Ivy cradles Budew gently, her eyes filled with concern. Seeing her distress, Orion approaches, a comforting smile on his face. "Don't worry, Ivy," he says, his voice soothing. "Budew just needs a little bit of healing. We have a state-of-the-art healing machine right here in Pokémon Home. It will have Budew back in tip-top shape in no time."
Harley, still basking in the afterglow of her victory, saunters over, her baseball bat slung casually over her shoulder. "Yeah, Red," she says, her voice filled with playful reassurance. "Don't sweat it. Pokémon are tough little critters. A little nap in the healing machine, and Budew will be raring to go again."
Ivy looks up at Orion, her expression hesitant. "Are you sure it's safe?" she asks, her voice laced with worry. "I don't want to put Budew in any danger."
Orion nods reassuringly. "Absolutely," he says, his voice filled with confidence. "Our healing machine is perfectly safe and designed specifically for Pokémon. It uses a combination of energy and technology to restore their health and vitality. It's completely painless and stress-free."
Ivy considers Orion's words for a moment, then sighs softly. "Alright," she says, her voice resigned. "If you think it's the best thing for Budew, then let's do it."
"Before we go, could you return Budew and Houndour to their Poké Balls?" Orion asks. "It's safer for them during the healing process." He gives Ivy and Harley a kind smile. "The machine is designed to work most effectively when the Pokémon are safely inside."
With a nod of agreement, Ivy gently returns Budew to its Premier Ball, a soft click echoing through the arena. Harley follows suit, recalling Houndour with a flourish, her eyes gleaming with affection.
"Alright, then," Orion says, his voice brisk and efficient. "Let's head back to the main lobby. The healing machine is located just behind the counter."
With Orion leading the way, Harley and Ivy exit the Battle Arena, the portal shimmering closed behind them. They make their way through the bustling aisles of Pokémon Home, the vibrant displays of merchandise catching their eyes.
As they reach the main lobby, they see the sleek, futuristic healing machine nestled behind the counter. The machine is a marvel of technology, its surface gleaming with polished chrome and intricate circuitry. Soft, pulsating lights illuminate the interior, casting an ethereal glow on the surrounding area.
Orion gestures towards the machine with a flourish. "Behold," he says, his voice filled with pride. "The pinnacle of Pokémon healing technology. Simply place the Poké Balls on the designated platform, and the machine will take care of the rest."
Harley and Ivy approach the counter, their eyes wide with curiosity. Orion smiles warmly, his hands hovering over the machine's controls. "Now," he says, his voice gentle, "let's get your Pokémon all patched up."
With a gentle touch, Orion takes the Poké Balls containing Houndour and Budew from Harley and Ivy. He carefully places them on the designated platform of the healing machine, ensuring that they are securely positioned.
The machine hums to life, its internal mechanisms whirring softly. A gentle, blue light emanates from the machine, enveloping the Poké Balls in a soothing glow. The air crackles with energy as the healing process begins.
Harley and Ivy watch with rapt attention, their eyes glued to the machine as it works its magic. Minutes tick by, the silence broken only by the gentle hum of the machine and the occasional chirp of Pikachu, who watches the proceedings with curious eyes.
Finally, after what seems like an eternity, a familiar chime sounds, echoing through the lobby. The blue light fades, and the machine falls silent, its work complete.
Orion smiles, his eyes sparkling with satisfaction. "And there you have it," he says, his voice filled with triumph. "Your Pokémon are fully healed."
With a flourish, Orion retrieves the Poké Balls from the machine, handing them back to Harley and Ivy. "Here you go," he says, his voice warm and inviting. "Good as new."
Harley and Ivy wasted no time and tossed the Poké Balls into the air. Pop! Houndour and Budew materialized, landing gracefully on the polished floor.
Ivy knelt down, her gaze meeting Budew's. "Are you alright, sweetie?" she asked, her voice dripping with concern.
Budew chirped, its small leaves rustling. The Pokémon nodded, its expression conveying a mix of relief and embarrassment. It was okay, but the loss stung.
A wave of understanding washed over Ivy. "Oh, honey," she cooed, stroking Budew's yellow hood. "It's alright. It wasn't your fault. You did your best, and that's all that matters." She gave the little Bud Pokémon a gentle hug, her eyes filled with affection. "We'll train harder, and we'll get 'em next time."
Ivy stood up, her expression determined. She turned to Orion, her brow furrowed. "So, what happened? Why did we lose so badly?" She needed answers, and she trusted Orion to provide them.
"The reason you lost comes down to type advantages."
He pauses, allowing his words to sink in. "In the world of Pokémon," he continues, "each Pokémon has a specific type or types that determine its strengths and weaknesses. Some types are naturally strong against others, while some are weak."
He turns to Budew, his expression gentle. "Budew, as a Grass/Poison-type Pokémon, is naturally weak against Fire-type moves like Houndour's Ember," he explains, his voice soft and reassuring. "Fire-type moves inflict double damage to Grass-type Pokémon."
Ivy's eyes widen with understanding. "So that's why Budew fainted so quickly," she says, her voice filled with realization. "Houndour's Ember attack was super effective against it."
"Exactly," Orion says, his voice filled with affirmation. "Type advantages play a crucial role in Pokémon battles. Knowing your Pokémon's strengths and weaknesses, as well as your opponent's, is essential for success."
