Brock replied as he tensed his neck. "But that might be for the best. Not even the Pokedex speaks very well of them right now."
Ash wanted to give all Pokemon the benefit of the doubt. He believed that they deserved an opportunity to prove whether their reputation was deserved or not. But Tyranitar seemed to be one of the exceptions to this rule. Their appearance, their aura…there was a wildness about them. Something that triggered that same fear that he experienced when Ash first saw Gyarados emerge from the Cascade River.
"Hey Brock," Gary cut in with a glance toward the skies. The sun was sinking into the horizon, and night was approaching. "There's a rest stop in one mile, and the one after it is going to take at least three hours to get to. Should we stop at this one for the night?"
"Yeah, that's a good idea," Brock answered with a nod. There were several signs on these roads, warning drivers of the steep cliffs and sharp turns. "We should play it safe on these roads and stick to driving during daylight."
Within minutes, they arrived at the rest stop Gary spoke of. It was nothing more than a small motel and gas station, but it was one that Ash recognized. This was the same rest stop that he and Samuel Oak stopped at during their trip to Pallet Town after he was released from prison. If his memory of this place was right, there was something he wanted to see again.
Once the car was parked, Ash went to the back of the motel. It was positioned near a cliffside, with a guard railing several feet from where the decline began. While it wasn't much to write home about, this spot did offer an impressive view of the mountains that extended to the north. Ash shut his eyes and inhaled deeply. He felt the slight breeze tickle the skin on his neck as he held his breath. Then he let the air out.
"How are you feeling, Pikachu?" Ash inquired with a glance at his partner.
Pikachu raised his head higher and mimicked the same set of actions that Ash went through. After he exhaled, he met Ash's gaze. There was a sort of glimmer in his eyes, a reflection of the sunset on his dark eyes. "Pika-pika…"
"Yeah, this feels good," Ash agreed. "Since we've been training all the time, it feels good to slow down for a little while."
Pikachu nodded. "Chuuuu…pikapi."
They remained silent going forward, and Ash leaned against the railing. He thought of the last time he stood here, which was just about fourteen months ago. At that time, he was only two days removed from prison, and he was still going through the shock of being in the outside world again. This view reminded him of how big the world was, how much there was for him to go and see.
Now…Ash knew that this world was so much more than just places to visit and sights to see. There were Pokemon at every turn, people to meet, bonds to create. Friends and rivals. Teachers and mentors. Secrets to learn. Experiences to share.
"What a world…" Ash muttered softly as his lips curved upward. He couldn't wait to see what else they would discover.
Sunday, May 2nd
The next morning, the guys ate a large breakfast and then got right back on the road. Ash drove for the first three hours, taking them through the rest of Route 4 and then a portion of Route 3. Then Brock took over from there as they gradually began their descent back to the open plains of Kanto's lowlands.
"We're close boys!" Brock announced as they raced along the one-lane highway at nearly ninety miles an hour. "It's like an hour and a half to Pewter City from here, but there's one more rest stop in about three miles that we can take a quick break at."
"Nice," Ash said as he glanced back at Gary. He was in the back with his headphones on and his eyes were glued to this Pokedex. Ash bit down on his lower lip, with a tingle in his chest. Gary took the term studious to a whole new level, one that Ash wished he could imitate. Reading about Pokemon was…interesting, but Ash didn't care as much for the theory as he did for what they put into practice.
Another twenty minutes came and went, and the open plains of Route 3 became dense woodlands. The thick tree trunks were nothing but blurs as they raced through the area, but Ash found that his eyes were drawn to a bright orange flag that was being waved through the air. There was a road worker in a matching reflective vest positioned on their side of the road. Thankfully, there was no one behind them, so Brock slowed down to speak with them.
Ash lowered the passenger window, and the worker tipped his hard hat as a greeting. "We're doing some work about half a mile from here," He explained to the group. "Both sides are closed down right now, but it'll still be a few hours before we get one side open to start letting traffic flow."
"Are there any detours?" Brock asked in return.
The worker nodded. "Ye-up. We opened a temporary detour that you can use if you take the next junction. "Forewarning, it's going to take you offroad. It was the best we could do on short notice to connect you back to the main road to Pewter City."
"Thanks for letting us know," Ash said, and he tipped his cap to the worker.
Once they got moving again, Gary cleared his throat. "So, what's the plan here? Are we going to wait?"
"Wait?" Brock repeated with a laugh. "For what?"
"The detour is off-road," Gary parroted the words of the road worker. "Can this old car handle that?"
Brock raised a hand to run it across the dashboard with a grin. "The Regal can handle anything!" Brock declared as he glanced up at the rearview mirror. He saw Gary roll his eyes. "And I had some work done to improve the suspension just in case we had to do some off-roading! Just wait until you see this!"
Soon enough, they arrived at the junction and there were signs along the roadway guiding them to the detour. It was a wide opening in the trees for two cars to pass each other if needed. As the road worker described, some tree chopping and plow work was done, the bare minimum to create an even roadway for vehicles to use.
"Watch and learn boys!" Brock said as they turned onto the dirt road and stepped on the accelerator.
Ash became tense in his seat, and he grabbed the handlebar above the window. "Brock, take it easy!" The car was practically bouncing in response to their speed and the condition of the road. There might have been a pathway, but it was hardly a smooth ride.
"We're good!" Brock responded. "There's nothing to worry about, the Regal can handle this!"
Gary grunted and grabbed onto his seatbelt as they swerved around a bend. "Brock, what the hell are you doing?!" He hollered. "Just drive normally! You're going to hurt someone or worse!"
Brock glanced at the rearview mirror again, and he felt his chest tighten as saw how Gary pressed himself into the corner of his seat in expectation of the worst. He then stole a glance at Ash and saw how he pressed himself into this seat with one hand wrenched around the handle above the window.
"Brock! Look out!" Ash's voice forced Brock's eyes back to the road, and he saw that there was an object in the middle of the road. A tree!
Brock stomped on the breaks, but they were already too close to stop in time. He turned the wheel to the left in hopes of avoiding a collision, but…the tree moved. Both he and this tree seemed to have the same thought process to avoid each other, however, they both committed to the same action. Their attempt to avoid each other created the same result. The front of the car met with this tree, and everyone jerked forward in their seat from the sudden impact that brought them to a halt, and the tree was sent tumbling away.
There was a moment of silence as everyone sat in the car staring at the scene in front of them. Ash was the first to snap out of his daze, and he threw open the passenger door to check on what they hit. Gary didn't waste any time either as he pushed Ash's seat forward to climb out and check the damage. Brock's vision was blurry as he fought to regain his focus. Everything was spinning, and he swallowed to get rid of the lump in his throat.
"Oh my god, was that…was that a Pokemon?" Brock muttered as he took a few breaths. Then he opened his car door to get on his feet. "Is everyone okay?"
