As mentioned before, Los PLatos Town is a peaceful place, very different from the hustle and bustle of big cities. There aren't many trainers and Pokémon coming and going to the Pokémon Center every day.
So Nurse Joy's work here is very easy—usually dealing with things like a Meowth losing its coin or a Mabosstiff not having an appetite.
When things are slow, Joy goes into the wild to treat injured wild Pokémon. She's known for her medical ethics.
Lucas stood in front of the closed Pokémon Center, confused.
It wasn't even 4 pm—why was the Center closed?
He and Growlithe stood there for a while, until an aunty carrying a Meowth passed by, noticed them, and said, "If you're looking for Nurse Joy, she's not here right now."
"Huh?"
Lucas was incredulous. He remembered that Joys never took days off—actually, even when sick, they'd still work, and along with Officer Jenny, they're the hardest workers in the Pokémon world.
He stopped the aunty as she was leaving and asked sincerely, "Excuse me, Sister, is Nurse Joy sick or taking a break?"
"Heh, calling me 'sister'—what a sweet young man~" The aunty blushed, her tone softening as she explained, "If you're asking, you obviously didn't watch today's news."
"Our Paldea League Chairwoman Geeta said on the news that because Typhoon affected many wild Pokémon, and Paldea values harmony with nature, all the less-busy Nurse Joys were called to help wild Pokémon in the field."
Lucas fell silent. It seemed the news he'd been listening to earlier was about to mention this, but he'd turned off his phone and missed it—otherwise, he wouldn't have chosen today to visit Joy.
What a blunder!
Now would he have to go home empty-handed?
The aunty didn't notice his expression and continued, "But it's been half a day, so she should be on her way back. If it's urgent, I know where she went. I'll tell you for free, since you're so sweet!"
Lucas nodded eagerly, "Please!"
His rule is to solve problems directly when possible—delaying just makes them worse!
The aunty liked this polite young man and happily said, "By the way, this Nurse Joy is a bit special. She went to—"
…
The wilds outside Los Platos Town.
Here, there were fallen trees, and the muddy ground made it easy to get dirty.
Nurse Joy, in her pink uniform, walked through the mud with her partner Chansey. Her once-clean clothes and neat hair were now stained and messy from her rescue work.
Her arms were wrapped in thick bandages, apparently injured.
But Joy's delicate face showed no complaints. Instead, she was smiling as she carried her medical kit step by step back to Los Platos Town.
She'd treated many injured wild Pokémon today. No matter how hard or tiring, Joy felt it was worth it.
After all, the Pokémon Center rarely had trainers come in. She planned to treat herself and Chansey to some boiled peanuts and a dozen cold beers after work!
Joy's smile grew wider, and she walked as if carried by the wind.
"Chansey!"
Chansey's voice caught Joy's attention. As longtime partners and fellow nurse academy grads, Joy instantly understood—there was a wild Pokémon in distress!
Joy snapped out of her daydream, her eyes sharp. Following Chansey's pointing hand, she saw a huge, broken tree, and beneath it, a trapped Pokémon and its anxious companions.
"That's… a Falinks?" Joy's eyes widened, instantly identifying the rare formation Pokémon, made up of six individuals.
She quickly said to Chansey, "Let's go help!"
"Chansey!" Chansey responded.
Thanks to the nurse's gentle aura and Chansey's good reputation, Joy's arrival didn't alarm the Falinks but earned their plea for help.
Joy first soothed the injured Falinks, then turned to the leader, who was knocked out under the tree.
"We must move the tree and begin emergency treatment, or the leader's life is in danger!"
The five Falinks looked at each other helplessly. If they could move the tree, they would have done so already.
Joy grinned, and with Chansey cheering her on, she took a strong stance, slipped her bandaged hands into the gap, and—her sweet voice now deep—shouted, "All right, UP!"
The massive trunk moved, lifted by Joy alone, exposing the Falinks leader.
With a glare, Joy barked, "What are you waiting for? Save your leader!"
The Falinks snapped out of it and swarmed to rescue their leader.
Only after the leader was safe did Joy gently set the trunk down.
All of this was witnessed by Lucas, who arrived following the aunty's directions.
At first, he'd planned to help, but after seeing this, he finally understood why people said this Nurse Joy was special.
To lift a trunk that would take two or three adults—what terrifying strength!