Lily stood frozen for a moment, her heart pounding in her chest as she faced the frenzied flock of bird Pokémons. The Archeops, wounded and struggling to keep its flock together, flapped its wings erratically, sending feathers flying in all directions.
The chaotic scene demanded quick action, and Lily knew that if she didn't act soon, the panicked birds could injure themselves—or worse, harm the people in the square.
Nurse Joy rushed past her, calling out orders to the other trainers who had gathered, trying to maintain some order amidst the chaos.
"Stay back! Let us handle this!" Her voice was firm but calm, reassuring the crowd that they were in capable hands.
But Lily knew that they needed more than just calm words to stop the escalating situation. She felt the weight of responsibility heavy on her shoulders, and for a brief second, doubt crept in. Could she really handle this? Was she ready to lead in such a critical moment?
Then she felt a small tug on her pants. Looking down, she saw Happiny gazing up at her, its eyes filled with determination. The little Pokémon had been by her side through every challenge so far, and its unwavering confidence reminded her that they were in this together.
"You're right, Happiny. We can do this," Lily whispered, nodding to herself as a sense of resolve washed over her.
She quickly turned toward the group of bird Pokémon, their cries of distress echoing through the square. Lily's eyes darted around the scene, trying to formulate a plan. She needed to calm them before Nurse Joy could treat Archeops. But how could she do it without causing more panic?
Suddenly, her mind flashed back to a lesson from earlier in the Pokémon Center—the way Happiny had calmed the Eevee and how Nurse Joy had said Pokémon could sense intent. If she could project a calm and safe presence, the Archen and Archeops might sense it and settle down. Taking a deep breath, Lily knelt down beside Happiny.
"We need to show them that they're safe," she said, her voice soft yet steady.
"Let's start with the Archeops and see if the others follow."
Happiny nodded, waddling forward with a determined look. Together, they approached the Archeops, moving slowly and carefully to avoid spooking it. The ancient bird Pokémon looked up at them, its sharp eyes filled with pain and confusion. Lily could see the arrow embedded in its wing, its feathers stained with blood.
"It's okay, Archeops," Lily whispered, her voice soothing.
"We're here to help you. I promise."
The Archeops let out a soft screech, still unsure, but Lily kept her movements calm and steady. She extended her hand slowly toward the bird, allowing it to sniff her fingers. Happiny, sensing the tension in the air, mimicked Lily's gentle movements, patting the leader Archeops's leg with its tiny paw.
To Lily's relief, Archeops didn't pull away. It seemed to sense their good intentions, and although it was still clearly in pain, it stopped thrashing about. The Archens and Archeops circling overhead began to slow their frantic flight, watching intently as Lily and Happiny comforted their leader.
"Lily, keep it steady!" Nurse Joy called from behind her.
"I'm almost ready with the medical supplies!"
Lily glanced over her shoulder to see her mother hurrying forward, carrying a box of supplies, and behind her, Officer Jenny arrived with her police team. The officers were directing people away from the area, ensuring the safety of the crowd.
But what caught Lily's eye was the Pokémon Officer Jenny had brought with her—an Arcanine, its powerful frame and fierce eyes standing ready to protect the townspeople.
"Lily!" Officer Jenny called out, running up to her.
"We've got this area secure, but we need to treat that Archeops fast before the flock panics again. What's the situation?"
Lily stood, feeling the gravity of the moment, and quickly explained.
"Archeops has an arrow lodged in its wing. It's in a lot of pain, but it's starting to calm down now that we're with it. I think if we treat it first, the rest of the flock will follow suit."
Officer Jenny nodded, her face serious. "Understood. My team will keep the area clear. You and your mother handle the treatment. We've got your back."
With Officer Jenny's reassurance, Lily felt a surge of confidence. Nurse Joy arrived at her side, handing her a pair of gloves and disinfectant.
"Let's work quickly, Lily," her mother said as she inspected the wound.
"We need to remove that arrow before it causes more damage."
