Elena woke with her arm completely numb.
She slowly opened her eyes, still disoriented, and it took her several seconds to remember why she had spent the night sleeping in a chair inside the infirmary.
The storm, the landslide, the shelter, and the journey back through the rain returned to her mind.
She tried to raise her head.
Something heavy was resting on her hand.
Elena looked down and found Absol sleeping beside the examination table.
The Pokémon had placed her head beneath Elena’s palm, almost as if she had deliberately sought out her touch at some point during the night.
A smile appeared on the girl’s face.
“I knew you liked me.”
Absol’s red eyes opened.
The Pokémon immediately raised her head and tried to move away, but the sudden movement caused her to put too much weight on her injured leg.
Her body tensed.
“Don’t move so quickly.”
Elena rose from the chair and approached her.
One of her legs had fallen asleep, causing her to nearly stumble on her first step.
Absol looked at her with an expression that seemed to say she was in no position to give anyone advice.
“That was different.”
The Pokémon snorted.
“My leg was only asleep. You’re injured.”
Elena examined the bandage.
It was still clean, and there were no signs that the wound had reopened.
On a nearby table, she found a bowl of water, several sliced Berries, and a plate of food prepared especially for carnivorous Pokémon.
Absol hadn’t touched any of it.
“You need to eat.”
The Pokémon turned her head toward the window.
The rain had stopped.
Morning light entered the room, revealing part of the forest still covered in mist.
“You can leave afterward,” Elena said.
“No one will lock you up.”
Absol kept her gaze fixed outside.
“But first, you need to eat and let someone examine your leg.”
The infirmary door opened.
Adrian entered alongside a gray-haired woman wearing the breeding center’s uniform.
Doctor Miriam was responsible for treating most of the Pokémon living near the mansion, although she also assisted human workers during emergencies.
Her Chansey walked behind her, carrying a tray with clean bandages.
Adrian looked at Elena.
“I see you’re awake.”
“Not long ago.”
“Did you sleep well?”
Elena glanced at the chair.
“More or less.”
“I’m glad to hear it. It will be the last time you sleep outside your room for quite a while.”
The girl frowned.
“How long am I grounded?”
“I haven’t decided yet.”
“That sounds unfair.”
“You entered an area affected by a landslide alone, disobeyed a direct order, and forced several people to search for you during a storm.”
“But I found the shelter.”
“Thanks to Absol.”
“I helped too.”
“And I’m proud that you helped save those Pokémon.”
Elena blinked.
She hadn’t expected her father to say that.
Adrian approached and crouched in front of her.
“Being brave doesn’t mean being fearless or running toward every danger you encounter. It means acting despite your fear when there is no other option. You had other options.”
“If I had waited, the roof would have collapsed.”
“You couldn’t have known that.”
“Absol did.”
Adrian looked at the Pokémon.
She remained beside the examination table, carefully watching every movement the humans made.
“That’s true,” he admitted.
“But a guardian cannot depend solely on luck or on finding a guide at exactly the right moment. A guardian needs to know when to move forward, when to ask for help, and when to retreat.”
Elena lowered her gaze.
“I’m sorry.”
Her father remained silent for several seconds.
“Are you sorry for disobeying me or because you’re grounded?”
“For making everyone worry.”
Adrian placed a hand on her head.
“That’s a better answer.”
“Does that mean you’ll reduce my punishment?”
“No.”
Elena sighed.
Doctor Miriam concealed a smile as she approached Absol.
“I need to examine your bandage.”
Absol bared her teeth.
Chansey stopped.
Elena moved beside the examination table.
“She won’t hurt you.”
The Pokémon didn’t take her eyes off Miriam.
“You can watch her the whole time,” Elena continued.
“If she tries anything strange, growl at her.”
The doctor raised an eyebrow.
“Thank you for making my job easier.”
“No problem.”
“That wasn’t a compliment.”
Despite her distrust, Absol allowed Miriam to remove the bandage.
The wound was long but shallow.
She had probably been struck by a rock while running through the mountains before the storm.
“It will heal in a week if she rests,” Miriam explained.
“She shouldn’t run or use moves that require putting too much pressure on her hind legs.”
Absol released a low sound.
“That means you can’t return to the mountains yet,” Elena translated.
The Pokémon looked at her with annoyance.
“I wasn’t the one who decided it.”
Miriam applied an ointment and placed a fresh bandage around the wound.
“She also needs to eat. She used a great deal of energy.”
Elena picked up the plate and brought it closer.
“You heard the doctor.”
Absol sniffed the food.
