Froakie is a light blue, frog-like Pokémon. It has large yellow eyes with pupils that shift from ovals to narrow slits. A dark blue stripe runs down its head, and its hands are white, resembling gloves. The white "Frubbles" on its chest and back are elastic, providing protection during battle. Normally, a Froakie is a nimble creature capable of leaping three stories high.
However, Feng Che observed that this particular Froakie in the nursery seemed completely indifferent, though its eyes were constantly scanning the surroundings with sharp precision.
"Looking at this Froakie?" Nurse Joy appeared again. "It suffered a severe leg injury in a battle, and its spirit has been low ever since. Because of the limp, many trainers have passed it over. We've checked it numerous times; the physical wound is healed, but it still limps. It's likely neurological or psychological. It's a tragedy for such a speed-focused species."
She sighed, her eyes full of pity. "The other Pokémon here look after it, and it spends most of its time atop that rock, waiting for a trainer who can accept its flaw."
There's nothing wrong with its head or its legs, Feng Che thought, recalling the internal voice he just heard. The only problem is that this thing is "salty" to the extreme. Its acting is so good it deserves an Oscar.
"If its potential is high, I'm taking it," Feng Che decided. He activated the system scan.
Pokémon: Froakie Gender: Male Potential: Epic (Deep Cyan) Ability: Protean Level: 10 Type: Water Skills: Pound, Growl, Water Gun, Fury, Water Pulse, Camouflage, Mind Reader, Double Team, Fling, Aerial Ace. Status: Lazily "Salty." Evaluation: A powerful Froakie waiting for a trainer worthy of commanding it.
A Deep Cyan potential! Even a Caterpie with that potential would be a treasure. This thing is a guaranteed Elite Four-rank beast if it reaches maturity.
"Nurse Joy, I've decided. This is the one," Feng Che said firmly.
"Thank you for your kindness!" Joy said, her respect for Feng Che growing. She retrieved the Poké Ball and approached the rock. "Great news, Froakie! Someone wants to take you home!"
[Froakie: This isn't great news, it's a nightmare! I've spent weeks becoming the boss of this pond. All these starters are my lackeys. Now I have to go out into the dangerous world with a human? If I don't "turtle" all the way to a Greninja, I'm not going out there! Nurse Joy, no!]
Before it could protest, it was recalled into the ball.
A "Salty Emperor," Feng Che mused. My team is becoming a circus. A glutton Ditto, a battle-maniac Rookidee, a fire-bomber Litten, and now a coward-god Froakie.
Celadon Pokémon Center.
"Congratulations, you are now a registered Junior Trainer," Nurse Joy said, handing him his ID. "Completing League tasks will raise your rank, giving you discounts on healing and items. You can check the task list on the bulletin board."
Feng Che took a transparent tablet. As a new recruit, he could only take Rank 1 tasks. He scrolled past "Catching Rattata" and "Finding lost cats" until he found a specific one: Babysitting.
"Ah, that task," Joy smiled. "The child's father works in another city, and the mother runs a herb shop. The little girl is a 'Little Angel' who loves playing with Pokémon at the center."
Feng Che walked toward the address: Ai's Herb Shop.
Inside, he found a tall, beautiful woman with blue hair grinding herbs. A small girl was playing with an Oddish nearby.
"Ai, a trainer from the center is coming to look after you today," the woman said. "I need to focus on my Senior Pharmacist exam."
"I can take care of myself, Mama!" the girl, Ai, pouted.
"Your father will be back soon from Viridian City. His experiment was a success," the mother, Yue, said, shifting the topic.
"Hello, I'm Feng Che. I'm here for the request."
Yue looked at Feng Che. He was clean, organized, and carried a faint scent of herbs. He looked reliable. "I'm Yue. I need you to watch Ai for a few days. I'll compensate you well."
"Big brother! Do you have Pokémon?!" Ai ran over, grabbing his hand.
"Come out, Rookidee!" The bird flew around the shop, Ai giggling as she chased it.
Feng Che turned to Yue. "Do you have these herbs? You can deduct them from my pay." He handed her a list of common plants.
Yue frowned. As a Middle-Rank Pharmacist, she couldn't quite grasp the logic of the proportions on his list. Still, she prepared the bundle.
Feng Che immediately began processing them—crushing, grinding, and purifying with a fluidity that made Yue's eyes widen. Thirty minutes later, he had ten vials of stabilized metabolic suppressants for his Litten.
"Feng Che, your purification... it's perfect," Yue whispered. "How do you remove the impurities so completely? I control my doses to the milligram, yet mine are never this clear."
"The secret isn't just the dose," Feng Che said, looking up. "It's about accounting for the incomplete reactions between specific herb combinations. You have to adjust the sequence, not just the weight."
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