"We're fine," Ash replied. They were several meters from the car, the location where the tree finally came to a stop after being struck.
"I can't say the same for this Sudowoodo!" Gary added as he rolled Sudowoodo onto his back. Gary cringed as he got a better look at Sudowoodo's side where he was hit. His rocky exterior was split at the point of impact, and a network of cracks spread out across his upper body from that point. As Brock came close and saw Sudowoodo's condition, his heart sank.
"This is my fault," Brock whispered, but he bit down on his lower lip and shook his head. Now wasn't the time to sulk. "Sudowoodo is going to need some serious help, right away! Come on, help me get him into the car!"
Brock turned to look back at the Regal, and he felt his knees grow weak. The face of his car was smashed in from the crash, and smoke was rising from the gaps created by the damage done to the hood. If it couldn't get any worse, that was the moment when the bumper finally disconnected and rattled against the ground.
"Well…" Gary straightened up and dusted the dirt off of his knees. "As much as I want to yell at Brock, that isn't going to accomplish much here," Gary continued as he summoned Wartortle from his Pokeball. "We've got our work cut out for us, so let's get moving. Let's get Sudowoodo in the car, Brock you get in the driver's seat, and Ash and I will start pushing."
"Who put you in charge?" Ash inquired as Gary began to roll up the sleeves of his shirt.
"You've been all muscle since we ran into each other back in Ecruteak City, it's about time you put them to good use," Gary commented as he shot him a smirk. "Now get Greninja out here too, it's probably going to take all four of us to move this car."
Brock and Gary carefully picked up Sudowoodo and transported him to the backseat of Brock's car they carefully laid him down and left him under Pikachu's watchful gaze. Once Brock was behind the wheel, he released the parking brake and gave the signal for the 'push' team to get to work.
"Just keep your arms stiff and push with your legs," Ash advised them as he demonstrated the right stance for them. Gary and Greninja mirrored him perfectly, while Wartortle pushed the lower bumper with them. With a shout, the four of them pushed with all their might and the car creaked in response before it began to roll. Gary inhaled sharply and put his head down for the next push. They all took a step forward together, and the momentum started to build from there.
"Nice guys, keep it up!" Brock hollered from the front seat as they began to navigate through the rest of the detour. It took several minutes, but thankfully the entire detour was flat, so it didn't require any additional effort before they made it back to the main road. They stopped to take a break on the shoulder of the highway, and Brock set down the parking brake to hold them in place. Gary didn't hesitate to take over the passenger seat as he finally had a moment to breathe.
Brock retrieved a bottle of water for him from the cooler they kept in the back and then took out a trio of bottles for Ash, Greninja, and Wartortle. Ash was huffing and puffing as he sat on the trunk, while Wartortle and Greninja leaned against the back of the car.
"Thanks for all your effort, guys," Brock thanked them as he gave a water bottle to Ash. While Ash chugged his water bottle, Brock laughed as Wartortle requested that he dump the water straight onto his head, and Greninja followed up with a similar request. Their skin was soaked in the water immediately, and the two of them gave a content sigh, much like Ash as he finished his bottle.
"So how far are we from the next rest stop?" Ash asked Brock.
"I'd say about two miles still," Brock noted. "That wouldn't take long walking, but we've got a whole car to drag with us," Brock muttered as he gave the 'Regal' a sideways glance.
"We'll manage," Ash assured him.
"Yeah, I know," Brock trailed off and he shrugged his shoulders. "I figured I would sub in for Gary from here. Let me know when you're ready to get going again."
Ash gave a nod and took a few minutes to gather himself, after which, they resumed their journey to the rest stop. To Brock's surprise, pushing the car wasn't quite as hard as he first thought it would be, thanks in no small part to the Pokemon they had assisting them. However, it was a true test of stamina. His calves and arms were burning after a few minutes, and he wondered how Ash and Gary managed to do this for almost fifteen minutes on uneven terrain to get them back to the main road. After his first fifteen minutes, Brock was more than ready to ask for a break, but a fellow traveler came to their rescue. A pickup truck pulled up alongside them, and the passenger window was lowered to reveal a gentleman wearing a wide-brimmed cowboy hat.
"Howdy!" He bellowed at them. "Do you fellas need a hand?"
"More like a tow truck," Gary responded as he pressed lightly on the brake to bring the car to a stop.
"Y'all should save yer strength, the next rest stop is 'bout a mile from here," He pointed out. "One of y'all can hop in with me and I'll take ya to the mechanic there. I'll bet they got a truck that can come back for yer station wagon."
Gary rumbled his lips. "Are you from Pallet Town?"
"Go-lly, how can ya tell?" He asked in return.
"The accent," Gary answered. "I haven't heard it in a while. I used to spend the summer there with my grandpa, Professor Oak."
"Yer the professor's grandkid?" He exclaimed. "It's nice to meetcha! They call me Wilson! I had some business to take care of in Cerulean City, and now I'm on my way back to good ol' Pallet Town. I'd be happy to give one of you fellas a ride to the rest stop! You can hop in the back of my truck here!"
"We'd really appreciate that!" Brock exclaimed as he approached Wilson's window. "But can I ask for a huge favor?"
As promised, Wilson took Brock to the next rest stop, and he also agreed to give the unconscious Sudowoodo a ride with them. When they arrived, Wilson dropped Brock off right in front of the mechanic's garage and wished him well from there. Brock gingerly collected Sudowoodo and set him down against the side of the garage. With one last thanks to Wilson for his help, Brock waved to him as he went on his way.
Brock summoned Rockruff and assigned him to watch over Sudowoodo while Brock entered the garage to request their assistance. After describing his car and providing Ash's phone number, Brock returned to Sudowoodo and Rockruff. The next order of business was finding someone who could give Sudowoodo some treatment for his injuries. Thankfully, this rest stop seemed to be pretty popular among Pokemon trainers, who referred him to one of the shopkeepers. According to the trainers, this gentleman received supplies for treating Pokemon, and he was likely the best person that Brock could speak to.
With how highly these trainers spoke of the shopkeeper, Brock was expecting someone a little more prominent than the little old man who was running what seemed to be nothing more than a deli-sized mart. He introduced himself as Arthur and guided Brock to the back of the store where he could lay Sudowoodo to do for a brief examination.
"Hmm," Arthur stroked his beard as he studied Sudowoodo's torso. The cracked skin made Arthur bite down on his lower lip, and Sudowoodo's usually straight frame was slightly ajar. "The damage done seems to have knocked his skeletal frame out of alignment. He'll need more extensive treatment than anything I can offer him."
Brock swallowed the lump in his throat and took a breath. "Is there anyone here that could help him?"
"Not at the rest stop, but there is a Chansey who lives in the area that could reverse the damage done to him," Arthur went on.
Brock looked down for a moment. "Chansey…" He repeated.
Of course!
