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"Looks like he has no energy at all. How pitiful!" Misty said, her voice filled with sympathy as she gazed at the Pokémon before her.
"I can't figure out the reason. Even Magikarp, who is usually so energetic, has no energy at all!" Nurse Joy added, cradling another Magikarp in her arms.
Magikarp, known for its tireless splashing and nearly constant motion, now seemed completely listless.
"Are all the Pokémon like this?" Officer Jenny asked, her tone filled with concern.
"There are many others besides them. This one here is doing slightly better, but it also looks very troubled," Nurse Joy replied. Her gaze shifted, drawing everyone's attention to a nearby figure.
The group turned to see a yellow Pokémon standing a short distance away. Its bright yellow fur was complemented by its wide, round eyes and a lighter cream-colored beak. On its head, three small black hairs stood out. The Pokémon clutched its head with both hands, as though trying to ease a persistent headache.
"Isn't that Psyduck?" Misty exclaimed. As a Water-type Pokémon trainer, she instantly recognized the familiar face of the Pokémon before her.
"Other Pokémon can't move, but this one still can!" Nurse Joy said, pointing at Psyduck.
The Psyduck, a wild Pokémon, had been brought in by kind-hearted individuals who assumed it was affected, just like the others.
"Uh… Psyduck is usually like this," Ash said, scratching his head awkwardly. He found it odd that Nurse Joy, an expert at the Pokémon Center, wasn't aware of Psyduck's typical behavior.
"What??" The others were taken aback by Ash's nonchalant response.
Ash pulled out his Pokédex, aimed it at Psyduck, and pressed the button. The mechanical voice began to explain:
"Psyduck, the Duck Pokémon. Constantly plagued by headaches. When experiencing a splitting headache, it unleashes extraordinary power."
"Ah! So that's what's going on. The poor thing has a headache?" Nurse Joy said, her face flushing with embarrassment at her earlier confusion.
"But why isn't this Psyduck affected like the others?" Misty asked, her curiosity piqued.
Ash pondered the question for a moment before scanning Psyduck once more. The Pokédex chimed in again:
"Psyduck's constant headaches slow its reflexes. Even when attacked, it often takes time to react."
The group exchanged amused glances. It seemed Psyduck's sluggish reflexes had protected it from whatever mysterious ailment had afflicted the other Pokémon.
"So… should we consider this a blessing or a curse?" Ash wondered aloud. While Psyduck's condition was peculiar, it seemed to have spared it from harm.
Ash knew, however, that Psyduck's unassuming demeanor masked its potential. With the right conditions, its Psychic powers could unleash extraordinary strength.
Thinking back, Ash realized that this Psyduck was destined to be Misty's. It was quite different from other Psyducks—more like a Slowking compared to Slowpoke. Not only was it taller, but it was also a landlubber that couldn't swim, an unusual trait for a Water-type Pokémon. However, it seemed stronger than other Psyducks when its headaches intensified. Ash pondered: Could its strength grow the longer it endured? It certainly seemed possible.
Suddenly, Pikachu, standing on a nearby hospital bed, reacted sharply. "Pika…Pikapi!" it exclaimed, shaking its head before collapsing uncontrollably onto the bed where other Pokémon rested.
"Ah!!" Nurse Joy gasped, her shock evident.
"Pikachu!!" Ash called, rushing forward to cradle his partner. His gaze turned serious as his eyes faintly glowed red. He looked around and noticed something peculiar in the air—a strange magnetic field that shimmered briefly before vanishing. The scene reminded him of Saffron City, where he had encountered Sabrina.
"There's a magnetic field nearby!" Ash announced.
"Magnetic field?" the others repeated in astonishment.
Ash nodded. "Yes! Come out, Devileon!" He threw a Poké Ball, and his trusted Ghost-type Pokémon materialized on the ground.
"Devileon, can you sense the magnetic field around us?" Ash asked urgently.
The Devileon closed its eyes and concentrated. After a moment, it nodded slightly, confirming its ability to detect the field. Being a Ghost-type, it wasn't affected by the Psychic energy.
This discovery offered hope but also raised concerns. On the one hand, the Devileon's immunity and ability to sense the field could help locate its source. On the other, the mysterious field's widespread impact hinted at immense energy, posing potential dangers.
Ash weighed the situation. "If this field can affect such a wide range, it must have a powerful source. We'll need to investigate." He prepared to follow his Devileon as it began floating toward the exit.
Though optimistic about uncovering the mystery, Ash knew the journey could be challenging. For now, he focused on the task ahead, confident that his team could handle whatever awaited them.
The Devileon closed its eyes and concentrated deeply. After a moment, it reopened them and gave a slight nod. It was indeed a Psychic magnetic field, but as a Ghost-type, it was unaffected by the field's energy.
"This is..." Misty began, looking toward Ash.
"My Devileon is a Ghost-type," Ash explained. "There's a Psychic magnetic field around it, but that kind of energy doesn't affect Ghost-types."
Officer Jenny, still puzzled, asked, "So that's why it's fine. But what's causing this Psychic magnetic field in the first place?"
Ash furrowed his brow. "I don't know yet. But something with this much energy, affecting such a wide range, must be incredibly powerful. We'll need to find its source to figure out what's going on." He then turned to the Devileon. "Can you sense where it's coming from?"
The Devileon nodded slightly. Encouraged, Ash scooped up Pikachu, who was still weak, and gestured for the Devileon to lead the way. It floated gracefully through the air, guiding the group as Ash followed closely behind.
Officer Jenny, Misty, and Brock hurried to keep up. Nurse Joy watched from the Pokémon Center entrance, concern etched on her face. "I hope they'll be able to handle this," she murmured, her hands clasped tightly.
As they exited, Nurse Joy turned back to check the room. "Huh? Where's Psyduck?" she muttered, realizing the Pokémon had vanished. Since Psyduck had been determined to be unaffected by the strange field and was a wild Pokémon, she decided there was no immediate cause for alarm.
Outside, Ash and the others followed the Devileon into the open air. The Ghost-type Pokémon floated higher, closing its eyes again to attune itself to the mysterious magnetic field.
"How about it, Devileon?" Ash called, his voice steady but filled with urgency. All eyes turned to the Devileon, awaiting its next move.