Lily's hands trembled slightly as she took the disinfectant and gauze from the supply kit. She had treated Pokémon before, but this was different. Archeops was a powerful Pokémon, and one wrong move could cause it to panic again.
But she didn't have time to second-guess herself. Nurse Joy was already gently examining the arrow, her practiced hands moving with expert precision.
"Lily, I'm going to pull this out carefully. When I do, I need you to clean the wound immediately. Be ready."
Lily nodded, her heart pounding in her chest. She held the disinfectant in one hand and the gauze in the other, her eyes focused on the arrow protruding from Archeops's wing.
"One… two… three!" Nurse Joy pulled the arrow out in a swift, clean motion.
Archeops let out a sharp cry, but Lily was already moving, spraying the disinfectant on the wound and pressing the gauze firmly against it.
Archeops flinched, but Happiny and Chansey was there, cooing softly and patting the ancient bird's leg with reassuring gestures. Slowly, the Archeops began to relax again, its tense muscles softening as the pain subsided.
"Good job, Lily," Nurse Joy said, her voice calm and steady as she applied a special healing salve to the wound.
"The hardest part is over. Now we just need to bandage it up, and Archeops will be fine."
As they worked together to finish the treatment, Lily could see the flock of Archen and Archeops circling more calmly now, their leader no longer thrashing about in pain. Officer Jenny and her team kept a close watch, but it was clear that the situation was under control.
Once the bandaging was complete, Nurse Joy stood back, admiring their work.
"There you go. You'll be flying again in no time."
Archeops looked at Lily and Nurse Joy, its eyes filled with gratitude. With a soft coo, it nuzzled Lily gently, its large beak brushing against her cheek.
But just as they finished treating Archeops, a figure emerged from the edge of the square—a tall man with wild, windswept hair and a pair of thick glasses perched on his nose. He wore a long lab coat, and behind him trailed a pair of assistants carrying strange-looking equipment.
"That's Professor Thaddeus!" Officer Jenny said, surprised.
"What's he doing here?"
The professor hurried over, his eyes wide with excitement. "I heard about the injured Archeops and rushed over as fast as I could. I've been studying the migratory patterns these ancient bird Pokémons in this region, and I believe this flock was passing through on its way to the mountains."
"Professor Thaddeus!" Lily exclaimed, recognizing the famous scientist from articles she'd read. He was known for his research on Ancient Pokémons.
"You did an excellent job treating Archeops," the professor said, adjusting his glasses as he inspected the bird.
"But I'd like to investigate why the flock was in such disarray. It's unusual for such a well-coordinated group to panic like this."
Officer Jenny stepped forward, her brow furrowed.
"We found this," she said, holding up the arrow that had been lodged in Archeops's wing.
"It looks like someone deliberately attacked the flock. We're investigating now, but I have a feeling this wasn't an accident."
Professor Thaddeus frowned deeply, studying the arrow.
"This is troubling indeed. If someone is targeting wild Pokémon, we need to find out why. I'll assist in any way I can."
As the situation calmed, the crowd in the square began to disperse, and Officer Jenny approached Lily, a proud smile on her face.
"You did an incredible job today, Lily. Without you, this could've ended much worse."
Lily blushed, but before she could reply, Professor Thaddeus stepped forward, beaming.
"I'd like to formally recognize Lily's efforts as well. You showed not only skill but remarkable empathy in calming Archeops, its flock, Hippowdon and Tyrantrum. I have no doubt you'll make an exceptional Pokémon healer one day."
With a flourish, he pulled out an uneven rock, which has a sail like shape in the middle.
"This is a token of appreciation from the scientific community for your bravery and quick thinking."
Officer Jenny smiled as well and handed Lily a badge.
"And from the police force, a badge to recognize your service in maintaining the safety of the town during a crisis."
Lily held both the medal and the badge in her hands, her heart swelling with pride.
"Thank you," she said softly, looking up at Officer Jenny, Professor Thaddeus, and her mother.
"But I couldn't have done it alone. Happiny and everyone else helped me every step of the way."
Nurse Joy placed a hand on her daughter's shoulder, her eyes shining and smiling softly.