How could he forget about Chansey? If his memory was correct, this should be the very same Chansey that he encountered a few years ago! And his Pokedex had the location of her den stored on its map. Brock didn't waste a moment pulling up the old data entry he had on Chansey, and he locked in the coordinates he saved into his map.
"Thanks for your help!" Brock exclaimed as he kneeled to scoop up Sudowoodo in his arms.
"Just try to be careful with Sudowoodo if he wakes up," Arthur called out. "He won't be able to stand, let alone walk. He would be much better off being moved in a Pokeball."
Brock nodded, though he avoided any further eye contact with Arthur. "Thanks for your help," Brock said as he slipped his arms beneath Sudowoodo's body once again.
Arthur frowned but raised a hand to stop Brock before he lifted. "I don't know the events that led up to this, but if you can't transport Sudowoodo in a Pokeball, then at least take this," Arthur approached the shelf in the corner of the room and collected a spray bottle that contained a golden liquid. "It's Super Potion. If he wakes up before you get to Chansey, you can at least use this to help with numbing the pain."
Brock accepted the item graciously and bid farewell to Arthur from there. His top priority now was getting Sudowoodo to Chansey's den. His Pokedex became his guide as Brock used the stored location that he had for Chansey with the hope that she still resided there. Based on the location he entered, it was roughly six miles from the rest stop, and Brock cringed at the journey he would have to make on foot. The woodlands of Route 3 beyond the rest stop were dense, but thankfully there were trails left back by hikers that traveled through the area on foot that Brock could use. Rockruff marched alongside him, displaying a level of focus that Brock didn't see often from his partner. But considering Sudowoodo's condition, Rockruff probably sensed the urgency of their mission.
As they followed the dirt pathway, Brock groaned as he felt his arms tremble from Sudowoodo's weight. The Pokemon wasn't even that heavy, but after helping Ash and Gary push the car back to the road, he was tapped out. Brock came to a stop and used that time to catch his breath. He wanted to stop to set Sudowoodo down on the ground and take a well-deserved break, but he shuddered as he heard the crunch of his front bumper when it connected with Sudowoodo earlier today.
"You're suffering way more than me right now," Brock muttered to Sudowoodo. Rockruff came into Brock's line of sight, and he skipped in place with a yip. "I'll get you taken care of," Brock continued as he tightened his back. He took a deep breath and held it in. He didn't have any right to feel tired or complain. He caused this…and he would remedy the situation.
Rockruff's eyes glistened as he watched Brock straighten up and tighten his back. He barked proudly and turned to look forward as Brock pressed onward. Despite how his arms and legs protested, Rockruff marched on ahead of him and Brock followed. He wasn't sure where the strength came from, but it was there, and he was glad. But he couldn't expect this trip to go perfectly. It still took more than two hours to get to their destination, and Sudowoodo did wake up during it.
Sudowoodo stirred and Brock took notice. In response, Brock came to an immediate stop and set Sudowoodo down on the ground. He wasn't sure how Sudowoodo would respond to his current condition once he regained consciousness. As soon as Sudowoodo came to his senses, he flinched. Any thoughts about his whereabouts, or what happened were the least of his concern. The only thing he could focus on was the excruciating pain that coursed through his torso and lower body. He attempted to raise a hand, but there was no response. Sudowoodo couldn't move.
Sudowoodo's breathing became rapid as he attempted to lift his head, but a hand was placed on his forehead to stop him from moving. Sudowoodo looked at the person that hand was attached to, but his vision was too blurry to make out the individual.
"Sudowoodo, I need you to stay still for me," Brock said softly. "I have something that's going to numb the pain, but I need you to bear with me for a little while."
Sudowoodo attempted to lift his head again despite Brock's request. The result was a jolt of pain that traveled down his back. He cried out and tried to thrash about his pain, but the only part of his body that responded was his shoulders. Sudowoodo couldn't lift his arms or move his feet. Everything was unresponsive…
There was a bark, and Sudowoodo looked to his left. His vision was still too unfocused to see who it was, but their voice was clearer.
"We want to help you!"
Sudowoodo became still, and Brock thanked Rockruff for interjecting. With the spray bottle in hand, Brock doused the cracked region of Sudowoodo's torso and then his lower body as well. It took a few moments, time that the group spent in silence for Sudowoodo until he felt the pain subside. The Super Potion was like a numbing agent that granted temporary relief which Sudowoodo warmly welcomed. His vision regained its focus, and he saw that it was a Rockruff on his left and a human on his right.
"Hey Sudowoodo, how are you feeling now?" Brock inquired.
"Su-do," He breathed out. He still couldn't move, but at least he could think straight. "Sudo-woodo? Sudo?" Sudowoodo was looking around as he posed his questions, and Brock got the gist of what he was asking.
What happened? How did I get here? How was I hurt?
Brock let out a sigh and lowered his head.
"Sudowoodo," Brock began. "I want you to just listen to me first. This is…my fault," Brock swallowed the lump in his throat after he made that statement. "I was being reckless because…" Brock shook his head and avoided eye contact with the pair of Pokemon with him. "There's no excuse for what I did. My friends said I was being reckless and that I could get someone hurt and this is the result. I don't expect you to forgive me," Brock lowered his upper body until his forehead was practically touching the ground. "But I want you to know that I had no intention of hurting you and that I want to help you get back to how you were before."
Brock couldn't muster the courage to look up at Sudowoodo, and all he could hear was Rockruff panting. He waited for several seconds before he heard a grunt. It was Sudowoodo trying to lift his head again.
"Sudo…" That was all he said. Rockruff scampered around Sudowoodo and came over to Brock to nudge him with his head. Brock raised his head and saw that Sudowoodo was staring straight at him. His expression was neutral, showing nothing that Brock could use to get a gauge on his thoughts at the moment.
Brock bit down on his lower lip before he added. "Like I said, you don't have to forgive me. All I want right now is for you to trust me for a little while. I want to get you to a Chansey in the area who can treat this injury. It's the least that I could do for you."
Sudowoodo made the same statement again, and Rockruff nudged Brock a second time. Sudowoodo then lowered his head and waited. Rockruff clarified this time, pushing Brock harder as a motion to proceed. It was then that Brock understood the cue, and he let out a breath that he was holding.
"Thank you," Brock said softly to Sudowoodo before he got his arms under Sudowoodo again.
With Sudowoodo back in his arms, Brock continued on his way with Rockruff alongside him. Now that Sudowoodo was awake and more responsive, there were reactions to every bit of movement. Sudowoodo would grimace and groan, even with Super Potion working as a small dose of anesthesia. It wasn't strong enough to block out all of the pain, but enough to make it bearable.
Brock did his best to avoid causing further discomfort, and that slowed their progress somewhat. The last mile of their trip took about thirty minutes, especially the final stretch where Rockruff became their guide as he tracked down Chansey's den. But at long last, they found it. Among the thick foliage, there was a massive tree stump, at least nine or ten feet tall that was hallowed out. Inside were several flat stone surfaces, two of which were occupied by a sleeping Raticate and Mankey. As they entered, a small Pokemon took notice of their presence and came rushing to greet them.