After several seconds, she began eating, although she did so slowly and without taking her eyes off the people in the room.
Adrian crossed his arms.
“She seems to listen to you.”
“Because she trusts me.”
Absol stopped chewing and looked at Elena.
“At least a little,” she corrected herself.
The Pokémon continued eating.
At the Oak Laboratory, Lucian observed Rattata from the other side of the enclosure.
Two days had passed since he proposed moving the Pokémon to a quieter room.
During that time, Rattata had begun eating more regularly.
Its coat was gradually regaining its shine, and its energy levels no longer dropped during the night.
The most obvious change was in its behavior.
On the first day, Rattata hid whenever someone entered the room.
Now, it approached the barrier whenever it recognized Daisy or one of the assistants.
It still became nervous around larger Pokémon, but it no longer stopped eating for hours at a time.
Daisy crouched beside the enclosure and offered it a small portion of food.
Rattata approached.
“It’s eating faster than it did yesterday,” she commented.
Lucian wrote down the amount and the time.
“It also left less food after its last meal.”
“Does that mean you were right?”
“Our hypothesis was correct.”
“That isn’t what I asked.”
Lucian looked up from his notebook.
“Yes.”
Daisy smiled.
“You’re getting better at admitting things.”
“I have no problem acknowledging facts.”
“Except when you lose.”
“When have I lost?”
“During our argument about your free time.”
“That wasn’t a competition.”
“Because you lost.”
Lucian decided to ignore her.
Professor Oak entered the room accompanied by one of his assistants.
He carried a tablet containing the latest test results.
“His energy levels have returned to the normal range,” he announced.
“If his condition continues to improve, we’ll be able to return him to Route 1 in three or four days.”
Daisy gently stroked Rattata’s head with one finger.
“Will he return to the same territory?”
“First, we’ll confirm that the Fearow is no longer nearby. Then we’ll reunite him with the other member of his group.”
Lucian closed his notebook.
A blue window appeared in front of his eyes.
Side Mission Completed
Name: A Guest in Need
Result Evaluation:
—Primary cause identified: post-attack stress response.
—Nutritional adjustment approved.
—Recovery environment improved.
—Patient recovery: satisfactory.
—External system resources used: none.
Overall Evaluation: Excellent.
Reward Obtained: Basic Knowledge—Dietary Evaluation for Pokémon with Accelerated Metabolisms.
Additional Reward: Basic Nutritional Formula for Physical Recovery and Stress Reduction.
Note: The formula must be adapted according to the Pokémon’s species, age, weight, and individual condition.
A warm sensation moved through Lucian’s mind.
He didn’t receive a list of memorized answers.
Instead, the knowledge slowly integrated itself, connecting with what he had already studied.
He gained a better understanding of how the metabolisms of smaller species reacted to stress.
He also recognized several mistakes that could be made when providing overly energetic foods to an inactive or frightened Pokémon.
The additional reward was useful but not miraculous.
It wouldn’t heal severe injuries or replace medical treatment.
It was a foundation he could modify using available ingredients.
Exactly the kind of reward he wanted to receive.
“You’re making that expression again,” Daisy said.
Lucian blinked.
“What expression?”
“The one you make when you discover something and don’t want to explain it.”
Oak observed him with interest.
“Did you have an idea?”
Lucian looked at the Rattata.
He couldn’t reveal the existence of the system, but that didn’t mean he had to conceal every piece of knowledge he received.
“I think we can improve the mixture for future patients. Not only by adjusting its energy content, but also by adding ingredients that help reduce stress and are easy to digest.”
“What ingredients?”
“I need to review the properties of several Berries.”
Oak smiled.
“Then prepare a proposal. You won’t use anything on a Pokémon until I review it.”
“Understood.”
“And you will not spend the entire night working on it.”
“I’ll make sure of it.”
Lucian looked at them both.
“I don’t need supervision to sleep.”
“You stayed awake past midnight yesterday,” Daisy said.
“I was organizing my notes.”
“At midnight.”
“I wasn’t tired.”
Oak put the tablet away.
“You’ll have enough activity today to make you tired.”
Lucian noticed the peculiar glint in the professor’s eyes.
“What kind of activity?”
“I want to evaluate your Pokémon.”
Beldum, which was floating near the door, released an excited vibration.
Growlithe’s ears rose.
Daisy stood.
“Will it be a battle?”
“An evaluation,” Oak corrected.
“I need to observe their physical condition, energy control, moves, and coordination with Lucian.”
“Then it will involve a battle.”
“It may include one.”
Lucian closed his notebook.
He had been waiting for this evaluation since he arrived.
