Chapter 86: Shuckle, Special Medicine
"Mienfoo, Hidden Power, Focus Punch!" Ryan shouted, simultaneously striking a stance and punching the rock.
Mienfoo called out loudly and swung his fist at the rock as well. Three seconds later, Ryan shook his right hand, tears welling up in his eyes. "It hurts! That doesn't work!"
Mienfoo smiled and bowed to the rock. There was a crack, followed by a series of cracks, and the rock, over six feet tall, split in half.
"Ryan, why are you competing with Pokémon?" Rosa said, waving a sandwich in her hand.
"Indeed. You cook so well, it would be a shame to injure your hands," Ruby said, picking up another sandwich.
Ryan rolled his eyes at them and said, "If Pokémon and humans could achieve perfect synchronization, they wouldn't need verbal commands from their trainers; they could be directed with a glance or a gesture. This would be incredibly helpful in battle."
Mienfoo nodded and threw a few practice punches, demonstrating his strength. The Fighting-type was content with his current life. His trainer was gentle and knowledgeable, helping improve his abilities. He also enjoyed excellent meals, close relationships with his teammates, and guidance from senior Pokémon. This was paradise for him.
"Hey, there's a hollow under the rock. What's down there?" Rosa suddenly said.
Ryan looked back as Mienfoo moved the two rock pieces aside. He saw a hard red shell with numerous holes. The holes had white edges, but several of the holes were sealed shut. He wondered what was happening.
"It must be a Shuckle," Ryan said, pulling out his Pokédex to examine it. It was indeed a Shuckle.
Ryan picked up the Shuckle, examined it, and removed a cork from one of the holes. A sweet aroma wafted out.
"It smells like berry juice!" Ryan exclaimed excitedly. Shuckle have a habit of storing berries in their shell and fermenting them into juice. He was surprised to find one here.
Ryan took a sip of the juice from the Shuckle. It was sweet, with a slight tartness that enhanced the flavor. It had hints of Oran Berry, which was quite pleasant.
"You guys try it, it tastes great!" Ryan said, giving them a thumbs-up.
"I don't know. Look at the cork blocking the hole in this shell. It must have been left here by someone else," Rosa said.
"It's okay. We'll just pay for it. This juice tastes really good," Ruby said, unable to resist the temptation and taking a sip.
Rosa didn't hesitate, taking the shell and taking a sip. She couldn't stop drinking.
"Hey, leave some for us!" Ryan said with some distress.
He had thought it was just ordinary berry juice, but soon he felt something different in his body.
Ryan suddenly felt more energetic. He flexed his muscles and noticed some improvement. He hadn't expected this fermented juice to have such effects. Watching Rosa gulp down the juice, Ryan's face showed concern.
"Hey, what are you doing?" a voice called out.
Ryan and the other two turned around and saw a chubby boy approaching from a distance, carrying a pot. Seeing this, Ryan said sheepishly, "Is this the Shuckle you were keeping? Sorry, the juice was delicious, so we drank it. But we'll pay for it."
"Oh. It's the Shuckle that Grandpa was keeping," the chubby boy said. "My name is Kirk, and I help my grandfather with his work. What's fermenting in that shell isn't just juice, but medicine made by Grandpa, with amazing effects."
Ryan nearly choked in surprise. This seemed like something straight out of the legends about special trainers and their unique methods.
"Huh?! It's medicine! Will we be okay if we drank it?" Rosa put down the empty shell, a look of worry on her face.
Kirk took the shell, sniffed it, and said, "It's fine. This is a special formula that enhances Pokémon stamina, perfect for Fighting-type Pokémon. It's safe for humans to drink in small amounts, as it can boost physical condition, but don't drink too much. A little will strengthen you, but too much can cause problems."
"What kind of problems?" Rosa asked anxiously. Ryan and Ruby only took a sip, but she had gulped it all down.
"Nothing serious, just that your energy levels might spike and you could feel restless. After all, it's concentrated berry essence, and drinking too much can make you hyperactive," Kirk said casually.
But for someone trying to stay calm during their journey, it was concerning. Looking at Kirk's energetic demeanor, Rosa felt worried.
"By the way, Kirk, you said this Shuckle is your grandfather's, so he must make a lot of these medicines. Can you introduce me? I'm Ryan from Pallet Town, and I run a Pokémon ranch. This is Ruby and Rosa."
"Huh?! You're Ryan from Pallet Town?!" Kirk exclaimed in surprise.
"What's wrong?" Ryan was puzzled.
"My family's in the Pokémon nutrition business. I've been wanting to meet you! Are you interested in our specialized Pokémon food? Don't worry, I'll give you a great deal," Kirk said excitedly.
"Let's go check out the medicine first. We'll talk about the Pokémon food later." Ryan couldn't help but smile.
Kirk nodded and led the three of them to a small house. Inside, a short, elderly man was extracting juice from a Shuckle's shell and processing it in a pot on the stove. After the juice concentrated, the remaining essence was formed into small pellets.
Hearing them enter, he looked back and said, "Kirk's back. How's it going? Did you find the Shuckle?"
"Hey, Grandpa, I'm here to introduce you to a client," Kirk said. "This is Ryan. He's opened a Pokémon ranch in Pallet Town. It's quite famous now. He wants to buy some supplements from you."
"Oh, I see. I have many medicines here. Which one interests you?" the old man said. "I have supplements to restore stamina, enhance muscle development, boost Flamethrower power, Water Gun pressure, Hydro Pump force, and so on."
"Enhanced Flamethrower?" Rosa asked curiously. "What's that?"
"Don't you know?" the old man asked. "Fire-type Pokémon have internal flame sacs that generate heat, allowing them to use various fire-based moves. My medicine targets those flame sacs, increasing their capacity and efficiency, essentially boosting the power of Fire-type moves. The same principle applies to Pokémon of all types. By understanding their physiology, you can target specific organs and make them more powerful."
"Is it really that effective?" Ruby asked skeptically.
"You'll see if you try it," Ryan said. He then released Greninja and asked the old man for a water-enhancement supplement.
Greninja swallowed the pellet, walked outside, and used Water Gun on a tree. Ryan observed the technique, then compared it with his previous observations. He nodded and said, "The effect is subtle but definitely present."
"Of course," the old man said proudly. "My medicine is very gentle and nourishing to the Pokémon's body. Although the effect isn't immediately dramatic, it definitely improves performance over time. Just look at my Bellsprout and you'll understand. Bellsprout!"
At the old man's call, a Bellsprout emerged. Ryan examined the Bellsprout and was impressed. It was an average Bellsprout in terms of species, but its physical conditioning was exceptional, even exceeding what he'd expect.
"Sir, I want to purchase all your medicine," Ryan said seriously. "I'll buy everything you produce in the future. You name the price, and you can ship it directly to Pallet Town, where someone will receive it."
(End of Chapter)
If you enjoyed this chapter, leave a Power Stone or Review!
P@atreon/Soulforger (advanced chapters)