"Happ-iny!" She exclaimed gleefully as she came up to them. Her shout drew the attention of the fourth and final Pokemon that was present, the one that Brock was looking for.
"Chan-sey," She declared as she approached them.
Upon seeing Sudowoodo, Chansey skipped the introductions and guided Brock over to the nearest available 'bed.' It was a stone slab propped up on two smaller stones with a variety of large leaves on it for padding. He was instructed to lay Sudowoodo there, and Chansey called for Happiny to climb up onto the bed to observe.
With his arms now free, Brock became enthralled with the medical process that was now underway. He took out his Pokedex and began to record Chansey as she began work. She rubbed her small hands together, which ignited them in a light pink aura, which she rested against Sudowoodo's torso.
"Sudowoodo?" Sudowoodo asked as Chansey leaned in closely, her lips pursed as she examined him. She ran her hands up and down his form, though Brock noticed that she stopped at Sudowoodo's hips several times. As he took a closer look, he noticed that there was considerable swelling there now, which caused his skin to splinter and crack further.
"Chan-sey-sey," Chansey answered as the glow faded from her hands. She then clapped her hands as a call for Happiny, and Chansey pointed to the exit of her den. Happiny nodded and dashed outside, which left Chansey to continue the next step of the process. Chansey went over to a small wooden workbench she had against the wall, and Brock saw that she had a small stone bowl and grinder there.
She had a variety of berries and herbs on her bench, and from her stockpile, she selected several long leaves while Happiny returned with a short tree root in hand. With a short nod of thanks, Chansey accepted the tree root and crammed it into her bowl along with the leaves. Then she took the grinder and pounded the contents until it was all a fine dust. She returned to Sudowoodo with the bowl, and Happiny jumped into the makeshift bed on the opposite side. The two of them shared a quick nod and then they began to hum their voices.
Rockruff whined before he went to Brock where he pulled at his pant leg. Brock furrowed his brow at first as he realized Rockruff motioning for them to exit the tree stump. But when he heard them begin to harmonize their voices, he realized it wasn't a normal song. This was their Sing.
Brock didn't waste a moment following Rockruff outside of the stump to avoid a sudden onset of drowsiness. The last time he saw Chansey was over a year ago, and he hoped to see her medicinal skills in action, though he forgot that part of her process involved putting her patience to sleep. It wasn't long before Rockruff peeked back into the tree stump, and he barked as a signal for Brock to return.
He came in just in time to see Chansey and Happiny as they got to work. Chansey gave Happiny a brief set of instructions, and the smaller Pokemon cooed before she rubbed her tiny hands together, igniting them in a fuchsia-colored glow. Happiny remained positioned at Sudowoodo's hip where she placed her hands on the swelling on his side. Chansey then brought over the bowl of dust she'd created earlier from her bench and sprinkled it onto Sudowoodo to coat his fractured skin with it. Once he was dressed in her concoction, Chansey set the bowl down and placed her hands together. She began to hum softly once again, and a soft blue hue enveloped her form.
Brock furrowed his brow at the sight of this and quickly raised his Pokedex to start streaming the event. There was only one person that Brock invited to his stream, a relatively new friend who would hopefully be able to provide some insight. Together, they all watched as water was siphoned from the tree stump in small streams that all converged on Sudowoodo. It mixed with the dust on his body before the water was soaked into his skin.
They watched in awe as the gaps in his splintered skin closed up, gradually returning to its original appearance. However, the swelling on Sudowoodo's lower torso remained, but that was what they addressed next. Chansey now summoned the same fuchsia glow around her hands that Happiny was using. Happiny continued to apply pressure to the swelling while Chansey moved around the bed, running her hands across Sudowoodo's body from all sorts of angles. Then once she was satisfied, she took over the area that Happiny was holding and snapped Sudowoodo's hip back into place.
Brock winced at the audible crunch. However, when Happiny and Chansey stepped away from Sudowoodo, Brock could hardly believe his eyes. Sudowoodo's body was back to its original condition!
"Alola!" A voice greeted Brock as a reminder that he still had company. "I wasn't expecting a call from you out of the blue."
"Sorry Kukui," Brock said as he looked down at his Pokedex in hand. "I didn't want to waste any time documenting Chansey's treatment," Brock went on. "I was hoping that you could identify the first move that she was using."
"The first move was Life Dew," Kukui stated. "It's something I saw pretty often here on the beaches around Poni Island. The Popplio that live on the shores there play a similar role to the Chansey you just showed me. They're like healers that tend to minor injuries by combining it with medical plants that they find."
"Life Dew, huh," Brock repeated. "And then the second move was Heal Pulse."
"Yep," Kukui confirmed. "I'm assuming Sudowoodo needed more extensive treatment since Chansey and Happiny had to use those two moves in tandem. But it looks like their procedure was a success."
Brock bit down on his lower lip at the mention of 'extensive treatment,' but he breathed out a sigh to move on from that thought. He would focus on admiring Chansey's remarkable abilities. According to Kukui, the healing capabilities of Life Dew depended on a Pokemon's knowledge of medicinal herbs. By using water to amplify the healing properties of the herbs, they could rapidly heal minor injuries.
But in Sudowoodo's case, the damage required a higher level of treatment. Heal Pulse was more invasive, providing Chansey with the ability to mend fractures and undo damage that would otherwise be permanent. Sudowoodo's skeletal frame was reset thanks to this, though Brock still cringed at the sound of Chansey putting Sudowoodo's hip back into place.
"Thanks, Kukui," Brock said. "I'll probably write up a report on this later and send it over to Professor Oak."
"No problem, did you need anything else?" Kukui inquired.
"I didn't catch you at a bad time, did I?" Brock asked in return.
"I'm just hanging with Burnet right now," Kukui answered him.
"Hi, Brock!" Another voice exclaimed.
Brock raised his brow. "My bad, you should've said that earlier! I'll talk to you another time!"
Brock promptly ended the call and looked back to Chansey and Happiny. The duo were back at Chansey's workbench where she showed Happiny the tree leaves that she used for Life Dew.
"She must be training Happiny," Brock concluded with a small nod toward them. Not only did they have some incredible abilities, but they were actively making sure there were healers available now and in the future.
Once Chansey was finished with Happiny's lesson, she was allowed to go back outside of the tree stump. She approached Rockruff to ask him to join her, and the two of them went out to play together. Brock took a moment to watch as Chansey returned to Sudowoodo to check her work, and he decided that it would be better to leave her alone for now. So he opted to go outside and watch Happiny and Rockruff.
