Chapter 13: Flowers

Chapter 13: Flowers

Suddenly, a pair of sinister, crimson-purple eyes emerged from the shadow of the trainer. He reached up and pulled the brim of his black baseball cap lower, his face hidden in shadow revealing a hint of malice.

"Hypnosis!"

A faint, purple ripple, invisible to ordinary people, spread out from those wicked eyes in the shadow, like ripples on water, gradually expanding and silently seeping through the entire Pokémon Center.

It was as if time had suddenly been paused: the trainers bustling about the center froze where they stood, and then, with dull thuds, collapsed to the floor one after another.

After all, most of the trainers resting at the Rustboro Town Pokémon Center were novices preparing to challenge the gym. Faced with such a high-level Pokémon's Hypnosis, they had no resistance at all.

Nurse Joy felt a wave of drowsiness wash over her mind, her eyelids growing heavy. Suddenly, the Pokéball at her waist began to tremble violently. With a sharp click, a surge of red light burst forth, and a pink Pokémon broke free from the confines of its ball.

Its body was round and egg-shaped, the upper half pink, the lower half white. Short arms, with white wing-like growths connecting arms and body, and a pouch on its round belly holding an egg.

This was a Blissey, a Normal-type Pokémon extremely rare in the wild. In the Pokémon world, only the Joy family was known to have discovered its natural habitat and developed suitable breeding methods. Because of Blissey's gentle nature and powerful healing abilities, members of the Joy family always raised one from childhood, as a reliable assistant in their work.

Clearly, the Nurse Joy of Rustboro Town also had such a companion, and their bond was strong enough for it to have evolved to its final form (Happiny—Chansey—Blissey).

Now, the usual gentle smile was gone from Blissey's face; only solemnity remained. With a sweep of her small, pink arm, she sent waves of pink energy toward her trainer.

"Healing Pulse!"

Joy's mind suddenly cleared, a chill of fear rising in her heart, followed by dread. Even the densest person would now realize the Pokémon Center was under attack.

A jolt ran through her mind, and she turned to look.

The once-bustling center was now eerily silent. All the trainers inside lay collapsed on the floor. Only the trainer in the black baseball cap remained standing, calm and relaxed, conspicuously alone.

"Oh? Intriguing," the trainer in the black cap turned his gaze to Nurse Joy, a hint of surprise flickering in his eyes. Still, he decided to end things quickly—the faster the attack, the more time his team would have to escape.

A deep purple, evil aura flared behind him, and a ghostly shadow slowly emerged from his own.

Its body was round and a dull, dark purple; blackish mist drifted and curled across its skin, barbed protrusions grew from its back, and a pair of menacing crimson eyes darted about, wild and mocking. Its exaggerated, wide mouth curled into a wicked grin, as if sneering at everything.

"Gengar!"

A bead of cold sweat trickled down Joy's forehead.

This Gengar was clearly raised with great care: its fur shone, it was as large as an adult male, and the dense purple mist seeping from its body spoke of tremendous, concentrated power.

"Stay calm. The guards in the security room should have noticed the danger. If I can stall him, help from the League will arrive soon!"

Nurse Joy's mind raced, and she made a silent vow: she would give everything to keep the attacker here.

Meanwhile, in the security room—

The dark room was deathly quiet, save for the hum of monitors on the wall. A handsome, blue-haired young man lounged lazily in the surveillance chair, spinning the keychain of the security room on his finger, watching the monitors with casual interest.

Floating quietly beside him was a strange Pokémon.

Its pale purple body curled in midair, its fairy-like head a light pink, with three long-lashed, adorable eyes closed tightly as if in a deep, peaceful sleep. Wisps of soft, pink mist drifted ethereally from its head, beautiful and delicate as they faded into the air.

On the floor lay several security officers in League uniforms, their expressions peaceful as if lost in a pleasant dream. Faint pink mist could be seen rising from their heads, swirling and twisting in the air before returning to the strange Pokémon.

Outside the Pokémon Center, faint pink mist circled unnoticed. Whenever someone approached, a brush of the eerie mist would cause them, without realizing, to turn away and leave.

Not far down the road, a nondescript black sedan sat parked. In the driver’s seat, a stern-faced man rested with his eyes closed, as if napping.

Beside him, something seemed to stir within the shadows, swelling once before falling still as if nothing had happened.

Back inside the Pokémon Center, the two sides faced off in silence.

The trainer in the black cap pressed his brim lower, his voice raspy.

"Gengar, finish this quickly."

Gengar snickered darkly, its form vanishing into the shadows.

Nurse Joy’s pupils contracted. She issued a desperate command.

"Blissey, Defense Curl!"

Since she was resolved to delay, Joy had Blissey use Defense Curl to boost its defenses, hoping to endure and stall until the League’s reinforcements arrived.

In the tense silence, the opposing trainer shook his head in disappointment.

"So, just another greenhouse flower..."

Joy was still puzzled when a searing pain ripped through her abdomen.

With a sickening sound, hot blood gushed forth, splattering the pristine floor. The crimson stains bloomed like roses across the white tiles—a short, dark purple claw, brimming with condensed energy, protruded from Joy’s stomach.

She coughed up a mouthful of blood, her body curling inward as she collapsed to her knees.

Blissey turned, saw the scene, and its eyes shrank in horror. Trembling, heedless of the enemy before it, it unleashed a desperate torrent of Healing Pulses toward its trainer.

Gengar watched quietly from the side, flicking blood from its claw with a twisted laugh.

A massive energy gathered in Gengar’s palm as it took aim.

"Dark Pulse!"

A beam of shadowy energy, wreathed in terror, shot from its hand, engulfing and swallowing Blissey’s form.