“But you promised we would get to the Rangers’ Station,” Teddy protested.

  “And we will, after I check your bandages,” Joy huffed, setting Togepi into his lap.

  “Piiii~” she chimed, nuzzling his tummy.

  Teddy laughed and picked her up so she could kiss his nose, her tiny paws patting him affectionately.

  “Did you sleep well, Happy?”

  “Piii~!”

  “If I knew it was this easy to distract you, I would have brought her in last night,” Joy chuckled, removing the last of the wraps on his foot.

  Teddy winced.

  “Will they heal?”

  “Sure will. As long as you listen to me, we will have you back in tip-top shape,” she smiled.

  Teddy smiled back, absently tossing Happy into the air.

  “What are you doing?” Nurse Joy snapped, Chansey waddling over angrily.

  Teddy froze as Happy continued her ascent to the ceiling, staring wide-eyed at Joy’s furious face.

  “Chansey, catch her!” she exclaimed.

  At that moment, Togepi finished her climb and began her fall.

  “PIIIIII~” she giggled, her voice chiming across the room. Teddy reached out and she happily plopped into his hand, barely weighing anything.

  She hadn’t even landed before she was demanding to go back up.

  “Pii! PII!”

  Teddy grinned sheepishly at Joy.

  “She likes it?”

  Chansey huffed and went back to her business, shaking her head and talking to herself.

  “Teddy, we don’t throw our Pokémon,” Joy chided.

  “I always catch her,” he protested. “Besides, she is so light she floats more than falls.”

  “That isn’t the point — “

  Whatever else she was going to say was overshadowed by Happy biting his finger and throwing both paws up, demanding a new toss.

  “You are going to have your hands full with that one,” she observed dryly, going back to finishing his bandaging as he tossed Happy once more, much to her delight.

  “Thank you… it feels much better,” Teddy said once Joy was finished. She nodded and eyed his Togepi.

  “You know, Togepi only hatch where great happiness abounds,” she observed. “I wonder what your moment was?”

  “Well —“

  Joy held up a finger. “It was rhetorical, dear. That is a special moment that shouldn’t be shared lightly, if at all. My point is, a Togepi is born in the presence of happiness. That does not mean they are born with trust.”

  She eyed his Togepi as she floated back down from the ceiling, shrieking all the while.

  “I’ve rarely; if ever, seen a baby Pokémon immediately trust their trainer to such a high degree.”

  Teddy smiled at the compliment, yet his heart hurt as he thought of his Munchlax. What if he thought he’d been abandoned? It had been days now. Days, and they were no closer. What if Gastly had them head back to Goldenrod instead?

  Or worse, gotten lost? He trusted Shadow, but any number of things could go wrong —

  “Shall we go see the Rangers now?” Joy asked with a smile.

  “Yes, please!” Teddy cried, Happy picking up on his enthusiasm and chiming in enthusiastically, before returning to her ferocious devouring of her breakfast Aspear.

  “Chansey, a wheelchair plea — “

  Joy turned around to see Chansey eyeing her with an uplifted brow, wheelchair already present.

  “You’re always one step ahead, what would I do without you,” Joy said fondly. Chansey patted her elbow and went back to work.

  Teddy paused. “I hadn’t really thought of the companionship between a Nurse Joy and her Chansey,” he observed.

  Joy chuckled as she helped him into his wheelchair. “I knew I wanted to be a Nurse from the time I was a child. I was absolutely set on catching a Happiny, you know? Much to my parents’ frustration.”

  At this point she laughed, turning the chair towards the door.

  “They soon realized I was serious when I showed up one day with pink hair. I was 6, and had to bribe my Aunt with promises of chocolate. I think she did it just to give my mother a heart attack,” she finished with a wink.

  Teddy laughed as well, glancing over at Chansey who was watching Joy with bemusement.

  “I didn’t realize what it cost them at the time, but they got me a Happiny egg for my 7th birthday. She has been my dearest friend and closest companion ever since.”

  At this point Chansey huffed and waddled over, giving Joy a hug before shooing her towards the door, wheelchair and all.

  “Thank you for taking care of me, too, Chansey,” Teddy said.

  “Chan Chan. See,” she smiled, waddling off to work.

  ____

  “I didn’t think you were going to take me yourself — will the Center be ok?” Teddy asked, enjoying the morning sun as Joy pushed him down the sidewalk.

  Stolen story; please report.

  “Oh sure, Chansey has it under control. We won’t be gone long,” Joy affirmed.