While he was outside, Brock used the time to observe Happiny. She was among the smallest Pokemon that he'd ever encountered, but her size was very misleading. Happiny had a startling amount of strength. There was a point where she attempted to play fetch with Rockruff who brought her a stone that was roughly the size of a baseball, and Happiny pitched into the skies until it eventually became too small to see. Brock could only hope no one was hit once it reached its destination, though that became the least of his worries when he saw Happiny lift a small boulder and offer to throw it for Rockruff.
Brock was quick to intervene as he suggested a different activity for the two of them, a game of tag. Happiny was more than entertained with it, though Brock forgot how out of shape he was after a few minutes as he was winded. Rockruff and Happiny continued to chase each other while Brock sat down and leaned against Chansey's tree stump to rest. Unbeknownst to him, Chansey was watching them the entire time.
"Chan-sey," She said kindly to get his attention. She stood at the entrance to her tree stump, and she peered back into it as an invitation for Brock to do the same. Brock gulped as he got back onto his feet and joined her at the entrance.
He felt his chest grow tight the closer he got. Was Sudowoodo already awake? What was he going to say? Brock deserved whatever sort of berating or retaliation that Sudowoodo wanted to give. But when Brock looked into the tree stump, he saw that Sudowoodo was still sound asleep on his makeshift bed.
"Is he…going to be alright?" Brock asked softly.
Chansey offered a big nod and smiled at him. "Chansey!" She confirmed for him.
His number one fear was causing irreversible damage to Sudowoodo. Brock breathed out and lowered his shoulders. At the very least, he could put that thought to rest.
According to Chansey, he would be asleep at least until the next day as his body completed the recovery. With that in mind, Brock decided that he would return to Chansey's tree stump tomorrow, after all, he did leave Ash and Gary stranded on the road with his car. It was about time he checked up on them.
Brock called Ash's phone first, but there was no answer. If Ash didn't answer, it meant two things. Either he was in a Pokemon battle, or he was eating. So Brock opted to call Gary, who answered on the second ring.
Before Gary could even say anything, Brock interjected with, 'what's Ash doing?'
"What do you think?" Gary asked him in return.
"Eating," They said together.
Brock snapped his fingers. "I knew it!"
"He said something about his phone but his mouth was full," Gary went on. "I figured it was probably you calling."
"So is everything okay?" Brock inquired.
"We're not sure yet," Gary began. "We got here like thirty minutes ago. The mechanic said they needed some time to look over the damages and put together an estimate on the work that needs to be done."
Brock heaved out a sigh. At the very least things were already turning around. By the time Brock got back to the rest stop, it was late in the afternoon, and it didn't take him long to find Ash and Gary. There was a small crowd on the grassy plain near the parking lot, and a lightning bolt shot up in the sky from the center of that crowd. There was no doubt in Brock's mind that Ash and Pikachu must have been at the center of that commotion.
He and Rockruff joined the crowd and found Pikachu dueling with a Venomoth. From above, Venomoth shrieked before he unleashed another volley of lengthy glowing barbs. Pikachu darted around the field, nimbly dodging the onslaught of Poison Sting. Ash grinned as he closely followed Pikachu's movements. As Pikachu took each step, and his muscles contracted, electricity would spark around him, building in preparation for his next electric-based attack.
Ash shouted his next command, a combination of attacks. The first was Pikachu's Thunder Wave, which Pikachu conjured from his tail and cast like a net toward Venomoth. The attack seemed to expand as it approached its target, and Venomoth realized he didn't have an escape route. Caught by the Thunder Wave, Venomoth's wings seized up and he went crashing to the field. Pikachu's follow-up attack was a Thunderbolt, and once the attack came crashing down onto Venomoth, his trainer conceded the battle. Brock couldn't help but smile as he saw Ash run onto the field to hoist Pikachu into the air and celebrate their victory.
"There you are," A voice exclaimed, and Brock whirled around. It was Gary, accompanied by Umbreon and Wartortle. Rockruff immediately pounced onto Umbreon and the two began to wrestle. "Where exactly did you run off too? I figured you'd be waiting here for us when we got here."
Brock raised his brow and then he let out a sigh. "Sudowoodo needed some serious treatment that only a Chansey could offer. Fortunately I knew about a Chansey that lives on Route 3, so I went out on foot to bring Sudowoodo to her."
"And how's he doing?" Gary inquired as he watched Wartortle try to separate Rockruff and Umbreon, only to find himself getting pulled into their little competition.
"The treatment is already done," Brock answered. "She got him patched up in no time, but she put him to sleep with her Sing to help him recover, so there's no telling how long he will be out for."
Gary scratched at his chin. "He looked like he was in pretty bad shape. I'm glad to hear Sudowoodo is doing alright."
"Yeah, it's hard to believe that Chansey reversed that damage so quickly," Brock remarked. "Almost like she could fix anything."
Gary eyed Umbreon as he fought to pin down Wartortle with Rockruff's help. "I wonder if she can fix Umbreon's bad attitude."
Umbreon shot a glance up at Gary, and a glint flashed across his eyes. Then he turned up his nose, and Gary stuck his tongue out in response. Brock held in a snicker, confident that not even Chansey's Heal Pulse could help those two to get along. He then imagined Chansey offering some sort of therapy or counseling, but ultimately resorting to using her Sing to put them to sleep when all else failed.
Brock glanced back at the battlefield and saw that Ash was already prepping for his next challenger. "Well, since Ash is occupied, do you want to check out the car with me?"
"Couldn't hurt," Gary said with a shrug. Brock motioned for him to lead the way, and soon enough they were in front of the mechanic shop. Brock inhaled the familiar scent of motor oil as they entered the garage and he quickly spotted his car now nestled in the back of the shop.
"Hello?" Brock called out, and the response was the clang of a metal wrench hitting the concrete floor.
Near the back of the shop, a young woman emerged from beneath one of the cars on a flat rolling bed. She sat upright and wiped away some of the grease that was resting on her forehead before adjusting the bandana on her head.
"You guys should head into the office if you need help," She stated with a gesture toward the doorway near them. However, she shuddered when she suddenly realized Brock was kneeling in front of her, grasping her outstretched hand.
"To see a damsel such as yourself hard at work in this setting…" Brock motioned to the garage. "I'd love the opportunity to drive along the road of love with you!"
Those who heard Brock's declaration all deadpanned.
"Thanks, but I prefer to ride solo," She answered as she pulled her hand free of his grasp.
Ignoring Brock's usual behavior, Gary approached Brock's car to take a look at the damage done to the front bumper and hood. "Sheesh, you did a number on your car, Brock," Gary commented as he leaned over to take a closer look.
"Wait, you're the owner of that car!?" Both Brock and Gary raised their brow at the sudden shriek from the mechanic. "I couldn't believe it when I found an old Quicksilver waiting here for me today!" She frowned as she looked at Brock. "I want to be mad at you for damaging this car, but at the same time I never would've gotten a chance to work one soooo…" She trailed off for a moment and took a deep breath. "Putting your weird introduction aside, my name is Zara and I hope you'll let me work on your car."
