Chapter 330: Sunshine Nursery School in Parallel World
Small towns like Accumula Town don't have Gyms.
So Will and the others headed straight to the police station.
Although Officer Jenny seemed to have gone to Striaton City in the north for training, there were other officers in the station.
"Hello, how can I help you?"
A young officer saw Cynthia walk in and stood up to ask.
"We picked up this little guy outside; he got lost from his trainer."
Cynthia looked behind her.
Roserade was holding the Swadloon sleeping soundly in her arms.
"Hmm... This looks like a child from Sunshine Nursery School."
"Sunshine Nursery School? Where is it? I'll send him over."
"You can leave Swadloon here, and we'll send him back."
"No, this child will cry if he leaves Roserade. We have nothing to do anyway; please tell me the location."
Cynthia shook her head and explained.
After getting the location of Sunshine Nursery School, they headed toward the outskirts of Accumula Town.
"Actually a child from Sunshine Nursery School."
Cynthia looked at the little guy in Roserade's arms, feeling pity.
"What's wrong?"
"Sunshine Nursery School is a special park that only adopts homeless children or those with disabilities, whether human or Pokémon."
"..."
Will was stunned for a moment upon hearing Cynthia's words, then suddenly startled.
Memories separated by more than one hundred and twenty years were gradually awakened.
He vaguely remembered that when he was a Sceptile, he seemed to have heard of or even visited a Sunshine Nursery School.
"The birth of Sunshine Nursery School is even earlier than the appearance of battle competitions. It was first founded by a young entrepreneur named Leaf (or similar name, maybe referring to the Leaf/Green counterpart or an OC) from New Bark Town in the Johto region. Later, it received support from the Pokémon League and became an 'Angel Children's Shelter' protected by the League."
It really was.
Will couldn't help shaking his head, not expecting to hear about Sunshine Nursery School again in a parallel timeline more than a hundred years later.
Remembering back then, when he and Meowscarada were taken to Sunshine Nursery School by Leaf, they also met a little Treecko with special eye color.
However.
Will remembered that the Sunshine Nursery School at that time only took in special children among Pokémon.
Didn't expect it to take in humans now too.
Although Will had no relation to the Leaf of this world, he still had some filter for Sunshine Nursery School.
Had the thought of going over to take a look.
Half an hour's journey.
They arrived at Sunshine Nursery School.
Compared to the small western-style house and small yard in Will's memory.
The current Sunshine Nursery School had changed tremendously.
Separate teaching buildings, dormitory buildings, canteens, playgrounds, battlefields...
It could be seen that the Pokémon League's "support" for Sunshine Nursery School wasn't just talk.
Of course, sponsorship from kind-hearted people was likely indispensable.
The Pokémon world didn't lack such kind-hearted people.
On the contrary, scum who embezzled others' money under the pretext of charity were rare.
Under such circumstances, Sunshine Nursery School certainly couldn't be the same as it was more than a hundred years ago.
"?! It's Swadloon! He's back!"
"Hiss hiss~"
"That sister must have brought him back."
"~"
"I'll go call Lilligant."
As soon as Will and the others arrived at the gate of Sunshine Nursery School, a group of children discovered the Swadloon in Roserade's arms.
This saved them from ringing the doorbell.
It seemed a human child had already gone to call the manager here.
However.
Three minutes later.
What ran out of the teaching building wasn't a person, but a Pokémon.
Lilligant.
"Lilli~"
Lilligant ran over hurriedly, tripping on flat ground halfway.
But she quickly got up and came toward the gate.
Opened the big iron gate.
Lilligant ran to Roserade, bent down, and carefully checked Swadloon's condition.
"Swad..."
Swadloon in his sleep was awakened by the noise and opened his eyes.
"Swad!"
When he saw Lilligant, his eyes widened suddenly, showing a delighted expression.
But the next moment, he became teary-eyed, looking like he was about to cry from grievance.
The little guy suffered so much outside.
Seeing trusted family, he inevitably wanted to vent.
"Hmm, this Lilligant doesn't look very well; is she sick?"
Cynthia first showed a relieved expression, but soon her face became serious again.
She stared at the flower on Lilligant's head, showing a worried look in her eyes.
She had already checked with the Pokédex just now.
The flower on Lilligant's head should be blooming, with healthy orange petals, and the golden stamens shaped like a crown.
However, the stamens on this Lilligant's head were already gray.
Even the color of the petals was withered yellow.
"No, no, this can no longer be described as 'not very well'; it's basically withering and decaying."
Will frowned and shook his head.
