Chapter 104: Gringey City Actually Loses Power?
"This happened a few years ago," Joy began slowly.
"At the time, Mentor Natsume was invited to Rainbow University to help our medical school incubate my Happiny. My Happiny wouldn't hatch, and the finals were coming—I was almost in tears."
Nurse Joy cupped her face and recounted, in detail, how Natsume helped her, and how the two eventually became mentor and friend.
"Wow, Natsume, you're amazing!" Ash said, looking at him with admiration.
"Heh heh heh, I never expected to meet Mentor Natsume here," Joy said with a faint smile, eyes curving toward Natsume.
Giselle clenched her hands tighter.
"Did that happen?" Natsume looked puzzled.
Joy: "…."
"I knew it," Misty and Brock exchanged a glance, thinking Natsume was just being his usual self.
"Oh, I remember now." Perhaps the effects of the medicine were kicking in, and Natsume felt his mind clearing a little.
He pointed at Joy:
"You're the fool who stole my model egg during the demonstration class and hatched it all semester, Joy!"
"I just grabbed the wrong one," Joy said, lowering her head embarrassedly.
"But I've never forgotten your kindness, Mentor Natsume. How can I ever repay you?" Joy stepped closer, smiling.
"You've done well. I'll sponsor you!" Giselle stepped forward first, standing between them and handing over a black card with a Master Ball printed on it.
Joy didn't take it, just glanced at her in surprise.
*Thump!* Giselle felt something press against her backside.
Looking back, she saw Natsume had already fainted.
"Mr. Natsume, are you okay?!" Giselle exclaimed.
"To make sure Mentor Natsume rested well, I added a little sleeping medicine," Joy's voice came.
At that, everyone's eyes twitched.
"She really learned Natsume's secret techniques," Misty whispered.
"Yeah," Brock nodded.
Giselle frowned and supported Natsume, letting him lean against her shoulder.
"Joy, why is my Pikachu still so listless?" Ash asked, lifting Pikachu.
"The medicine will take effect by tomorrow. If you want it faster, put him in the healing chamber," Joy said.
"Healing chamber? Isn't that only for seriously injured Pokémon?" Brock exclaimed.
Charmander had spent a night there before—it was a life-saving device, not something casually used for minor issues.
"Heh~" Joy yawned casually. "As I said before, Gringey City doesn't have many trainers, so the healing chambers have plenty of space."
She stood and led them to a room.
Inside, rows of instruments held transparent capsules of various sizes.
Some instruments contained Pokémon, mostly Rattata, Magnemite, and Meowth.
"Most of these are Pokémon from nearby factories recovering from work injuries," Joy explained, approaching an empty healing chamber.
*Click* she pressed a button, opening it.
Ash hurriedly placed Pikachu inside.
The door closed, the instruments powered on, and Joy smiled faintly.
"Gringey City never lacks electricity—thud!"
A crisp sound rang out. One by one, the surrounding instruments went dark, and outside, it was pitch black.
"Power outage?" Joy froze for a moment, then her expression darkened.
"This is bad. The Pokémon here could be in danger," Brock reacted first.
"Should we have Midchu help supply power?" Ash suggested.
*Pika?* Midchu, dozing off, suddenly opened his eyes—why was this even his problem?
"I'm afraid not. These instruments require too much power; Midchu won't last long," Natsume said.
As for Natsume's Dragonite? Forget it—she couldn't control the power in her body. Charging could easily blow up the place.
"I thought Pokémon Centers had generators?" Giselle asked, turning to Joy.
"Uh… we don't have one," Joy said, hands behind her back, lowering her head sheepishly.
She's in Gringey City.
The main power hub of the entire Kanto region—who would have thought it could lose power here?
"I have an idea!" Giselle exclaimed, as if she had thought of something, and retrieved Natsume's special Pokéball.
"Go, Great Ball Rotom!"
*Rotom!* Rotom appeared. It froze for a moment when it saw Giselle.
"Rotom, please, use Healing Ball on these Pokémon," Giselle said, clasping her hands in a pleading gesture.
Seeing Giselle command Natsume's Pokémon, Joy raised an eyebrow.
*Rotom!* Green beams of light shot out, absorbing the Pokémon in the healing chambers.
When they reappeared, the Pokémon looked slightly better, though only a few showed clear improvement.
Most Pokémon still looked unwell, including Pikachu.
"This Pokémon of Mentor Natsume seems able to heal injuries, but sickness still requires rest," Joy observed.
After checking, she found that the Pokémon injured at work had recovered, while the sick ones showed little improvement.
*Pikapi pika!* Midchu suddenly called out.
"Ahem… you said you wanted to check the power plant?" Natsume's voice came.
*Pika—pi!* Midchu was startled, his fur standing on end, looking at Natsume who suddenly appeared behind it.
"Why do you always act like a Ghost-type Pokémon?" Misty covered her face.
"Mentor Natsume, how did you wake up?" Joy tilted her head, thinking maybe her dose wasn't enough.
Natsume said nothing, just hugged Giselle.
"Huh?" Giselle stiffened as the warmth hit her, feeling as if she were wrapped around a furnace.
Her mind went blank, her body frozen in place.
The cool sensation reached him, and Natsume felt as if he were holding a giant ice block, instantly feeling much better.
As for why Joy's sleeping medicine had no effect?
At the lab, he had been exposed to sleeping powders every day and tried all kinds of sedatives, all of which had little effect on him.
Thin smoke rose, catching Natsume's attention. Looking down, Giselle's face was flushed bright red.
*Hmm, it's time to cool down.*
Natsume released Giselle, who paused, puckered her lips, and then hugged him on her own.
"What are you doing?" Natsume asked, surprised.
"Mr. Natsume, does this feel more comfortable?" Giselle asked cautiously.
"Yes," Natsume nodded.
"But carrying me is tiring," he added, trying to push her away.
"It's fine. You can hang on me, Mr. Natsume," Giselle said urgently, lifting him in a princess carry.
Natsume: "?"
*Why is everyone so strong?*
He gave her a sharp look. Giselle reluctantly put him down.
Natsume turned to the others: "Let's go check the power plant."
"Right, let's go now, or these Pokémon could be in danger!" Ash responded immediately.
*Pika!*
Midchu, unusually, took the lead this time, walking at the front.
Natsume squinted. In his hands, Midchu wasn't holding his usual blanket, but the little booklet he had given him about Legendary Pokémon.
You can read more (around 100+ free chapters) of Natsume's adventure ad-free at [https://ravenarchives.com/book/pokemon-who-let-him-leave-pallet-town]. Bulk uploads is a mess here, so updates here might be irregular.