"Why wouldn't I?" Brock asked in return as he watched Zara rise to her feet and join Gary by the 'Regal.'
"My boss said that the car got dropped off, but the owner wouldn't authorize any work until he got an estimate," She explained, and Brock furrowed his brow.
"That was my doing," Gary interjected with his hand raised. "I figured it was the smart thing to do considering 'the owner,'" Gary shot a side eye at Brock, "ditched his car on the road with his buddies."
"Yeah yeah, I owe you guys big time for getting it here," Brock thanked him as he joined them. "So, what kind of work are we looking at here?"
"Well, fortunately, it's nothing serious," Zara began as she raised the hood. "The front bumper, hood, and headlight can all be replaced. But we'll have to do some work around the engine because the structural integrity is compromised," She explained. "We have the parts we need already which is great, so I'm thinking it's going to be about a little over two thousand dollars for this job."
"Phew," Brock sighed with relief. "I was expecting it to be a lot worse. How long do you think it's going to take to make the repairs?"
"At least three days," Zara replied. "I'd do it sooner but I have jobs lined up to finish by Tuesday before I can get started on your car."
"That's no problem," Brock said as he watched Zara lower the hood gently. "So what did you call this car?"
"A Quicksilver…don't you know the name of the car you own?" She asked in return.
"I bought it in Vermilion City a few years ago," Brock explained. "A friend of my dad's sells refurbished cars, so I got it from him. I never really thought to ask about the name or anything. It just looked really cool and I needed a car at the time."
"Man, some people have all the luck," Zara muttered as she ran a hand across the damaged hood. "You won't find many Quicksilvers out there. They were originally released before the Devastation but the manufacturer went out of business during Reconstruction. Quicksilvers haven't been made by an actual company in over a century, so the ones you find on the road are attempts to recreate it."
Brock raised his brow at this bit of information. "Wow, I had no idea this car was rare."
"It's a shame it won't last much longer though," Zara continued, and Gary shot her a glance.
"What do you mean?" He inquired.
"The bottom has some serious rust problems…The car is as close to being compromised as you can get," Zara answered. "It won't pass the next safety inspection that you take it in for."
"Yeah, I've been expecting that," Brock confessed as he scratched the back of his neck. "I got pretty attached to this car since it's been my ride around Kanto for the last few years. I figured I would drive it until I couldn't anymore."
"You don't want to try saving it?"
"I'm not so sure it'll be worth the effort," Brock responded. "I've been taking it into the shop more and more lately. And with some of my work obligations, I'm leaning toward getting something new so that I don't have to be too concerned while I'm traveling."
"Wait, so I've been cramped in that backseat this whole time and you could've gotten something more comfortable?" Gary exclaimed indignantly.
"I think I'm going to get something even smaller just to spite you," Brock retorted as he shot him a smirk.
Brock and Gary became locked in a staring contest as they glared at each other. Fortunately, Wartortle decided to intervene as he began to push at the back of Gary's leg in a gesture for them to go back outside and view more battles. Gary glared back at Brock until they lost line of sight with each other, leaving Brock with Zara and Rockruff.
"Anyway," Brock returned his focus to Zara. "Thanks for all the history lessons on my car. Do you think it'll sell for anything once I'm done with it?"
Zara wrinkled her nose at the thought. "You'd have to find someone that wants to do the work on it. But with all the rust you have underneath, there's not many people that will want to make the investment unless they're a collector," Zara explained. "Maybe you should think about going back to the guy you first got it from."
"Good idea, I'll keep that in mind," Brock noted with a grin. Rockruff yipped and wagged his tail as he watched Brock's conversation with Zara continue.
Monday, May 3rd
Brock yawned as he rose up from his mattress in his motel room. He then took a moment to rotate his shoulders and glance at the clock on the nightstand. It was just past six o'clock, which gave him some time to read before he got started on his day.
Rockruff remained curled up at the edge of the bed, sound asleep, so Brock carefully slipped out from under his sheets, grabbed his Pokedex from the nightstand and settled down in the small recliner in the corner of the room. Upon activating his Pokedex, Brock searched for the log entries under Chansey, and with the amount of information there, he realized how rare yesterday's encounter was. Fortunately, it didn't take him long to learn why.
As potentially the only healer in an area, the Pokemon that lived there understood Chansey's role and often acted as gatekeepers. Brock briefly wondered why he didn't encounter any of these 'gatekeepers' on his way into Chansey's den, but he realized that he was likely being observed the entire time. Those Pokemon probably didn't feel the need to intervene out of concern for Sudowoodo.
"Oh man, that's so cool," Brock remarked softly as he added this to his entry for Chansey.
Brock then switched to the photos and videos of Chansey and Happiny yesterday to review them, but a better idea crossed his mind. He opened a voice channel on his Pokedex to his mentor, Samuel Oak.
"Brock, how good to hear from you," Samuel exclaimed as a greeting.
"Morning professor, I wasn't expecting you to answer at this hour," Brock remarked.
"Daisy is always fretting about my sleep schedule," Samuel answered. "I sleep when I can, and work when I can't."
"I'd still to her, just for her peace of mind," Brock suggested.
"Hmm," Samuel paused and Brock was certain he placed a hand against his chin to consider the thought. "I supposed that would be the best course. So…what inspired you to call me today, and 'at this hour' no less?"
"Kukui didn't contact you yesterday, did he?" Brock inquired first.
"No, I haven't spoken with him recently," Samuel answered.
Brock breathed out a sigh of relief. "Good, I was hoping he didn't spoil my surprise," Brock stated as started a screen share with Samuel's Pokedex. "Yesterday I had a bit of an accident near Pewter City, but it ended up with me getting a chance to observe a Chansey as she was healing a Pokemon."
Brock could hear Samuel shifting his seat, most likely to get more comfortable as the footage of Chansey's treatment progressed. It was still surreal for Brock to watch as Sudowoodo's injuries vanished again, and he even heard a whisper of 'astounding' from Sameul as he saw it all for himself.
"Have you ever had the chance to study a Chansey, professor?" Brock asked once the recording came to an end.
"I've never gotten to observe one," Samuel answered. "Most of what I know is from what I read and heard from other people."
"This is the second time I've gotten to see this particular Chansey," Brock went on. "The only reason I found her was because of a girl I met who was doing some incredible research on Chansey. She's a member of the Joy family and she was trying to see if Chansey's abilities could be utilized in a hospital setting."
"Oh really?" Samuel remarked with a chuckle. "Chansey would be like a bombshell to the medical field. If you compare her abilities to the tools a surgeon uses, she checks all the boxes. Her Sing and Heal Pulse together work just like anesthesia to put her patient to sleep and manage the pain they're experiencing. Then Heal Pulse also functions as a scalpel for her to examine the problem, and finally, Life Dew was the procedure she decided to address the issue. And I'm willing to bet she most likely has other options aside from Life Dew."
