White.
Everything was so aggressively white.
When Julian's heavy eyelids finally winched open, the first thing he saw was a sterile, pale ceiling that slled faintly of antiseptic and mountain air. He blinked, his brain feeling like it had been stuffed with damp cotton. He tried to rember the last thing he'd seen—a fork? A piece of steak? The terrified face of a fire-dog?
"Lucky~!"
A pink, rounded head suddenly popped into his field of vision. It was topped with a tiny white nurse's cap featuring a red cross.
"Chansey...?" Julian croaked, his voice sounding like he'd been swallowing gravel.
He knew exactly where he was. In the hierarchy of the Pokémon world, seeing a Chansey in a hat was the universal sign that you'd ssed up. They were the gentle sentinels of the Pokémon Centers, known for their incredible nutritional eggs and their almost infinite patience. Usually, Julian was the one bringing a bruised-up partner to see them. Seeing one from the perspective of the bed was… a new, humbling experience.
The automatic door hissed open, and Nurse Joy stepped in, carrying a small tal tray. She didn't look angry, but she had that "I'm disappointed in your life choices" expression that only dical professionals can truly master.
"Oh, look who finally decided to join the living," Joy said, setting the tray down on the bedside table.
"Nurse Joy? I... what happened? Did I fall off the chair? I think I was having dinner," Julian muttered, rubbing his temple. His head felt like a Voltorb was about to use Self-Destruct inside his skull.
"Lucky!" The Chansey chirped, gently batting Julian's hand away and pressing a fresh, cold ice pack against his forehead. The chill was so sharp it made him wince, but it felt amazing.
"Stay down," Joy commanded. "You didn't just 'fall.' You collapsed. According to the diagnostics, you've been running a fever since you arrived in Snowpoint. You caught a nasty cold in that blizzard, probably worsened by the stress of your Gym match and... well, everything else. You tried to power through it, but the human body isn't a Regice, Julian. It has limits."
Julian let out a weak, sheepish laugh that turned into a cough. "I thought I just needed a good al. I was going to sleep it off after the dishes were done."
"Well, your Pokémon had other plans. They brought you here in a state of absolute panic. It's a good thing they know the way to a Center better than most humans," Joy explained. "Because of the climate here, we keep a dedicated stock of human-grade fever reducers. You're lucky you're in Snowpoint; we're experts at treating hypothermic stubbornness."
"Where are they?" Julian asked, his heart sinking. He could only imagine the chaos five panicked Pokémon could cause in a lobby. "Are they okay? Did they eat?"
"They've been practically orbiting your bed for the last twelve hours," Joy sighed. "I finally had Chansey herd them into the recovery lounge next door so you could actually get so restorative sleep. They were getting a bit... intense." She turned to the Chansey. "Go on, let the hooligans in. I think he's stable enough for the stampede."
Chansey nodded and waddled out.
"Julian, listen to ," Joy said, her voice softening. "You take amazing care of your team. Their vitals are so of the best I've ever seen. But if you drop dead from exhaustion, who's going to make those fancy Pokéblocks they love so much? You have to be your own priority sotis."
Before Julian could mount a defense, the door didn't just open—it practically exploded inward.
"FL-OE!" "SLY-VEON!" "JIA-GEI!" "WOOF!" "MISHI!"
"Jing! (Julian!)"
It was a tidal wave of fur, ribbons, and scales. Growlithe led the charge, his heavy paws landing right on Julian's stomach, followed by Sylveon wrapping her ribbons around his neck like a floral scarf. Floette and Togetic hovered over his face, chirping at a frequency that made his teeth ache, while Carbink bumped gently against his shoulder.
"Oof—okay! I'm alive! I'm alive!" Julian wheezed, his face disappearing under Growlithe's enthusiastic licking. "You guys are... really heavy. Is this a rescue or an assassination?"
"Floe~! (You absolute idiot!)" Floette shrieked, tugging on his ear. "Floe~! (We thought you were dying! You just face-planted into the gravy!)"
"Woof woof! (Do you have any idea how hard it is to drag a human through the snow? You need to lose weight or get a sled!)" Growlithe barked, his tail whacking against the hospital railing.
"Jia-gei! (Nurse Joy said your brain was cooking itself!)" Togetic added, looking like he was on the verge of tears.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry," Julian whispered, his hands reaching out to pat whoever he could reach. "I didn't an to scare you. I just... I really wanted to finish that dinner."
"Enough, you five!" Nurse Joy intervened, skillfully plucking Floette and Togetic out of the air. "He's still recovering. If you crush his lungs, he's going to be here another week. Off the bed. Now."
"Lucky~!" Chansey added, helping move Carbink and Growlithe to the floor.
"Woof... (Fine. But we're watching you.)" Growlithe grumbled, settling down by the foot of the bed with his eyes fixed on Julian.
As the weight lifted, Julian's stomach decided to announce its presence with a roar that was louder than a Hyper Beam. He turned bright red. "Uh... guess I missed breakfast?"
Nurse Joy laughed. "Breakfast, lunch, and a very late dinner. It's been nearly twenty-four hours since you went under, Julian. Your fever broke about three hours ago."
"A whole night?" Julian blinked. "Wait, if I haven't eaten, have they?"
Joy's smile faded slightly. She looked at the five Pokémon. "They wouldn't touch a thing. I put out the premium blend, I even offered so of Chansey's specialized snacks, but they just sat by the door of your room and stared. They weren't going to eat until they knew you could, too."
Julian felt a lump in his throat that had nothing to do with his cold. He looked at his team—tired, ssy, and fiercely loyal. "You guys... you're as stubborn as I am."
"Lucky~!"
Chansey rolled in a cart piled high with steaming bowls of oatal, fruit, and five massive plates of Pokémon food. The sll of cinnamon and warm milk filled the room, and Julian's mouth practically watered.
"Thank you, Nurse Joy. Seriously. For everything."
"Eat," she commanded, heading toward the door. "Chansey will be back to check your temperature at noon. If you can keep that food down and your fever stays low, I'll let you out of here by the afternoon. But no training! That's a dical order."
Once the door closed, Julian looked at his team. "Well? You heard the lady. If I have to eat this oatal, you guys have to finish those plates. No excuses."
"Floe~! (Finally! I was about to start eating the furniture!)" Floette dived into her bowl, her dual-colored flower bobbing with every bite.
"Woof! (About ti! This hospital food slls okay, but it needs more spice.)" Growlithe started inhaling his al, his tail finally wagging again.
Julian took a bite of the warm breakfast, the heat spreading through his chest. He looked at the bag his team had managed to drag along with him—his gear, his research, and his family. He was still in Snowpoint, he was still sick, and he had a long way to go. But as he watched his five partners squabble over the last bits of fruit, he knew he was the luckiest guy in Sinnoh.
"Just wait until we get back to the hotel," Julian whispered between bites. "I'm making the biggest batch of Pokéblocks you've ever seen. We're going to need the energy for the next badge."
Floette didn't even look up; she just gave a muffled, happy chirp, her face covered in berry juice. The 'combustion' of the fever had passed, and the steady warmth of the team was back.
User Comments
0 comments from readers