Pokemon Paldea [335-336] (Patreon)

Chapter 335: A Weary Eevee

By the time Lucas reached the Pokémon Center in Los Platos, the rain was coming down in sheets.

Fortunately, he'd timed his trip well.

A long stretch after leaving the farm's stone path was all dirt road.

On rainy days, dirt roads are the very definition of a nightmare.

Once soaked, the mud would easily cake a clean pair of shoes in yellow sludge, and the puddles formed by the ruts and bumps were nightmares within the nightmare.

But today, the downpour didn't start until he had already reached the town's proper concrete pavement.

Now only his cuffs and toe tips were flecked with dirty splashback—far better than dealing with mud.

At the Pokémon Center entrance, Lucas shook off his umbrella and hung it on the purpose-built rack by the door before heading in.

As he stepped forward, he glanced out at the pouring rain and thought that when the sun came out after the storm, Mudsdale would be thrilled.

After all, there'd be fresh puddles everywhere to play in.

As the automatic doors slid open, soothing music drifted to Lucas's ears.

Probably because of the rain, the Los Platos Pokémon Center wasn't crowded; there were few Trainers, and most people were merely taking shelter.

Among Paldea's many cities, Los Platos isn't exactly a Trainer magnet. Nurse Joy—far more at leisure than her counterparts in Mesagoza or Levincia—was watching the only hanging TV in the lobby with the other rain refugees, catching the morning Paldea news.

Along the wall, a few people with damp shoulders and hair were using the Center's landlines, speaking with troubled expressions.

From their clothes, Lucas didn't need to guess: office workers caught without umbrellas, calling in to request leave.

Lucas found the technology of this world oddly skewed.

There are Poké Balls that store Pokémon, space packs that can hold piles of room-filling items, and yet people still rely on landlines and phone booths, and prefer watching TV; among ordinary residents, smartphones are surprisingly rare.

Even Iono-related streams—something Lucas remembered as wildly popular—didn't have the numbers he expected.

Rotom Phones haven't been invented yet; Clemont's Rotom Dex is still just an idea. Still, it's strange that ordinary folks avoid phones and even computers, which are mostly for work—while Trainers use them more.

Maybe things will improve in a few years.

With that, Lucas approached Nurse Joy and asked if she had any basic texts on pharmacology.

Because he'd previously come here to have his Delibird take a psychological test and had borrowed related books, Nurse Joy had a good impression of him.

But as the most skilled medical professional in the Center, she knew pharmacy is complicated, and asked, concerned, "Are you planning to make medicine yourself?"

"That's the plan."

Lucas nodded, taking out a wooden case he'd kept dry, and opened it to show her a Herba Mystica: Sour Herba.

"I recently acquired a few of these rare plants. I'm thinking of combining them with some mild medicinal herbs, putting them into a Shuckle to brew a potion."

"May I take a look?"

Rather than answer immediately, she politely asked to examine the herb.

"Of course."

Lucas handed over the case. Since he'd come to her, this level of trust was only reasonable.

Joy accepted the box and examined the precious herb he spoke of.

Judging by looks, it resembled a tea twig with yellow leaves more than a medicinal plant.

Wafting it without contaminating it, a distinct sour aroma spread through her sinuses, making her mouth water involuntarily.

"This…"

It felt less like an herb and more like something you'd pound up and use as seasoning, despite looking like a tea sprig.

Could this really have medicinal effects?

Doubt flashed in her eyes, but she considered that Lucas wasn't the sort to make such a novice mistake—or to mess with her.

With a polite yet awkward smile, Joy said tactfully, "This might be more suited to medicinal cuisine."

Lucas understood her reaction.

In the games, Herba Mystica is crushed and sprinkled on food—powerful enough to fully restore a near-death Mabosstiff, or unlock Koraidon/Miraidon's sealed forms after losing to their kin.

Saying he'd make a medicine from it would indeed be puzzling to Nurse Joy.

But that was only because she didn't know what Herba Mystica could do.

If she saw its effects with her own eyes, she'd understand why he wanted to brew medicine with it.

With that in mind, Lucas plucked a leaf of the Sour Herba under Joy's surprised gaze and asked, "Do you have a Pokémon who's extremely fatigued and currently recovering?"

"I'd like to demonstrate what this plant can do."

Joy led him into the treatment area deep inside the Center.

As in the anime, each Pokémon had its own room, with unfamiliar but impressive medical equipment.