Harley, who had been listening with mild interest, chimes in. "So you're saying that Red's little plant was doomed from the start?" she asks, her voice filled with playful teasing. "That's gotta sting, Red."
Orion shakes his head, his expression earnest. "Not necessarily," he says, his voice filled with hope. "Type advantages are important, but they aren't absolute. Proper training, strategy, and learning a diverse move set can help overcome type disadvantages."
He turns to Ivy, his eyes filled with encouragement. "For example," he says, his voice measured, "if Budew knew a Rock-type move like Rock Tomb, it could have been super effective against Houndour. Knowing what moves to use at what time is important."
Ivy's eyes light up with inspiration. "So you're saying that I can still train Budew to be strong, even against Fire-type Pokémon?" she asks, her voice filled with renewed determination.
"Absolutely," Orion says, his voice filled with confidence. "With the right training and strategy, anything is possible. You just need to be creative and resourceful."
He pauses, a sly grin spreading across his face. "Speaking of training," he says, his voice casual, "I just finished writing a comprehensive guidebook on Pokémon training and battling. It covers everything from type advantages to move sets to battle strategies. It's the perfect resource for any aspiring Pokémon Trainer."
He reaches behind the counter, producing a beautifully bound book with a vibrant cover depicting various Pokémon in action. "I call it, 'The Beginner Guidebook to Pokemon!'" he exclaims, "It will help you be the very best!"
Harley's eyes widen, her curiosity piqued. "Ooh, that sounds interesting," she says, her voice filled with excitement. "Can we take a look?"
Orion beams, handing the guidebook to Harley and Ivy. "Of course," he says, his voice warm and inviting. "Feel free to browse at your leisure. I guarantee you'll find it invaluable."
Harley and Ivy eagerly flip through the pages of the guidebook, their eyes scanning the detailed information and colorful illustrations.
"Wow, this is actually pretty helpful," Harley admits, her voice surprised. "I might actually learn something from this."
Ivy nods in agreement, her expression thoughtful. "Yes, this could be very useful," she says, her voice measured. "I think we should get it."
"Great choice," Orion says, his voice filled with satisfaction. "I also recommend stocking up on some Poké Blocks and Moomoo Milk. They're essential for keeping your Pokémon healthy and happy."
Harley and Ivy exchange glances, then nod in agreement. "Alright," Harley says, her voice decisive. "We'll take the guidebook, some boxes of Poké Blocks, and some carts of Moomoo Milk."
Orion beams, quickly gathering the requested items. "Excellent," he says, his voice efficient. "That will be a total of…" He does a quick calculation. "…one thousand and five hundred and fifty dollars."
Harley shrugs, pulling out a wad of cash from her duffel bag. "No problem," she says, her voice nonchalant. "Here you go."
Orion counts the money, confirming the amount. "Thank you," he says, his voice polite. "And here's your change."
He hands Harley the change, then turns to Ivy. "Is there anything else I can help you with?" he asks, his voice warm and inviting.
Ivy shakes her head. "No, I think that's all for now," she says, her voice appreciative. "But thank you for all your help, Owner. You've been very informative."
"It was my pleasure," Orion says, his voice sincere. "And please, don't hesitate to reach out if you have any questions or need any assistance."
He pulls out a business card, handing it to Ivy. "Here's my contact information," he says, his voice professional. "Feel free to call or text me anytime."
Harley, not wanting to be left out, chimes in. "Yeah, Owner," she says, her voice playful. "Give us your number too! We might need some advice on how to become the best Pokémon Trainers ever!"
Orion chuckles, pulling out his phone. "Of course," he says, his voice amused. "Let me add you both to my contacts."
He exchanges phone numbers with Harley and Ivy, then smiles warmly. "Well, it was lovely meeting you both," he says, his voice sincere. "I hope you enjoyed your visit to Pokémon Home."
Harley grins, slinging her arm around Ivy's shoulder. "We sure did," she says, her voice filled with enthusiasm. "We'll definitely be back!"
Ivy nods in agreement, her expression thoughtful. "Yes," she says, her voice measured. "I think we have a lot to learn about this world of Pokémon."
"I look forward to seeing you again soon," Orion says, his voice warm and inviting. "Take care, and happy training!"
With a final wave, Harley and Ivy exit Pokémon Home, their bags filled with Pokémon supplies, their minds buzzing with newfound knowledge and excitement. As they step out into the bustling streets of New York, they can't help but smile, their hearts filled with anticipation for the adventures that lie ahead.
Orion watches them go, his eyes filled with satisfaction. "Farewell, Harley and Ivy," he whispers, his voice soft. "I have a feeling this is just the beginning of your Pokémon journey. And I hope to be a part of it."
He turns to Pikachu, who is perched on the counter, watching the departing figures with curious eyes. "Well, Pikachu," Orion says, his voice amused. "Looks like we've got two new Pokémon Trainers in the making. What do you think? Will they be able to master the art of Pokémon battling?"
Pikachu chirps happily, nodding its head enthusiastically. Orion smiles, his heart filled with hope. "I hope so, too, Pikachu," he says, his voice filled with warmth. "I hope so, too."
***
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Advance chapters in P@T0n Najicablitz.