Without pausing for even a moment after rescuing the fallen Falinks leader, Nurse Joy swiftly took the medical kit from Chansey's hands. She patted the dust off the bandages wrapped around her arms, then skillfully began diagnosing and treating the injured Pokémon.
A short while later.
Chansey wiped the beads of sweat from Joy's forehead, and she let out a small sigh of relief as she straightened up. With a warm and reassuring expression, she turned to the group of Falinks followers and instructed, "Fortunately, these are only surface injuries. If the pressure had reached its internal organs, things would've been much more complicated. It should regain consciousness soon. When it does, be sure to…"
After carefully explaining everything they needed to know, Joy left with Chansey, her steps light and effortless despite the exhaustion.
Kai watched as the Falinks carefully lifted their leader and marched in unison toward their nest. He smiled—so this was why wild Pokémon rarely attacked Nurse Joy and Chansey in the wild. Their reputation for kindness and care had been built over countless years of unwavering dedication.
"Almost back to town now. I can finally take these off."
As she thought this, Joy expertly unwrapped the bandages from her arms and hands. Without them, her fair skin was fully visible, unblemished and uninjured. The bandages had only been for convenience while working in the field.
"Miss Joy!"
Just as she was about to start chatting with Chansey, a voice called out from behind her. She turned to see a young man, probably around seventeen or eighteen.
A Trainer?
Joy blinked. From experience, she knew that when Trainers approached her in the wild, it usually meant their Pokémon were injured. Without hesitation, she and Chansey stopped in their tracks.
"Hello, is there something I can help you with?" She greeted him with the perfect balance of warmth and professionalism.
Kai didn't waste time with pleasantries. He got straight to the point. "I have an injured Pokémon that I'd like you to take a look at."
A Trainer whose Pokémon had been injured after prolonged training in the wild. Joy immediately understood the situation and gave a reassuring smile. "Of course. We're almost back in town. Let's head to the Pokémon Center for a proper examination."
Kai nodded and followed along.
The journey from the outskirts of town to the Pokémon Center took about fifteen minutes.
Along the way, Kai explained everything that had happened with the Delibird—the moment he found it, its current condition, and the details surrounding its injuries.
At the Center, Joy unlocked the front doors, and Chansey expertly pressed a button to illuminate the previously dark interior. The lights flickered on, restoring the facility's usual welcoming atmosphere.
Joy led Kai into a clean medical examination room. "I have a Admiral idea of Delibird's condition from what you've told me, but I'll need to run a proper checkup to determine the cause and best course of treatment."
Kai nodded. Following her silent cue, he retrieved a Poké Ball and released Delibird onto the single examination bed in the room.
"Oh my!"
The moment the Pokémon appeared, Joy couldn't help but gasp, even though she had already been warned about its condition. Seeing Delibird completely bald, with not a single feather left on its body, was still shocking.
Delibird scanned its unfamiliar surroundings, looking uneasy. If not for Kai's presence, it likely would've bolted immediately.
"A Delibird with a tail this large shouldn't be this timid…" Joy murmured, observing its posture and expressions. "This is the first time I've seen one with such a big tail. In a Delibird flock, this one would've been strong enough to be a leader."
After a moment of thought, she turned to Chansey. "Please prepare the examination equipment and activate the medical system."
"Lucky~" Chansey nodded with a gentle smile and quickly got to work.
Joy then looked at Kai and said politely, "I'll need you to wait outside while we conduct the checkup."
Kai gave a slight nod. He patted Delibird gently to comfort it before stepping out of the room.
The examination lasted about ten minutes. When the green indicator light above the door finally switched off, Joy emerged from the medical room wearing a face mask, her expression serious.
Seeing this, Kai instinctively straightened up, his demeanor turning equally solemn.
Joy removed her mask, shut the door behind her—leaving Chansey and Delibird inside—then asked in a grave tone, "Did it get struck by lightning from the storm clouds three nights ago?"
Kai confirmed, "Yes."
"I see…" Joy furrowed her brows in thought before continuing, "The emergency treatment you provided was correct. I didn't find any hidden injuries or underlying issues."
She paused before explaining further. "The lightning didn't damage the roots of Delibird's feathers, either. While most of them have fallen out, given a Pokémon's natural resilience, they should fully regrow within two weeks at most."
Kai wasn't particularly surprised by this part of the diagnosis. Though this was his first time meeting the Nurse Joy of Levincia Town, the medical knowledge he had gained from other Joys across Paldea had served him well. Treating injuries like this was something he could handle.
However, Joy's next words carried a heavier weight. With a serious look, she stated, "There are two possible reasons why Delibird can't fly.
"The first is a physical imbalance caused by the loss of its feathers. That's a simple problem to fix.
"The second, however, is much more complicated. Based on the psychological assessment I conducted, I've determined that this Delibird… has developed a deep fear of the sky and thunderstorms. In other words, it has—" she paused slightly before emphasizing the final words, "—psychological trauma."
Kai frowned in thought. He had suspected that Delibird's issues might stem from mental distress, but hearing it confirmed by a professional like Joy made it feel even more difficult to tackle.
In the Pokémon world, most physical injuries could be healed either through a Pokémon's innate regenerative abilities or with advanced medical technology. Psychological trauma, however, was an entirely different challenge.
He recalled a moment from the Pokémon anime—when Ash's Grovyle evolved into Sceptile but lost its ability to use moves due to emotional turmoil. It had taken the entire team a great deal of effort to help it overcome that mental block.
Seeing Kai's serious expression, Joy, knowing he had gone out of his way to rescue this wild Pokémon, offered some reassurance. "For psychological issues like this, the best solution is to have someone Delibird trusts help guide it through its fears.
"I have a few books on Pokémon psychology here. You're welcome to borrow them. They include methods that might help you break through Delibird's mental barriers."
Kai gave a light nod. At this point, this was the best course of action.
Releasing Delibird back into the wild in this state would be no different from abandoning it to its fate. It wasn't just about his own conscience—there was also Luxray's feelings to consider. After all, it had fought so hard to save Delibird in the first place.
He couldn't just turn his back on it now.
"Then I'll take you up on that offer, Miss Joy."
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