At room 018, Joy opened the door and stepped aside for a clear view.

On the bed lay a small brown fox, electrodes with white leads attached to its body, sleeping soundly.

Its fur was mostly brown, with creamy fluff at the neck and tail tip.

Its long, rabbit-like ears drooped weakly onto the soft bed, limbs curled slightly, hiding its pink pads.

Its breathing was a bit rapid; even its little black nose wasn't enough—its mouth was slightly open, exhaling quick breaths.

This was an Eevee, a Pokémon with many evolutionary paths. Judging by the heart-shaped cream mark at the tail tip, this Eevee was female.

"It seems she was hurt fighting a wild Pokémon. A Los Platos resident found her at dawn and brought her here," Joy said softly, worry lingering in her expression. "Her injuries are mostly treated, but she's dehydrated and exhausted from the battle. I've replenished her fluids with saline, but recovery of stamina isn't instant, even though I got a Sitrus Berry into her while she was out."

Joy's concern wasn't about Eevee's overall prognosis—food and a day or two of rest would do it.

She was worried whether Lucas's herb would actually help—or cause harm.

But since she'd brought him into the ward, she'd decided to trust him—and had called in her partner, Chansey, ready to take over at any time.

Holding a small bowl of crushed Sour Herba leaf, and after listening carefully to Joy's report, Lucas nodded, set the bowl down, gently lifted Eevee's head, and spooned the medicine into her mouth, bit by bit.

Since Eevee was in deep sleep and likely couldn't chew or swallow well, he'd added a little water to help her swallow unconsciously.

Eevee was tiny; Lucas could easily cradle her head with one hand and feed her with a Center-sized spoon.

He'd only used one leaf, and the water barely covered the bottom of the bowl; a few spoonfuls, and it was gone.

The sourness made Eevee scrunch her face even in sleep, her features practically collapsing inward.

Her little paws waved unconsciously, as if trying to escape the infernal sourness, but her body was so weak it looked more like a cute plea.

Her soft pads fell against his arm; Lucas, far from annoyed, looked utterly charmed and chuckled.

Joy, tense-faced, monitored the readings from the electrodes.

For the first three minutes, the numbers didn't change, and Joy didn't relax—many foods and herbs need time.

At the ten-minute mark, something finally shifted.

"This is…"

Staring at the screen, Joy's eyes went wide.

Chapter 336: A Polite Eevee and the Path of Medicine

Reflected in Joy's eyes, the real-time data on the monitor showed the fatigue and stamina bars shooting up as if given some miracle elixir—then stabilizing!
From the moment Eevee was fed to complete recovery from fatigue took less than fifteen minutes.

Don't think fifteen minutes is slow.

From ingestion to absorption to effect often takes time, and what Lucas fed Eevee was merely a crushed leaf mixed with water.

If it works this well raw, what would proper processing do…?
For an unprocessed herb to have such power—there's no record of anything like this in the Joy family archives!

Joy no longer harbored any doubt. Suppressing the urge to go pulverize a few punching bags to vent her excitement, she smiled gently. "Your herb works. Eevee should wake up soon."

As if on cue, Eevee—head still cradled in Lucas's hand, face puckered from sourness—opened her big, dark brown eyes, dazed and blinking.

Those bright, shiny eyes brimmed with life.

Eevee are often sensitive and timid, easily startled.

But this one—cute face notwithstanding, apparently brawling with some wild Pokémon before being found—didn't seem the type.

She cast Lucas a mildly reproachful look, then did nothing rash—stood up, shook out her fur, flung off the electrodes, and let out a pleased chirp.

"Bui~"

Though the sour taste lingered stubbornly, she seemed to sense these two humans had helped her—her wounds and fatigue were gone, after all.

Even if she'd had to suffer… no, taste something terribly sour, being back in form is a huge blessing for a wild Pokémon.

So she politely dipped her head to Lucas and Joy, thanking them in a soft, milky chirp.

Even iron-willed Joy melted on the spot, just shy of squealing, "So cute!"

Lucas, charmed as well, was also struck by how polite this Eevee was.

So polite, yet she fights so hard in the wild she got herself battered and exhausted and had to be brought in—what a contradiction.

After thanking them, Eevee fired starry-eyed looks at them and kept glancing at the closed door—as if hinting she was fine and ready to go.

Lucas was half amused, half exasperated. This little one was smart—and brimming with it.

If she kept looking at him like that, he'd be tempted to keep her. He glanced at Joy to ask her opinion.