  “So uhm… how does one become a Nurse Joy?” Teddy asked curiously. “I never really thought about it. When you mentioned you dyed your hair?” he trailed leadingly.

  Joy laughed.

  “Most Joys opt to wear a wig. I didn’t know what a wig was at 6,” she acquiesced. “Though, I still dye my hair anyway. I love what I do.”

  Teddy smiled.

  “Why do you have to have pink hair though?”

  “Have you ever met anyone with pink hair?” she asked, easing him off the sidewalk so they could cross the street.

  “Morning Nurse!” a boy no older than 5 waved at her, his other hand in his mother’s.

  “Morning Joy,” the child’s mother said.

  “Good Morning Marlina, has Todd been taking his medicine?” Joy asked.

  “Yep! I’m going to grow big and strong! Just like a Machop!” the boy yelled, striking a pose.

  Joy and Marlina laughed. “Is that so? Well, I just so happen to have a Machop as a patient right now. If you come by later today, maybe I can introduce you two.”

  “Mom, Mommy, Mom!” Todd cried, “pleeeeease can we go!”

  “It seems we will be stopping by later, Joy,” Marlina patted Todd’s head.

  “Yes! You’re the best Mom! Thanks Nurse Joy!” the boy enthused, running over to pick up a big rock.

  “Oh my, you are growing so strong,” Joy nodded. “But maybe save the rocks until after you have finished your medicine.”

  Todd dropped the rock. “Ok! See you later!”

  Joy exhaled.

  “The pink hair lets people and Pokémon know they are safe,” she said softly, watching the two of them go.

  “It let me know I was safe,” Teddy responded.

  Joy smiled, resuming their stroll.

  ____

  MunchMunch blinked himself awake and slowly pulled a paw from his mouth. He had been having a really nice dream about a Restaurant Gym with lots of cake, cheese and berries.

  Teddy, Happy and Shadow were also there. When he woke up, he was thinking more of Teddy and Happy than he was of food.

  “Shadow?” he called.

  “I’m here, Sweetie,” she answered, drifting out of a shadow in one of the corners by the ceiling.

  MunchMunch looked around at the room Noctowl had given them. There were brooms, mops and boxes… but no Teddy.

  And no Happy.

  He looked back at Shadow. “I didn’t find them,” she said sadly.

  MunchMunch took a bite of his forever-snack. It helped his tummy, but not his chest.

  “But Noctowl promised to fly over the path for us today!”

  MunchMunch froze.

  “Oh Mama, you’re the best!” he shouted, quickly opening his backpack to find some berries.

  He was careful to save all the Aspears, just for his little sister.

  “Noctowl is really big! I bet he is strong, too!” he enthused, stuffing 5 berries in his mouth at once.

  “I knew you could do it, Shadow!” he beamed.

  He was so happy he grabbed two handfuls of berries this time, and shoved them all in his mouth at once.

  “I love seeing things with you, Shadow,” he continued between bites. There weren’t very many of those.

  “But I don’t ever want to do this again.”

  He paused when he bit down on something hard. He pulled the Food Ball he had saved for Happy out of his cheek.

  “Shadow, was this my fault? Because I don’t like being in my Poké Ball?” he asked suddenly. “Our Teddy still has our Poké Balls. That means he would still have us.”

  Shadow inhaled sharply as the devastation in MunchMunch’s voice hit her like a wall of air.

  “Absolutely not, Sweetie. He loves having you walk with him,” she said vehemently. “So do I. This was just something we call an accident.”

  MunchMunch looked at her sadly.

  “An accident is when it is not anyone’s fault. It just happens,” she smiled.

  MunchMunch nodded, stuffing a Pecha Berry into his mouth. It was his last one, and he only had 5 berries left total, not including Happy’s berries.

  “Thanks for coming with me, Shadow,” he said. “This would be really scary on my own.”

  Shadow floated down and nudged him softly. “I’ll always be with you, MunchMunch. Now, what do you say we get up and start looking?”

  “Ok!” he smiled, wiping the water from his eyes. “Where should we look?”

  “Well, Noctowl is fast, but he has a ways to go today. Let’s head over to see if we are allowed in town yet, and decide who we can talk to from there? As long as we are back here before nightfall,” she smiled.

  MunchMunch hopped up and put on his backpack. “Ok, let’s go find our Teddy and Happy!”

  ____

  “Can’t you just give us a pass for the day or something?” Shadow groused, glaring at the Pidgeotto behind the desk. “We obviously have a trainer!”

  “Rules are there for a reason, Ma’am,” the Pidgeotto sighed. “While they may seem strict, it is how we keep order in a town full of tricksters.”