“When do we begin?”
Oak looked at the clock.
“In twenty minutes.”
The training field was located behind the laboratory and surrounded by a durable barrier.
It contained several moving targets, obstacles of different sizes, and machines designed to measure the strength of attacks.
Lucian removed his jacket and left it on a bench.
Growlithe walked to the center of the field.
Beldum floated beside him.
Daisy and Swablu sat near Oak as he prepared the measuring instruments.
“We’ll begin with Growlithe,” the professor said.
“I don’t only want to see how much power he has. Show me his speed, control, and ability to follow instructions.”
Lucian nodded.
“Growlithe, mobility course.”
The Pokémon lowered his body.
Four targets emerged from the ground.
“Go.”
Growlithe sprinted forward.
He didn’t move in a straight line.
He changed direction between the obstacles, jumped over a barrier, and passed beneath a platform.
When the first target lit up, he used Ember.
Several small flames struck the center.
The second target appeared behind him.
“Turn right. Bite.”
Growlithe planted his front paws against the ground, changed direction, and lunged at the training dummy.
His fangs glowed before closing around one of its arms.
The third target began moving.
“Don’t chase it. Anticipate its trajectory.”
Growlithe stopped.
His eyes followed the target’s movement for several seconds.
Then he ran toward an empty space.
The target changed direction and moved directly in front of him.
“Leer.”
Growlithe released an intimidating glare.
The target’s sensors recorded the energy emitted by the move.
“Now, Flame Wheel.”
Fire surrounded the Pokémon’s body.
Growlithe rolled forward and struck the final target.
The machine was pushed several yards before coming to a stop.
Daisy applauded.
Swablu imitated the sound by flapping her wings.
Oak examined the results.
“Good speed and excellent obedience. His flames are stable, although he still loses some energy while covering his entire body.”
“We’re working on that,” Lucian replied.
“Do you use Flame Wheel to improve his heat resistance?”
“That, and to strengthen his control. At first, he generated too many flames around his head and chest.”
Oak approached Growlithe and examined his breathing.
“His physical condition is good for his age. Don’t increase the intensity for at least two weeks. He must adapt first.”
“My grandfather said the same thing.”
“For once, we agree.”
Growlithe returned to Lucian.
The boy crouched and inspected his paws before offering him water.
“You did well.”
Growlithe wagged his tail.
Beldum moved forward without waiting to be called.
Oak raised an eyebrow.
“It seems impatient.”
“It doesn’t like being left behind.”
“I wonder who it learned that from,” Daisy remarked.
Lucian pretended not to hear her.
Oak increased the resistance of one of the targets.
“Beldum possesses an unusual physical structure, even for its species. I want to observe Take Down first.”
Lucian looked at his partner.
“Begin at forty percent.”
Beldum moved several yards backward.
Energy covered its body.
“Now.”
The Pokémon shot forward.
It struck the target with a metallic crash.
The machine tilted, but its anchors prevented it from being thrown backward.
Oak checked the screen.
“Forty-three percent of its estimated strength. Its control is fairly precise.”
“It used to have difficulty reducing its power once it began accelerating.”
“How did you correct it?”
“We divided the move into stages. Initial acceleration, stabilization, and contact.”
Oak nodded.
“Try again at sixty percent.”
Beldum prepared itself.
The second impact made the barrier shake.
Daisy’s eyes widened.
“That was only sixty percent?”
“Approximately,” Lucian replied.
“What happens when it uses its full strength?”
“It injures itself.”
Oak looked at the boy.
“An answer that proves you at least understand the problem.”
Beldum floated back.
It showed no visible injuries, although its energy was more agitated.
“You will not use one hundred percent yet,” Lucian ordered.
Beldum released a disappointed hum.
“That is not negotiable.”
The Pokémon descended several inches.
Daisy covered her mouth to hide her laughter.
Oak walked around Beldum.
“Its psychic energy is stronger than expected. Has it begun moving objects?”
“Small ones. It can also adjust its trajectory slightly while using Take Down.”
“That isn’t common before evolution.”
“Its father belongs to one of the colony’s dominant bloodlines.”
Oak directed an intense gaze toward Beldum.
“Your grandfather mentioned that it descends from the colony’s leader, but he didn’t explain much more.”
“The colony doesn’t allow humans to approach its inner territory. Even my family respects those boundaries.”
“Then how did you end up with it?”
Beldum became motionless.
Lucian placed a hand on its metallic body.
“It was rejected because of its color.”
The Pokémon’s emotions changed.
It was an old wound, but one that remained painful.
Growlithe approached and sat beside it.