Brock recalled what Kiera Joy shared with him about Chansey.
"The most amazing thing about Chansey is how she treats different problems," Keira marveled as she went on. "Chansey doesn't rely on her powers to solve everything. She's savvy…she understands how to make medicine with what's available to her from the environment. She's like an actual doctor, and then her powers make up for anything that human technology has discovered."
"You weren't kidding," Brock marveled at the thought. "Chansey really would be a bombshell."
"I'm curious Brock, do you have any contact information for this young woman you spoke to?" Samuel inquired. "I'd love to speak with her further about her research on Chansey."
Brock shook his head. "Sorry professor, I met her before I was focused as a researcher. Her name is Kiera Joy, but I didn't even think to ask her for a way to keep in touch."
"That's quite alright," Samuel replied. "Considering we're all researching Pokemon, our paths are bound to cross at some point."
"You got that right," Brock agreed before he took a glance at the clock. "I'm going to send you this video to hold onto, professor. I have to head out now, I want to see how Sudowoodo is doing."
"Thanks for the call," Samuel said. "And best of luck!"
Brock closed their voice channel and set his Pokedex down on the chair. He dedicated the next few minutes to a quick shower and personal hygiene in preparation for what he assumed would be a long day. By the time he exited the bathroom, Rockruff was awake and prancing about the room as he waited for Brock.
"Are you ready to go, Rockruff?" Brock asked once he was fully dressed. Rockruff yipped as he scampered over to the front door, eager to see what today would bring.
Brock snatched up his backpack and threw it over his shoulder before he dashed out of his motel room with Rockruff alongside him.
Brock pushed aside a low-hanging branch and held it in place before he motioned to the group behind him to proceed. Originally, he left the motel at the rest stop with just Rockruff, but his traveling party quickly expanded. Ash was out doing his morning run with Greninja and Pikachu and they crossed paths with Brock on his way out. Upon hearing that Brock was going to visit Chansey again, Ash decided to get Gary and bring him along since Gary mentioned he wanted to see Chansey himself the night before.
"This is it guys," Brock announced as they entered a small clearing. At the center of it was Chansey's tree stump. Brock waited for Ash, Gary, and Greninja to pass through before he released his hold on the branch. Wartortle, Umbreon, Pikachu, and Rockruff slipped underneath it with no trouble, and they marveled at the enormous tree stump that functioned as Chansey's home.
"Geez, how big was this tree?" Ash inquired as he looked up in thought. The trunk had to be at least fifteen feet wide.
Brock paused for a moment to entertain the thought, but his attention was drawn to the entrance of Chansey's den as a small Pokemon came out to investigate the new voices.
"Happ!" Happiny exclaimed as her gaze settled on Rockruff. She made a beeline over to him and tackled him to the ground as a greeting. The two of them wrestled for a few moments before Rockruff found himself pinned against the ground and Happiny declared herself the winner.
"This is Happiny," Brock said as they watched Rockruff introduce her to the other Pokemon in the group. Happiny attempted to greet the others in the same fashion as she did with Rockruff, though the results varied greatly. She didn't expect Wartortle's shell to be so hard and she winced as her head met with it. Pikachu evaded her tackle attack with his Double Team, but she did startle Greninja when she got a hold of his leg and hoisted him up in the air.
"What the heck?" Ash exclaimed with both hands on his head. "Is she like freakishly strong?"
While Brock stared in awe with Ash, Gary was taking snapshots with Pokedex of Greninja being held up in the air by Happiny. She then caught sight of her final target, Umbreon, and promptly dropped Greninja to begin her approach.
"Wait, Happiny," Gary began as a warning. He cringed as Umbreon's eyes became wide, and then Umbreon arched his back. Rather than strike or hiss at Happiny, he snaked his way around her and wrapped her with his body. Happiny blinked as she was suddenly seated on the ground with Umbreon around her, and he diligently licked at her ponytail to groom it since it was now askew from roughhousing with Rockruff. Happiny didn't even hesitate to snuggle into Umbreon as she allowed him to work, and she beamed happily. Gary barely kept his balance to avoid a face fault. "What the heck? I swear you never make any sense."
Umbreon shot a leer at Gary, but he continued to tend to Happiny. While Gary stopped to focus on Umbreon, Ash, and Brock approached the entrance to Chansey's den and found her waiting there since she heard the commotion outside. Upon seeing Brock, Chansey offered a smile and saluted to him before she motioned for him to follow him into the den. Ash and Brock hunched over to avoid hitting their heads on the low roof while they followed Chansey to the bed where Sudowoodo was resting.
Sudowoodo was still sound asleep, but Chansey retrieved a chesto berry from her workbench and brought it over. She waved it right above Sudowoodo's head, and after a few moments, he stirred. With a groan, Sudowoodo opened his eyes and then he sat upright.
"You are absolutely incredible, Chansey!" Brock exclaimed as he prostrated himself in front of Chansey, bowing his head repeatedly in an expression of thanks, and Chansey offered a smile in response.
Sudowoodo squinted as his vision gradually came into focus, and he found Brock thanking Chansey repeatedly. The sight of Brock caused the events of yesterday to come back to Sudowoodo's mind, and he lowered a hand to check his torso. Feeling no pain from this movement, he looked down to see for himself and his eyes grew wide as he saw his current state. He was as good as new!
Chansey gave a nervous chuckle as Sudowoodo mimicked Brock, bowing over and over again as thanks. To settle them down, Chansey offered to do one last check-up on Sudowoodo using her Heal Pulse. Greninja happened to step into the entryway of the den, and Chansey's Heal Pulse immediately caught his attention. After carefully examining Sudowoodo's torso, Chansey gave her stamp of approval in the form of one last salute before she ushered Brock and Sudowoodo toward the entrance of her den. As she removed them from her den, Greninja took the opportunity to pose a question to her.
Once outside of the den, Brock turned to Sudowoodo and kneeled to be at eye level with him. "So, I take it you're feeling alright now?" Brock asked. He already knew the answer, but he needed the affirmation from Sudowoodo himself.
"Sudo," Sudowoodo said as he did a few arm circles, and then he ran in place as a demonstration. "Sudo-woodo!" His declaration put Brock at ease.
"I'm glad you're okay," Brock exhaled. "I was really worried about you yesterday. Thank goodness Chansey is a miracle worker!"
Sudowoodo gave a large nod of agreement. The two of them stood in silence for a moment and listened as they heard Rockruff and Happiny wrestling on the other side of the den. Brock rumbled his lips and scratched at the back of his neck, trying to figure out what he was going to say next.
"Sudowoodo?" Brock said to get his attention. "I don't know how well you remember what happened yesterday, but there was a point where I was giving you an apology. I figured I would say it again now that you're in better condition."
Sudowoodo furrowed his brow as he waited for Brock to continue.
