After finishing the Gym Battle in Lavaridge Town, Aiden Flint now had five Gym Badges.
With only three remaining, he would qualify for the Hoenn League Ever Grande Conference.
His next destination was Fortree City, where he would challenge the Fortree Gym for the Feather Badge.
But to get there, he first had to return to Petalburg City.
So Aiden released Pidgeot and flew back at top speed.
On the way, he couldn't help thinking about Nurse Joy of Petalburg City.
Their relationship was… special.
The system had once shown her affection for him exceeding eighty points.
She had even given him a Purple-potential Feebas, which had become his powerful Milotic.
So since he was returning, he naturally wanted to go thank her in person.
He also thought about Infernape.
With its Red potential, even at only Level 37, it could easily defeat most Pokémon below Ace-tier.
That was how terrifying its strength was now.
Meanwhile, Kirlia, Lairon, and Metang were all approaching their evolutions.
Lairon was Level 42—just one more level from becoming Aggron.
Metang was Level 43—two more levels from Metagross.
Kirlia was Level 34—two more levels from becoming Gardevoir.
Who would evolve first?
After just one day of flight, Aiden arrived in Petalburg City.
He headed straight for the Pokémon Center, intending to see Nurse Joy.
But to his shock—
The Pokémon Center was closed.
Frowning, Aiden walked up and read the notice posted on the door.
"One day ago, Nurse Joy of Petalburg City went missing.
The Pokémon Center is temporarily closed.
Anyone with information should report to Officer Jenny at the police station."
Aiden's face instantly changed.
"Nurse Joy… is missing?!"
He released Milotic and told her what had happened.
After all, Nurse Joy had once been Milotic's Trainer.
Hearing the news, Milotic became visibly anxious.
Nurse Joy had shown her great kindness—Aiden couldn't possibly ignore this.
He immediately went to the police station to ask Officer Jenny about the case.
After reading the report, Aiden frowned deeply.
Because Nurse Joy was missing, even the Petalburg Gym had been forced to suspend battles—without a Pokémon Center, Trainers couldn't heal their Pokémon.
They either had to wait for Nurse Joy to be found, or for the League to send a replacement.
"Something about this… feels wrong."
With that thought, Aiden released Growlithe and the Kirlia twins.
Since Nurse Joy had given him his Badge Case, it carried her scent.
Milotic had been with her for years as Feebas—she carried it too.
Growlithe's powerful sense of smell would be key.
Kirlia, with their psychic abilities, could teleport, scout, and provide emergency support.
"Growlithe, memorize this scent. Search for anything suspicious outside the Pokémon Center."
"Kirlia, use your psychic senses to look for Nurse Joy."
"If you don't find anything, regroup with me and Growlithe."
They immediately got to work.
Growlithe sniffed the Badge Case and Milotic, then began tracking.
Kirlia vanished in flashes of light, scanning the city.
Ten minutes later—
"Woof!"
Growlithe had found something.
Aiden followed it toward the western outskirts of Petalburg City.
After more than an hour, they reached the edge of Petalburg Woods, where a suspicious wooden shack stood.
It looked abandoned for years.
Kirlia soon arrived and confirmed—
There was a bound woman inside.
"Kirlia—use Psychic. Open it."
The door flew open.
A bound figure was pulled out by psychic force and placed gently in front of Aiden.
Pink hair. White-and-pink uniform.
It was Nurse Joy.
She was unconscious, her face pale from hunger and exhaustion, with faint tear stains on her cheeks.
"Joy… wake up."
She didn't respond.
Aiden took out a Oran Berry, crushed it into juice with psychic power, and fed it to her.
Even humans could recover from it.
Slowly, Nurse Joy's eyes fluttered open.
"Where… am I?"
Then she saw Aiden.
Tears welled up instantly.
"Am I dreaming…? Of all people, why did I have to dream of you…"
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