Lucian continued.
“I found it far from the colony when we were both younger. It didn’t need them to choose it.”
Beldum leaned against his hand.
Oak observed the bond between them.
“No,” he eventually said.
“It seems it already made its own choice.”
Daisy smiled.
The evaluation continued for another hour.
Oak tested Beldum’s accuracy, Growlithe’s endurance, and Lucian’s ability to change his instructions when unexpected obstacles appeared.
By the end, both Pokémon were tired but satisfied.
Oak recorded the final results.
“They are above the level I would expect from Pokémon trained by someone your age.”
“My grandfather supervises our routines.”
“That explains part of their progress, but not all of it. They trust you.”
Lucian remained silent.
To him, that was more important than any measurement.
“However,” Oak continued, “there is a problem.”
“What is it?”
“All three of you demand too much from yourselves.”
Daisy raised her hand.
“I agree.”
“No one asked you,” Lucian replied.
“I’m still right.”
Oak put away the instruments.
“Beldum tries to exceed its limits whenever given the opportunity. Growlithe imitates it because he doesn’t want to fall behind, and you allow both of them to train longer than necessary because you also want to improve quickly.”
Lucian looked at his partners.
He couldn’t completely deny the accusation.
“We have objectives to reach.”
“Those objectives will not disappear because you rest for a day.”
“Some of them do have time limits.”
He thought about the beginning of Ash’s journey, still several years in the future, and the events that would follow.
He had time, but he couldn’t waste it.
Oak knew nothing about that part.
“Then you’ll have to learn the difference between advancing quickly and rushing forward,” the professor said.
“A good breeder doesn’t only help a Pokémon grow. They also stop that Pokémon from destroying itself in the attempt.”
Lucian nodded slowly.
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
“I don’t want you to only keep it in mind. There will be no intense training tomorrow.”
Beldum vibrated in protest.
“That applies to you too.”
Growlithe lowered his ears.
Daisy stood.
“We can take them to the river.”
Lucian looked at her.
“We went today.”
“There’s more than one place near the river.”
Oak smiled.
“Problem solved.” Find the original chapter at g.com.
Lucian was beginning to suspect that Daisy and the professor had formed a dangerous alliance.
Absol spent most of the day resting in the infirmary.
Elena remained with her, partly because she wanted to keep her company and partly because her punishment prevented her from leaving the mansion without supervision.
She tried to brush Absol’s fur, but the Pokémon refused during her first three attempts.
On the fourth, she allowed Elena to clean a section of her back.
“You have a lot of branches caught in your fur.”
Absol looked away.
“If you’re going to live in the forest, you should let someone help care for your coat.”
The Pokémon turned her head and looked at her.
Elena stopped brushing.
“I didn’t say you had to stay.”
For some reason, saying it produced an unpleasant feeling in her chest.
“You can leave once your leg heals.”
Absol stood.
Elena thought she would walk toward the window, but the Pokémon merely changed positions and lay down again, this time closer to the girl.
“Although you could visit the breeding center occasionally.”
Absol closed her eyes.
“We have good food.”
One ear moved.
“And warm places to sleep.”
Her other ear tilted toward Elena.
“Besides, I could keep brushing you.”
Absol opened one eye.
Elena smiled.
“I knew that would interest you.”
The door opened, and Adrian entered.
He carried a standard Poké Ball in one hand.
Elena put down the brush.
“I said I wouldn’t try to capture her.”
“I didn’t say you had to.”
Adrian placed the sphere on a nearby table.
“A Pokémon doesn’t need to live inside a Poké Ball to be your friend. However, if she intends to accompany you beyond the island someday, it will be safer for her to be registered as your partner.”
Elena looked at the sphere.
“Do you think she wants to stay?”
“It doesn’t matter what I think.”
Adrian looked at Absol.
“It’s her decision.”
The Pokémon opened her eyes.
Elena picked up the Poké Ball but didn’t press the button.
She approached Absol and sat in front of her.
“I’m not going to force you.”
Absol observed the sphere.
“If you accept, it doesn’t mean you have to remain inside. You can continue living in the forest or come to the breeding center whenever you want.”
The Pokémon raised her gaze toward Elena.
“Someday, I want to travel through other regions. I want to discover new species, learn about breeding, and help protect Pokémon that cannot protect themselves.”
Absol remained silent.
“I’ll probably get into trouble.”
From the doorway, Adrian snorted.
“A lot of trouble,” Elena added.
“So it would be useful to have someone with more common sense nearby.”
Absol looked at Adrian and then back at Elena.
The girl placed the Poké Ball on the floor.