He could easily house an Eevee at the farm, but seeing how eager she was to leave, he thought it best not to stop her.

If fate allowed, they'd meet again.

Joy wasn't a tyrant.

She simply gave a warm, nonthreatening smile and opened the door.

Eevee's eyes lit up. She hopped down, but didn't bolt; instead, she rubbed against both Lucas's and Joy's pant legs in equal measure before trotting out, light on her feet.

Lucas: "…"

Help. I just witnessed a tiny Eevee with future heartbreaker potential!

He and Joy followed Eevee to the lobby and found the downpour had stopped.

At the automatic doors, Eevee didn't bump the glass; she waited for a backpacker entering with a Pokémon to approach, then slipped out as the doors opened.

The traveler smiled—what a cute Eevee.

When Lucas followed, the traveler assumed it was a Trainer's playful Pokémon and grinned wider.

But when Joy came out too—and the traveler, intending to ask about a night's stay, realized no one had actually been escorting the Eevee—his smile froze.

He lifted a timid hand to call Joy, but she perfectly ignored him.

He was left staring, dazed, in the post-rain breeze.

This Eevee was very smart—and had excellent body control.

Lucas watched as she sprang along the concrete, landing neatly to avoid every puddle and keep her paws spotless.

He then recalled how clean her fur had been while he fed her—it didn't look wild at all.

But she was clearly heading out of town, which eased Lucas's and Joy's worry about her getting lost in the streets.

As for her pristine look—she probably just likes to keep clean.

Like Luxray, who spends ages grooming with its barbed tongue to keep its mane imposing.

Apparently, lately Luxray's even been helping Raging Bolt with hard-to-reach spots groom its fur. Lucas heard it from Oranguru; he hadn't seen it himself.

Given Raging Bolt's pride, letting someone else groom it would be like conceding lower status; he'd expect fireworks.

From a distance, they watched Eevee leave Los Platos and head into the wild.

Only then did Lucas and Joy head back.

After Joy processed the lodging for the aggrieved backpacker, she took Lucas to the familiar study.

He'd been here before to borrow Pokémon psychology texts, so he felt calm.

Naranja Academy's library was the intimidating one—books enough to last several lifetimes.

If not for having a professional like Joy to consult, he'd have gone back there.

Joy scanned the shelves by memory and quickly pulled several heavily annotated volumes.

Pharmacology

From Potion-Making: Beginner to Master

Basic Chemistry Even Chimchar Can Understand

Herbarium Illustrated

The Complete Guide to Medicinal Cuisine

Postpartum Care for Sows

Lucas: "…"

Joy silently slid the last one back and smiled kindly. "My family used to run a pig farm. Did you see anything just now?"

Lucas shook his head furiously.

Joy gave him a you-know-what's-good look, laid out the books, and stressed, "I get that you're eager to validate your idea using Shuckle's special brewing ability, but potion-making is not to be taken lightly."

"Many herbs conflict. Combine the wrong ones and you can cause major medical accidents. No cutting corners."

"If you want to fully realize your herb's potential, you need to learn from the ground up."

Joy believed in teaching a person to fish. Lucas, reminded that he had other Herba Mystica growing at the farm, realized he couldn't bug Joy for every recipe.

Putting knowledge in his own head was the safest path.
Who doesn't like leveling up with new skills?

With the farm's Pokémon multiplying, odd ailments could arise. Some medical knowledge would keep him from panicking.

Resolute, Lucas produced a pile of items on Joy's desk and declared, "Please, Nurse Joy—teach me the great Way of Medicine!"

Joy blinked. On the desk were food, drink, and brewables:

Golden honey of obvious quality, fresh Moomoo Milk, a big jar of cream, and tea leaves whose rich aroma seeped through their seal—
She swallowed. A tea devotee with deep knowledge, she suspected this was an exquisite red tea made from the delicate summer buds of Sawsbuck's seasonal new growth—priceless.

She'd meant to refuse any bribes, but her expression froze—and then, giving in, she clapped both hands on Lucas's shoulders.

The grip hurt; he sucked in a few sharp breaths as Joy, all-in now, promised, "I'll take this teaching on!"

"From now on, you'll attend class here at fixed times every day. I graduated top of my class—by the time I'm done, you'll be capable of running a Pokémon Center solo. Rest easy!"

Stunned by both her strength and her claim, Lucas thought:

Wait—just how far are you planning to push me?!