Chapter 14: Healing

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"I must capture this Charmander!"

Kalia had never felt such intense desire for any Pokemon before. Initially, she had lost hope, but just as she gave up, she unexpectedly discovered the Charmander's trail.

She believed it was fate.

Seeing the Charmander flee, Kalia swiftly chased after it and commanded her Treecko, "Treecko, catch up to the Charmander and stop him."

Treecko immediately climbed up a tree, showcasing remarkable agility as it leaped from one tree to another, rapidly pursuing the escaping Charmander.

Lian glanced back, noticing the pretty girl still chasing him, though it seemed unlikely she could keep up. However...her Treecko was nowhere in sight!

Looking up, Lian spotted a green Treecko swiftly darting between trees, quickly closing the distance to him.

He wondered if he could take down the Treecko instantly.

Despite exiting combat, Lian remained in Blaze Mode, which wouldn't deactivate until his Stamina gradually recovered.

Feeling confident to potentially take it down instantly, Lian halted and waited for the precise moment Treecko descended, ready to unleash his Ember move.

Treecko excelled in speed as a Grass-type Pokémon, even faster than the previous Electrike. It swiftly hopped from one tree to another, closing the distance to less than five meters from Lian.

Kalia grew anxious but couldn't match the speed of her Pokémon; she had to issue commands remotely: "Treecko, maneuver around the trees behind Charmander and use Quick Attack."

Due to the distance, Lian couldn't hear the beautiful girl's specific command, but he anticipated that Treecko would likely employ Quick Attack. Using Grass-type moves against Fire-types is generally ineffective, so most Trainers avoid this strategy.

As Treecko descended, Lian promptly launched Ember, sending a massive burst straight towards it.

However, at that instant, Treecko unexpectedly stopped its descent, clinging onto the tree trunk with all four limbs.

This caused Lian's oversized Ember to miss entirely, striking only the tree and leaving a charred burn mark on the trunk.

Oh no!

While this mistake might not seem significant, it's crucial to remember that Lian had just endured two consecutive battles, leaving him with limited stamina. Missing his attack now essentially wasted valuable energy.

Treecko swiftly moved again, skillfully circling around the tree. Following Kalia's command, it positioned itself behind Lian. Upon landing, Treecko took a few steps before suddenly accelerating towards him.

Despite the brief cooldown between Ember attacks, there was still a gap. Before Lian could unleash another Ember, Treecko streaked forward and struck Lian directly on the back.

With Lian already depleted from previous battles, this Quick Attack effectively dealt the finishing blow.

Lian felt disoriented, although not unconscious yet, he knew he couldn't continue fighting. He collapsed onto the ground, eyelids heavy, signaling signs of impending fainting.

In his hazy state, Lian sensed hurried footsteps approaching - unmistakably those of the beautiful girl who had just fought him.

Was he about to be captured? At this moment, Lian fiercely resisted the idea. As a transmigrator, even if he became a Charmander, how could he so easily accept being tamed as someone's obedient pet?

Lian fought desperately, using his last bit of consciousness to open his eyes and gaze at the approaching girl. He refused to be captured.

If a Pokemon actively resists, it shouldn't be able to get absorbed by a Poké Ball, right? Lian vaguely recalled this information... or so he thought?

However, Kalia didn't throw a Poké Ball. Instead, she knelt down, carefully removed the vine from the Charmander, and looked at it with concern.

"This Charmander has already endured a tough battle and is severely injured. We need to take it to the Pokémon Center for treatment first," said Kalia. For her, capturing a Pokémon wasn't just about control; what mattered most was gaining their acceptance and becoming partners.

This principle was instilled in her by her father since childhood: Pokémon are not mere tools but long-lasting companions. Gaining their approval was crucial, affecting both the bond between Trainer and Pokémon as well as their future potential.

Legend has it that once a Trainer resonates deeply with certain Pokémon, they can undergo transformative changes.

Kalia gently picked up the nearly lifeless Charmander and retrieved a healing spray from her backpack, carefully applying it to some of his more severe wounds.

In a dazed state, Lian felt a soothing coolness, bringing him immense comfort.

Did she not throw a Poké Ball?

As he sensed the soft surroundings, it was evident that he hadn't been captured inside a Poké Ball but rather held by the girl.

I just want to sleep now.

The overwhelming urge for slumber washed over Lian. Realizing he wasn't captured, a weight lifted off his mind. The girl didn't seem like a Trainer who would forcefully seize Pokemon.

Let's deal with everything when I wake up.

Holding the Charmander close, Kalia occasionally glanced down at him, noticing he appeared to have fallen asleep, her lips curving slightly as he seemed peaceful.

With a gentle smile, Kalia observed that the Charmander didn't seem to reject her presence—a promising sign. She hastened her pace, heading swiftly towards Kana City.

Although riding her bicycle would have been faster, it was parked on the western side of Kanah Forest, now swarming with Trainers. Carrying the Charmander openly could attract unwanted attention from other Trainers if discovered.

***

Kana City lies to the north of Kanah Forest and is typically bustling with activity. However, today it seemed unusually quiet as most residents had gone to watch the competition in Kanah Forest.

