Chapter 340: Chapter 22: Hurricane Rain
After following Nurse Joy to visit several nearby islands, Ash and his friends finally returned to the uninhabited island they started from. By then, it was already past three in the afternoon, and everyone was ready for a well-deserved break.
"This is so exhausting…" Misty sighed, slumping down. It wasn't just the time spent riding on Lapras that wore her out; the diagnosis and treatment had included not only Trainers' Pokémon but also wild ones.
Earlier, they had even dived into the ocean to treat several sea-dwelling Pokémon. On another island, they ventured into a dense forest. The work had been grueling.
Ash and Tracey were similarly drained, though Nurse Joy remained full of energy. Her years of experience in this line of work had built up her stamina and resilience.
Despite her darker complexion and more athletic build compared to the average woman, Nurse Joy exuded a unique charm.
She had the air of a confident and capable individual, embodying the beauty of strength and determination.
"Alright, I'll handle the rest myself," Nurse Joy said with a cheerful smile after a brief rest at the group's camp. "You've done enough for today. Get some proper rest."
"What? There's more?" Misty exclaimed in surprise. The group had assumed the work was finished.
"Yes, but it's not far. It's just in the nearby sea," Nurse Joy explained, pointing toward the area where Ash and his friends had initially arrived. "Chansey and I can manage the rest. You've worked hard enough today."
Just as Nurse Joy began walking toward the puddle to retrieve her boat, Tracey noticed something unusual. Frowning, he stepped forward.
"Nurse Joy, wait a moment!"
"What's wrong?" Nurse Joy and the others turned to look at Tracey, confusion evident on their faces.
"Nurse Joy, you've worked in this area for a long time, so you must know the sea's weather patterns well," Tracey began, his tone serious. "I just noticed something unusual while we were resting—a dark cloud approaching from the horizon."
Ash and Misty followed Tracey's gaze. Their expressions turned uneasy as they saw the ominous mass of clouds rolling in. The dense, heavy clouds carried an oppressive air, hinting at the storm they would bring.
"Hurricane rains are coming," Tracey warned. "It's too dangerous to head out to sea now."
Nurse Joy smiled at them calmly. "I noticed the clouds earlier than you did, which is why I brought you back to the island before continuing my rounds. I didn't want you to get caught in bad weather."
"But I have to go. Don't worry, I'll be back before the storm worsens," Nurse Joy assured them.
She had her reasons. Days ago, she'd found an injured Seel in a nearby sea area—a newborn Pokémon barely five days old.
In addition to her regular medical rounds, the Seel's recovery was one of the main reasons she had stayed on the island. The looming hurricane only heightened her concern for the young Pokémon.
"Nurse Joy!" Tracey tried to stop her, but she was determined, brushing off his objections and continuing toward her boat.
"We're going too," Ash said suddenly, looking at Tracey and Misty. He didn't need to hear their thoughts; their worried expressions said enough.
"Is that okay?" Misty asked hopefully.
"Of course," Ash replied. "We have Lapras and Blastoise, and you have Gyarados. They're all strong Pokémon well-suited for sea travel. We can handle this safely."
He had already considered potential dangers. Even in the worst-case scenario, Ash still had his ultimate ace—Charizard. With its solar power and golden flame, Charizard might even be able to disperse the hurricane's impact.
Without hesitation, the three rushed toward the puddle, but by the time they arrived, they could only see Nurse Joy's silhouette shrinking in the distance as she rowed away.
"She's fast," Misty muttered in frustration.
The group quickly changed course, heading to the beach to release Lapras. "Lapras, we need to catch up with Nurse Joy!" Ash called out, and Lapras surged forward through the waves.
What none of them noticed was Magikarp. Sensing the storm's approach and Nurse Joy's intentions, it leapt out of the puddle and flopped determinedly toward the sea. Magikarp knew the storm would be dangerous and wanted to protect her.
Meanwhile, Nurse Joy continued to row at an impressive pace. Even Lapras struggled to close the gap. Chansey, perched in the boat, noticed their pursuers first and alerted Nurse Joy.
Turning back, Nurse Joy saw Ash, Misty, and Tracey following her, but she didn't slow down. She had no time to waste. The storm was closing in, and she needed to reach the injured Seel before the worst of it hit.
As the winds picked up, rain began to fall. The downpour quickly intensified, and the sea grew turbulent. Waves crashed against the boat, and the wind howled relentlessly.
Despite the worsening conditions, Nurse Joy showed no signs of hesitation. Years of experience navigating the ocean made her adept at handling such situations.
When she reached the designated area, she stopped rowing, grabbed her medical supplies, and, with Chansey, leapt directly into the water.
Ash, Misty, and Tracey, who had finally closed the distance, were stunned. "Where did she go?" Misty exclaimed, leaning over the side of Lapras to look for her.
"She's already underwater," Tracey said grimly, shielding his face from the rain.
"We can't just sit here. Blastoise, I'm counting on you!" Ash called out, releasing Blastoise. "Dive down and find Nurse Joy. Protect her if anything happens."
Blastoise gave a resolute nod and disappeared beneath the waves. The trio waited anxiously on Lapras, their eyes scanning the rough sea for any sign of Nurse Joy.
Time passed agonizingly slowly. When Blastoise finally resurfaced, its expression was tense and worried.
"What is it, Blastoise?" Ash asked, his face falling as Blastoise let out a series of urgent cries.
Blastoise hadn't found Nurse Joy.
Tracey and Misty couldn't understand Blastoise's words, but they didn't need to. The look on Ash's face was enough to tell them the situation was dire.
With the hurricane strengthening and Nurse Joy still missing, the three could only brace themselves for what lay ahead.
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