  Shadow paused. That was… a good point, though she was reluctant to admit.

  The station itself was remarkable. Situated in the trunk of an ancient oak, it towered high enough to overlook the entire town.

  And it was run entirely by Pokémon, those who could or could not enter the city left entirely to their discretion.

  “I understand that, but this is also ridiculous. The baby is almost out of food, I can’t get in the city to talk with anyone who has actual authority, and our Trainer is on the trail somewhere with an infant barely hatched!”

  The Pidgeotto blinked uncomfortably. “Yes well, this situation is unique. We don’t have storms like that here… there really isn’t a protocol for what is going on right now.”

  “You literally know who I am!” an Umbreon shouted, talking to the Pidgeotto manning the counter next to theirs. “I’ve literally brought all of you berries with my trainer!”

  Shadow blinked.

  Oh, so it was like that?

  She turned to glare harder at her Pidgeotto, who cleared her throat uncomfortably.

  “Listen, come back in the morning, I will make sure you are set by then, ok?” she pleaded softly.

  “Drowzee, if you don’t stop trying to Hypnotize your clerk into letting you in, I will personally ban you from this city for the next year!” an enormous Pidgeot bellowed from her perch higher in the trunk, where she was watching over all.

  Shadow peered around the Umbreon and further down the line, where a Drowzee was sheepishly scratching his nose in front of a very dazed looking Pidgey.

  I’m glad I didn’t try that, she thought. Honestly, she was more upset she didn’t even think of it. Teddy and MunchMunch were rubbing off on her, she barely felt like a ghost sometimes.

  Bah.

  Maybe the uppity fairy would do her some good after all.

  “I’ll be back the moment Twilight fades tomorrow,” she said to her clerk instead.

  Pidgeotto nodded and sighed in relief as she and MunchMunch left.

  “Can’t believe this,” the Umbreon from earlier said, leaving with them. “I am a Kimono’s Pokémon. What, are they going to start blocking Gym Pokémon next?”

  Umbreon paused. “That might be rather amusing actually, perhaps I should stay?” she said, peering back over her shoulder.

  Shadow snorted while MunchMunch waddled to keep up.

  “What’s a Kimono?” he asked curiously.

  “Well, aren’t you just the chunkiest little thing,” the Umbreon blinked, reaching out to poke his belly.

  MunchMunch huffed while Shadow devolved into a full on cackle, much to the dismay of the Pokémon around them.

  “I’m not chunky. I’m strong! And my tummy is proof food loves me,” he said seriously.

  Umbreon blinked.

  “Absolutely adorable too! My trainer absolutely must meet you!” she exclaimed, having to speak up to be heard over Shadow’s increased laughter.

  “I’m Shadow,” she said, breathing deeply to catch her breath. Once again she couldn’t wait until she was a Haunter. Then she could pretend to wipe her eyes with her hands.

  Oh, she was going to be able to be so much more theatrical.

  “And this is MunchMunch,” she finished.

  “A friendly ghost and an adorable Munchlax… did I hit my head in the storm?”

  MunchMunch gasped, opening his backpack and pulling out his last Oran Berry. He smiled sadly for just a second before shaking his head and offering it to Umbreon.

  “If you hit your head, you should eat this! It always helps my tummy feel better, especially after I get hurt!”

  “Ok, that’s it. I’m adopting you,” she exclaimed, taking the berry daintily from MunchMunch.

  “Shadow, MunchMunch, I’m Twilight,” she curtsied.

  Shadow raised her gases to mimic an eyebrow. “A very bold name,” she stated.

  “For a very bold Lady,” the Umbreon countered with a smirk.

  Shadow snickered.

  “Come now, even if we can’t get into Ecruteak, there are plenty of places I can show you outside,” she tittered, turning and motioning for them to follow.

  “We have to find our Teddy! And our Happy! … And more berries, too!” MunchMunch shouted.

  “Our trainer and newest Team member,” Shadow clarified.

  “Oh dear, I see. Well, I can certainly do something about the berries at least,” Twilight said seriously. “As for your team, perhaps I can help with that as well. Come along now,” she finished, leaving without waiting for an answer.

  Shadow and MunchMunch looked at each other. Shadow shrugged, while MunchMunch stuffed both his paws in his mouth.

  “She’s going to help us find Teddy and Happy,” he whispered excitedly, kneading the ground with his toe-claws.

  “Well that settles it then,” Shadow smiled.

  Both turned to follow Twilight, MunchMunch finally happy enough to begin rolling instead of walking again.