He had saved a Lilligant while walking in the Unova region in the past.
Also saw some Petilil in Professor Rowan's (or rather Juniper's/Yamanashi's) lab.
So he knew this Pokémon relatively well.
The flower on Lilligant's head needs meticulous care to bloom. No matter how much effort and money is spent, it's not as useful as the "love" of a trainer or companion.
It is recognized in the breeding world as a Pokémon with quite high raising difficulty.
And if the flower on Lilligant's head withers, there can only be two situations.
One.
After finding a male partner, the flower on Lilligant's head will gradually dim and wither.
The other.
Is dying.
The flower on a single Lilligant's head can be regarded as the flame on Charmander's tail, a symbol of vitality.
And the two withering phenomena are different. In the former, although the flower withers, the nutrients contained in the flower will return to Lilligant's body.
Judging from facial mental state, Lilligant will be healthier.
This is actively promoted by Lilligant.
Preparing for egg-laying.
Equivalent to "preparing for pregnancy."
While the latter is passive loss of nutrients in the flower.
Lilligant's physical condition will look very bad. This Lilligant in front of them obviously belongs to the latter, with a withered yellow complexion and dull eyes.
"Ah? Then let's hurry and take Lilligant to the Pokémon Center!"
Cynthia was startled.
"Useless. Sunshine Nursery School is a facility supported by the League; everyone and Pokémon inside enjoy regular checkups and free treatment benefits. This Lilligant's condition definitely didn't happen in a day or two."
Will shook his head and sighed, then pointed inside the nursery school.
"Look, there are many surveillance cameras inside; the League is definitely aware of Lilligant's condition."
"That means... the Pokémon Center has treated this Lilligant many times, but it hasn't been successful, right?"
Hearing this, Cynthia looked inside Sunshine Nursery School.
Many places were equipped with surveillance cameras bearing the Pokémon Center logo.
If problems occurred with the children and Pokémon here, the Pokémon Center would notice immediately and send an ambulance for rescue.
So the Pokémon Center couldn't be unaware of Lilligant's condition.
"Mm, most likely. Could be a mental illness."
Will nodded.
He was helpless with this kind of illness too.
Mental illness is actually illness of the heart.
Easy to cure, maybe fine in two or three days.
Hard to cure, could be called terminal, normal not to be cured for a lifetime.
At least the Pokémon Center's treatment methods are quite ineffective for mental illnesses.
"Swad~"
Swadloon had returned to Lilligant's embrace.
Lilligant was spanking his butt, scolding him for running around.
After patting symbolically a few times.
Lilligant bowed to thank Cynthia and invited them into Sunshine Nursery School as guests.
Cynthia was somewhat worried about Lilligant's condition, so she planned to observe more and accepted the invitation.
Entering the nursery school.
They looked at the children and Pokémon around.
Some children looked quite healthy, with no physical problems, possibly orphans.
Some children obviously had problems with their legs or other parts.
Pokémon were in a similar situation.
Should be children whose families encountered accidents, difficult to survive in the wild, rescued by the League.
Venipede, Cottonee, Dwebble...
Common Pokémon in the Unova region could be seen in this nursery school.
These children gathered around Roserade, seemingly curious and fond of her.
This is normal.
Who doesn't like a big sister full of fragrance?
Especially for these Bug and Grass-type Pokémon, Roserade is like a succubus-like existence, more popular than Milotic.
Even Will had to say.
Among the six in Cynthia's initial team, the one he was closest to was Roserade.
The least close was the grumpy big female shark.
"Swadloon, have you been okay recently?"
"So dirty, I'll take you to wash up~"
"I'll go pick leaves for you, and let Lilligant make new clothes for you later."
The children were very kind.
They weren't attracted by Riolu and Roserade, which are rare in the Unova region, but cared for their newly returned partner Swadloon first.
Growing up in such an environment.
Swadloon shouldn't take long to satisfy the Friendship/Happiness evolution conditions and become a gentle and friendly Leavanny.
"Lilligant, can I hold your hand?"
Will stepped forward two paces, walked to Lilligant's side, and asked politely.
"Lilli~"
Lilligant nodded gently and reached out to hold Will's small hand.
A little bit of happy Aura appeared in her heart.
Probably Will's behavior made her feel liked by this puppy.
But actually.
Will just wanted to use Aura to feel Lilligant's physical condition specifically.
After walking a few steps.
He turned to look at Cynthia and shook his head.
As he expected, Lilligant's condition could be described as "an arrow at the end of its flight."
If they didn't hurry to find a solution.
She might not live past this year.
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