“You decide.”
Absol carefully stood.
She walked around the sphere and sniffed it.
Then she approached Elena.
For several seconds, it appeared she would completely ignore the Poké Ball.
Then she extended one paw.
She touched the central button.
The sphere opened and converted her body into red light.
The Poké Ball closed, moved once, and became still.
Elena held her breath.
There had been no resistance.
The girl picked up the sphere with both hands.
“Does that mean…?”
Adrian smiled.
“It means she chose you.”
Elena pressed the button.
Absol reappeared in front of her.
The girl threw her arms around her.
“I have my first Pokémon!”
Absol lost her balance and fell onto the carpet beside Elena.
“I’m sorry! Did I hurt you?”
The Pokémon raised her head and licked Elena’s cheek.
Elena froze.
Then she began to laugh.
Adrian watched them from the doorway.
His daughter was still grounded.
She would also have to train, study safety protocols, and learn that she couldn’t chase every mysterious Pokémon that appeared in the middle of a storm.
But she had found her first partner.
Or perhaps they had found each other.
That afternoon, Lucian received a video call from the island.
Daisy was sitting beside him when Elena’s image appeared on the screen.
“Lucian!”
“You’re all right.”
Elena blinked.
“Of course I’m all right.”
“I felt something strange last night. The compass also began moving.”
She raised a hand toward her belt before remembering that the compass was no longer there.
“There was a storm.”
“What happened?”
“A small landslide.”
Adrian appeared in the background.
“It wasn’t small.”
“No one was seriously injured,” Elena said.
“That doesn’t answer his question,” her father interjected.
Lucian narrowed his eyes.
“What did you do?”
“Why do you assume I did something?”
Daisy leaned toward the camera.
“Because we know you.”
Elena looked at her.
“Hello, Daisy.”
“Hello, Elena.”
They both smiled.
Lucian sensed that their smiles were far too polite.
“I went to help some trapped Pokémon,” Elena explained.
“During a landslide,” Adrian added.
“I had help.”
“From whom?”
Elena moved away from the camera.
For a moment, Lucian couldn’t see anything.
Then she returned while trying to persuade someone outside the camera’s view to come closer.
“Come here. I want to introduce you to Lucian.”
A white figure appeared beside her.
Lucian immediately recognized the curved horn, dark face, and red eyes.
“An Absol.”
The Pokémon studied Lucian’s image on the screen.
Elena wrapped one arm around her neck.
“My Absol.”
Lucian remained silent.
Then he smiled.
“She chose you.”
“Yes.”
He didn’t ask if Elena had captured her or what potential she possessed.
The way Absol remained beside Elena was enough for him to understand what had happened.
“She’s beautiful,” Daisy said.
“She’s also strong,” Elena replied.
“Swablu is beautiful and strong.”
“I never said she wasn’t.”
Daisy lifted Swablu in front of the camera.
The small bird sang in greeting.
Absol tilted her head.
“They can train together someday,” Daisy proposed.
Elena smiled.
“Whenever you want.”
Lucian watched them both.
There was definitely something strange about that conversation.
“Growlithe and Beldum also want to meet her.”
Growlithe immediately appeared in front of the screen.
Beldum floated above his head.
Absol showed mild curiosity.
“When you return,” Elena said, “we’ll take them into the forest.”
“Twenty-seven days remain.”
“I’m counting.”
Daisy crossed her arms.
“He still has many things to do here.”
“I never said he didn’t.”
“It sounded as though you wanted him to return tomorrow.”
“He can decide when he wants to return.”
Both girls looked at Lucian.
He remained silent for several seconds.
Even without using his psychic abilities, he recognized a dangerous situation when he saw one.
“The ship already has a scheduled departure date.”
Daisy and Elena narrowed their eyes.
Adrian began laughing in the background.
Lucian decided to change the subject.
“Elena, make sure Absol doesn’t put too much weight on her hind leg. That bandage looks recent.”
“The doctor said she needs to rest for a week.”
“Then she shouldn’t train.”
Absol growled.
Beldum responded with an understanding vibration.
Growlithe barked.
All three appeared to share the same opinion regarding mandatory rest.
Lucian sighed.
“This will be more difficult than I expected.”
Elena stroked her partner’s white fur.
“But it will be worth it.”
Absol rested her head against her.
Lucian watched the scene and remembered the day he found Beldum alone and rejected far from its colony.
Some bonds didn’t begin with a battle.
Nor did they begin with a Poké Ball.
They began when two lonely beings decided to trust one another.
And Elena had just taken the first step on her own journey.
End of Chapter 15