The Pokemon Center is situated at the city's center. Upon entering Kana City, Kalia followed a pristine white stone-paved street directly towards the Pokemon Center.

Although not large, Kana City isn't small either. After running for some time, she finally caught sight of the Pokemon Center's outline.

The building features a red roof with a prominent Poké Ball symbol in the middle, above its entrance.

The Pokemon Center primarily treats injured Pokémon and also provides lodging for Trainers, making it quite spacious - akin to a combination of a hotel and hospital.

Additionally, the Pokemon Center has battle arenas where new Trainers can engage in Pokémon battles and exchange information.

Upon entering the Pokemon Center, Kalia approached the reception desk and spoke to the beautiful nurse on duty, "Nurse, this Charmander is injured. Could you please help treat it?"

The nurse's eyes lit up, surprised, "Oh, is this your Charmander?"

"No, but I'll capture him soon enough." Kalia shook her head slightly, speaking with confidence.

"It doesn't seem too severe; please follow me to the treatment room." The nurse didn't ask further, feeling somewhat envious of Kalia's luck.

Kalia accompanied the nurse into the Pokemon Center's treatment room and placed Charmander on the medical bed.

"Just wait here, it won't take long."

The nurse, who also served as a doctor at the center, retrieved a Poké Ball and released a Normal-type Chansey. Using medical tools along with Chansey's healing moves, they began treating Lian's injuries.

"This little Charmander seems asleep, how adorable!" The nurse observed Charmander peacefully sleeping, noticing a slight glistening drool at the corner of its mouth. This charming sight made her giggle while continuing the treatment, covering her smile with her hand.

Suddenly, urgent shouts echoed from outside:

"Nurse, where are you? Please save my Pokémon quickly!"

"Nurse, there seems to be another injured Pokémon," Kalia heard the frantic voice and sensed that the situation might involve serious harm to the Pokémon.

"Let him bring his Pokemon inside," the nurse's voice responded.

Kalia opened the treatment room door and saw the anxious little fatty shouting outside. She called out, "Over here, come in."

"Oh, okay."

Aaron noticed someone in the treatment room and rushed in, sounding desperate, "Please save my Pidgey and Electrike, they have severe burns."

As he spoke, Aaron released his Poké Balls, and both Pidgey and Electrike weakly landed on the medical beds. The two Pokémon displayed extensive burn injuries, appearing quite serious.

"How did it get so bad?" Kalia gasped, observing the extent of their burns; these wounds were indeed grave.

"Big Sister Nurse, please attend to these two Pokémon first; their injuries seem very severe," Kalia suggested. Charmander's condition wasn't as critical since it could still sleep, whereas these two Pokémon appeared completely unconscious.

"Understood." The beautiful nurse understood the urgency and temporarily paused treating Charmander, allowing them to wheel the other medical beds inside.

Aaron looked visibly anxious, his chubby cheeks trembling with worry, reflecting deep concern.

"How could you let your Pokémon sustain such severe injuries?" Kalia questioned, as Trainers should prioritize their Pokémon's safety; these serious wounds bordered on abuse.

"I-I'm truly sorry for Pidgey and Electrike," Aaron expressed remorsefully. He had underestimated Charmander's strength, never expecting it to possess such formidable power.

"How did they get injured? It looks like Fire-type moves caused these burns." Seeing Aaron's self-blaming expression, Kalia understood he didn't do it intentionally and asked curiously.

"You might not believe me, but I found the Charmander from Kanah Forest. However, I couldn't capture it, and it escaped. Pidgey and Electrike were injured during the battle with Charmander." As Aaron recalled the encounter, he felt a pang of regret. In his haste to care for the injured Pidgey, he could only watch helplessly as Charmander fled.

"Ah? So you're responsible for Charmander's injuries," Kalia exclaimed, surprised. No wonder she encountered the already wounded Charmander later.

"What do you mean?" Aaron puzzled, then a realization struck him, "Wait, was the Pokémon being treated earlier a Charmander?"

Kalia instantly became cautious. This little chubby Trainer must be deeply dissatisfied for failing to capture Charmander and might try to compete with her for it now.

"You captured the Charmander?" Aaron anxiously asked. When the Charmander fled earlier, it was already injured; if encountered by another Trainer, there was a high chance it would have been captured.

The thought of his efforts benefiting another Trainer filled Aaron with overwhelming sorrow, his face contorted in anguish.

"No, I didn't capture it. However, you won't get my Charmander either, so give up," Kalia replied truthfully but still insisted that Aaron should abandon his pursuit.

"But why didn't you seize such a perfect opportunity to capture the Charmander?" Aaron's jaw dropped in shock. Losing its ability to fight is typically the best moment for capturing a Pokémon, yet someone had chosen not to take advantage of this chance.

"Capturing a Pokémon requires gaining their acceptance. Even if I had caught the Charmander then, it wouldn't have been under normal circumstances. The Charmander would likely resent me and refuse to obey my commands." Kalia shook her head.

"My father once said, the bond between a Trainer and a Pokémon isn't formed through a Poké Ball, but through the heart."

"The heart?" Aaron was taken aback, hearing this concept for the first time. Previously, he believed capturing Pokémon solely required using a Poké Ball.