Even though the Rookidee was clearly a pervert, Marie had no intention of going back on her word. What started as a casual comment to satisfy her curiosity ended up with the little guy showing off a move far more surprising than she had expected.
After applying potion to his wounds and brushing off the mud stuck to his feathers, Marie turned to Yuri and said,
"I'm going to take him to the Pokémon Center. You can keep training here."
"Huh? The Pokémon Center? Was he hurt that badly?"
Yuri gave the Rookidee a once-over. Aside from looking a bit rough and having lost some feathers, he didn't seem seriously injured.
Marie shook her head.
"No, it's not that. Brave Bird isn't a move he should be capable of using right now. You saw what happened he blacked out right after. It's not like Flare Blitz, where the recoil is part of the move. I don't know how many times he's tried this before, but if he's already overexerting himself like this, it could leave lasting damage."
She didn't go into too much detail, but Yuri understood the gist. A move that shouldn't normally cause harm had still knocked him out, which could only mean one thing: the strain was too much for his body.
There was no telling how many times he'd recklessly forced himself to use that kind of power. Without regular checkups like the ones available at Pokémon Centers, it was entirely possible he had hidden injuries that could hinder his growth in the long run.
It was rare for Marie to say so much, but everything boiled down to the fact that pervert or not she was worried about this Rookidee.
Yuri couldn't help but laugh, which earned her a glare from Marie.
"What's so funny?"
"N-nothing. Just go. I'll wait here for you."
Marie gave her a mildly annoyed look. Seeing Yuri trying to hold back a laugh with that overly composed expression, Marie didn't bother arguing. She picked up the still-unconscious Rookidee and started heading toward the Pokémon Center.
Moonlight, as always, followed silently at her side. She hadn't asked anything more after Marie had fallen quiet in response to her earlier question.
The Rookidee's move really had been impressive. Sure, Moonlight herself could easily snap a tree in two now, but that was after a lot of growth. Even Silk, who was still developing, couldn't pull off that kind of power yet. And this Rookidee still had bits of downy fluff clearly, he hadn't been born long ago.
Maybe he really had been kicked out, or maybe, like Silk, he'd just hatched alone in the wild.
Either way, it didn't matter anymore.
Whether Marie decided to take him in or not, Moonlight had no strong opinion.
Marie, however, was still thinking it over.
She carried the plump little Rookidee in one arm, gently stroking his soft feathers. When he wasn't running his mouth, he didn't seem quite so perverted.
His earlier performance had genuinely impressed her. The synchronized takeoff and Tailwind, the precise air maneuvers, the use of Roost, and finally, Brave Bird.
Despite his strange personality, his talent was undeniable. Right now, his stamina and energy control were lacking, making it all look a bit clumsy, but once those gaps were filled in... Marie thought, maybe he really was worth keeping an eye on.
The Rookidee didn't stay unconscious for long. Even though crash-landing with his face had scrambled his thoughts a little, being held in a soft embrace with a faint sweet scent made him reluctant to wake up.
He lay there, eyes closed, enjoying the moment. Even the aches and pains seemed to fade.
Still, no matter how much he wanted to stay in dreamland, the memories slowly came back.
Wait... Was he being held in the arms of the big sis?
Even though he'd talked a big game earlier, the moment he realized where he was, the Rookidee panicked a little. He curled his claws and tensed his wings, not sure what to do with them.
He was still trying to decide whether to open his eyes when Marie's voice cut in.
"If you're awake, stop pretending to sleep. And if you nuzzle into me again, I'm throwing you out."
"Chuu chuu! (No no no! I was wrong!)"
The Rookidee swore he hadn't been nuzzling, but now wasn't the time to argue. Better to play it safe and beg for mercy.
Seeing him snap his eyes open in panic, Marie pressed down lightly with both hands, keeping his wings from flapping.
"Don't move. You're not in good shape right now. I'm taking you to the Pokémon Center for a checkup."
"Chuu... (Oh... okay...)"
The sudden shift in tone left Rookidee a bit dazed. Just moments ago she was scolding him for squirming, and now she wouldn't let him leave?
Sure, his body was sore and flying would be tough, but he was used to it. Normally, he'd just power through, find a berry or two, and sleep it off.
Deciding not to overthink it, he tucked his wings in and quietly nestled into Marie's arms.
Marie looked down at the Rookidee, now obediently curled up again. His almost human-like expression gave away his thoughts, but she didn't blame him. After all, he'd only used Brave Bird because she'd asked.
In a way, she was partly responsible.
"By the way, from now on, you're not allowed to use that last move without my permission."
"Chuu...? (Why?)"
"Your body can't handle it yet. You were already worn out just flying back and forth. Moves like that are too dangerous for you right now."
"Chuu..."
The Rookidee knew she was talking about his over-the-top maneuvering earlier, trying to show off with a bunch of flashy air spins.
To be honest, those moves were almost useless in real battles. They were hard to control, and the triple spin he'd done before had been more luck than skill.
Being called out on it made him shrink a little in embarrassment.
Marie saw his downcast look and thought maybe she'd been too harsh, so she added,
"Brave Bird puts a huge strain on your body. Forcing it before you're ready will only cause injuries that build up over time. Even with the best care, it's a bad idea to push yourself like that at least until you evolve into a Corviknight."
"Chuu~ (Got it~)"
Hearing her say all that out of genuine concern made Rookidee forget all about being embarrassed. His mood instantly lifted.
He took a deep breath.
"Chuu chuu! (Miss, you smell amazing!)"
"Moonlight."
"Vee! (Leave it to me. I'll deal with him!)"
"Chuu?! (Wait wait wait! I was wrong, boss! Boss lady! Have mercy-!)"
____________________
NEXT CHAPTER : Silk's Strange Sense of Humor
(Marie officially adds the wild, love-struck Rookidee to her team though not without him embarrassing himself multiple times first. After choosing a Luxury Ball and trying way too hard to act "cool," the poor bird ends up getting nicknamed Chuchu (much to Moonlight's savage delight).
But the real star of this chapter? Silk, who finds the whole thing so funny she's left crying with laughter in Marie's arms.
Next Chapter: With Chuchu now part of the team, will his chaotic energy throw off the group dynamic or turn out to be just what they needed? Either way, Marie's troubles are only just beginning.)
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