"You got hurt because of me," Brock began. "And I can't forgive myself for being such a knucklehead," Brock stopped to shake his head. "I don't know what to say or how to make this up to you. But we're going to be in this area for a few days. If you think of anything that you want me to do, just feel free to let me know. I'll show you where we're staying, and you can come find me."
Sudowoodo tilted his head at the offer, but he lacked an answer. Thankfully, he didn't need to provide an answer right now, and Brock's attention was taken elsewhere.
"Whoa! When did you learn how to do that?!" This exclamation came from Ash within Chansey's den. Of course, that gained everyone's attention as everyone, all of the Pokemon included, came rushing to see the cause of the shout.
Within the tree stump, Greninja was the center of attention. He waved one of his hands through the air, guiding a stream of water through the air which he then brought to his left forearm. Greninja wrapped it in water and sealed it off, and upon doing this, the water began to glow in the den. After a few moments, the glow faded and Greninja allowed the water to drop to the ground.
"That wasn't his Water Pledge?" Gary inquired as he approached Greninja.
"No, that was actually an Aqua Ring!" Ash declared. There was only one Pokemon that used this move to Ash's memory, and that was Misty's Lapras. "So, you were sneaking in lessons, huh?" Ash wore a crooked grin as he posed this question to Greninja who scratched at the back of his neck, a faint blush on his cheeks.
Greninja went on to share that he did in fact get a crash course on how to use Aqua Ring from Misty's Lapras. Unfortunately, that was his only lesson and Greninja spent the last three days tinkering with this move on his own with little progress to show for it. However, after witnessing Chansey's Heal Pulse, Greninja quickly realized that he had found an instructor. While Chansey didn't have any skill with water manipulation, she had a lot to share regarding the application of Heal Pulse to Greninja's Aqua Ring.
With the agreement to teach Greninja what she could, Chansey took them all outside of her den. She scanned the area briefly before she spotted where the group entered her small clearing. Chansey pointed out their footsteps, making note of the plant life that they stepped on and she kneeled to demonstrate her Heal Pulse.
They all watched on with intrigue as her small palms became engulfed in a soft pink light. Chansey called for Greninja to watch closely as she placed one hand right against the grass, and the other she held just above that. Glittering dust took shape in the gap between Chansey's raised and the grass, and it began to spiral around it. The wilted grass seemed to respond as it perked up, regaining its usual posture and color. Greninja furrowed his brow, and Chansey invited him to attempt to do the same. With his Aqua Ring activated, Greninja tried to mimic Chansey's Heal Pulse but there was no response from the wilted patch of grass he chose to work on.
After a few moments, Chansey called for his attention and demonstrated a second time. Everyone watched closely, but it wasn't until Chansey performed this four times that Brock seemed to understand the application.
"It's like a bandage," Brock pointed out. "You have to wrap the affected area with your Aqua Ring for it to work its magic."
It was medical science. Part of treating an injury was stabilizing it, protecting it, and then using the accelerated healing effects of Aqua Ring or Heal Pulse to do its job under conditions that supported a fast recovery. Greninja wasn't creating the conditions needed for his new healing tool to accomplish its job. With that in mind, Greninja adjusted as he kneeled over another patch of wilted grass. This time, he twisted the water in a spiral around the grass and achieved a very similar result to Chansey. She clapped for him with a large smile of approval as the grass sprung back to life, and then she complimented Brock for his excellent analysis.
Sudowoodo raised his brow as he watched Brock slap Greninja on the back and joined in on celebrating his success with Aqua Ring. Greninja wasn't a member of Brock's team, but that didn't stop Brock from enjoying this small moment of triumph with him. Sudowoodo felt his lips curve upward as he watched Brock's interactions with the group.
Even though Chansey's lesson was over, the group remained with her and Chansey for another hour. This time was spent allowing her to give every one of them a full check-up. While the Pokemon present healed naturally from any damage they received, Chansey took the time to use her Heal Pulse to address the build-up of fatigue in their muscles. With the amount of physical training Pikachu did daily, he was like putty in Chansey's hands as she gave him a massage. Ash laughed as Pikachu discharged electricity from his fur and explained to Brock that Pikachu builds electricity when his muscles contract and tension contains it. So Chansey's massage was releasing any tension, all of the excess electricity within him was escaping as well.
Once each of the Pokemon was examined and treated by Chansey, it was the boy's turn for a check-up. While Brock and Gary just got a massage, Ash received more extensive attention. To both Brock and Gary's surprise, Ash's torso and arms were littered with bruises.
"Oh, well Greninja hits pretty hard whenever we spar," Ash explained as Chansey used her Heal Pulse on a particularly dark bruise on his shoulder. "I can block his hits, but they still do damage through my guard."
"Geez," Gary winced as he observed Ash's body. Thankfully, it didn't remain that way for long. Chansey's treatment healed both the damage done as well as the condition of Ash's skin. It was as if he never had any damage at all! Chansey then encouraged Greninja to attempt using Aqua Ring on Ash to help with addressing some of Ash's bruises. She carefully guided him on how to seal the damaged area of Ash's forearm in water to start the process. Brock recorded this process with his Pokedex, eager to see the results.
Greninja recalled what Brock had shared with him earlier. Think of it like a bandage. At first, Greninja wrapped Ash's entire forearm, but Chansey shook her head and motioned for him to focus it on just the bruise. Greninja stretched his fingers and condensed the water around Ash's darkened skin. Then Chansey nodded and motioned for Greninja to proceed. The Aqua Ring gained a dim glow at first, and Greninja held it in place. Brock zoomed in on the Aqua Ring, and he was positive that he could see the water swirling before it flashed.
Greninja pulled away the water, and Chansey leaned in closer to inspect. The darkness of the bruise was significantly reduced, but clearly, the healing effects of Aqua Ring currently weren't to the same standard as Chansey's Heal Pulse. However, Chansey applauded Greninja for his effort. Chansey then stepped in to finish healing the bruises for Ash, and he gave both of them a small bow of thanks.
With that, Greninja's lesson concluded, and the group decided that it was time to return to the rest stop. They waved goodbye to Chansey and Happiny, and with that, the gang along with Sudowoodo began their return trip to the rest stop.
A/N
How long has it been? Too long, I know. I've been writing here and there and thought I might as well just upload what I have since this Pewter City arc is looking like a two-parter at this point. After the events in Cerulean City, Pewter City is more of a break since the last three cities all came with at least one 'significant' battle. I'm trying to make sure I balance out the events to include the other aspects of a journey too.
Minor update to some terminology: Great Crisis will now be referred to as the Devastation. The Great Crisis was always a placeholder name until I thought of a better one, I'm now realizing I never thought of a better one and I figured I might as well update to something that just sounds...I don't know, better I guess. Great Crisis just doesn't sound right to me anymore.
All that aside, hope you enjoyed this chapter. It was a quiet one, but that's intentional for this mini-arc. Because once they leave Pewter City, you're in for what is probably going to be the craziest battle I've attempted so far.