Viridian City · Pokémon Center · Emergency Room
"Whew… alright. Sandslash is fine now."
After using his Healing Grace to expel the toxins and eliminate the paralysis, Ash finally let out a small breath of relief.
Over the past few days of training at the Pokémon Center, he had gained a far deeper understanding of Pokémon-related illnesses—especially abnormal status conditions like paralysis.
Mild paralysis merely caused muscle weakness and difficulty exerting force.
But severe paralysis—like Sandslash's case, having inhaled a massive amount of Vileplume's Stun Spore—could be deadly if not treated in time.
If the lungs lost their ability to expand and contract…
If the heart lost its rhythm…
The Pokémon would die.
In serious cases, paralysis could kill faster than poison.
Yet many Trainers underestimated it.
Ignorance truly was dangerous.
"Dr. Ash, you worked hard~"
Standing beside him was Clarissa, only slightly shorter than Ash. She gently used tweezers to pick up a cotton ball from a tray and dabbed the fine beads of sweat from his forehead.
"Same to you, Nurse Clarissa," Ash replied with a teasing smile.
Over the past few days, they had trained together.
From strangers → acquaintances → friends—
And now, trusted partners in the emergency room.
"It's 17:30," Clarissa glanced at the wall clock. "You're heading to the Battle Arena, right? I'll inform Dr. Aoki and Nurse Mizuki to take over."
"No need, Miss Clarissa—we're already here."
The emergency room door opened as a doctor and nurse entered.
"Dr. Ash, thank you. We'll take it from here."
"Dr. Aoki, Nurse Mizuki, it's in your hands."
Ash and Clarissa changed out of their green sterile uniforms in the locker room.
Ash only worked half-days at the Pokémon Center—two hours in emergency duty, two hours in training.
17:30 was his self-imposed quitting time.
Because every evening—
He had battles to fight.
His Battle Arena account had already accumulated nearly 150,000 Poké Dollars in prize money.
His goal: 500,000 Poké Dollars for a special Pokémon item.
He was 30% of the way there.
Progress was fast—
But the revolution was not yet complete.
…
After changing back into casual clothes, Ash picked up Pikachu and prepared to leave—
But someone tugged lightly at the hem of his shirt.
"Hmm? Clarissa? What's wrong?"
The girl looked slightly flustered.
"Well… Ash… I've noticed you and Gary often team up for double battles at the Battle Arena. It looks really exciting."
"I… kind of want to try it too."
She blushed.
"Would you… take me into one double battle?"
"Oh!" Ash blinked in surprise. "I didn't expect you to be interested in battling."
"I wasn't before," she admitted softly. "But lately, in my free time, I keep seeing clips of your matches. After watching enough, I started feeling… excited."
"Now I understand why Trainers love battling so much."
"I want to experience it myself. Please?"
"Of course," Ash agreed without hesitation.
His team had grown immensely stronger lately.
Pikachu, Frogadier, Pidgeotto—
All nearing Elite Tier strength.
Carrying a teammate in a low-level match?
No problem.
"By the way," Ash asked as they walked out of the Pokémon Center and Rotom called a taxi, "what level is your starter, Happiny?"
"LV.15," Clarissa answered honestly.
"LV.15? That's pretty good."
"I remember Happiny learns quite a few control moves early on. During the match, just focus on protecting yourself and disrupting the opponents."
"Leave the offense to me."
On the way to the Battle Arena, Ash discussed tactics with her.
Spearow
Level: LV.27
Type: Normal / Flying
Nature: Bold, Naughty
Ability: Keen Eye
Hidden Ability: Sniper
HP: 46
Attack: 69
Defense: 35
Sp. Atk: 36
Sp. Def: 36
Speed: 81
Total: 303
Potential: Red (Elite) +4.2%
Moves (Copyable):
Mastered (1/5000):
Quick Attack, Agility, Double Team, Peck, Focus Energy, Fury Attack, Mirror Move
Proficient (1/1000):
—
Skilled (1/500):
Growl, Leer
Novice (1/100):
—
-----
Three days had passed since Ash last fielded the Pidgeotto + Spearow double battle lineup.
That day, Spearow had gained three levels in one session.
Since then, Ash had deliberately reduced its appearances to solidify its foundation.
Even so—
Spearow had reached LV.27.
And since yesterday morning's training, clear signs of evolution had appeared—five or six times already.
Tonight's match…
Originally, Ash planned to use Pikachu.
After all, bringing a girl into battle—
Losing would be embarrassing.
But then he reconsidered.
They were friends.
Losing one match wasn't the end of the world.
He could always carry her in later games.
More importantly—
Clarissa's Happiny was only LV.15.
As a base-form Pokémon, its combat power wasn't high.
If Spearow took the field instead, the pressure might push it over the edge—
Triggering evolution.
Between:
Carrying Clarissa to an easy win
Or
Forcing Spearow's evolution
The answer was obvious.
Victory could wait.
Evolution mattered more.
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T/N:
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