"Dragonite, come out!"
Lucien picked up the Poké Ball from the ground and pressed the button on it.
The next second, a milky-white light burst forth.
Within the glow, Dragonite's figure gradually emerged.
Looking at this familiar scene, Lucien felt a surge of emotion. He had finally created it.
Elif had also noticed the difference between this new Poké Ball and the one His Majesty had used previously.
The earlier Poké Ball had merely been a container that allowed Pokémon to shrink and remain inside.
But this one was different.
This Poké Ball could be actively controlled by the trainer. Not only could a Pokémon be sealed within it, but it could also be released at will.
"It's incredible," Elif could not help but exclaim.
"More importantly," Lucien said calmly, "once a Pokémon is captured by this Poké Ball, no one else can capture it again."
For trainers, this was equivalent to an additional layer of protection. They would no longer need to worry about their Pokémon being taken or claimed by others.
"Your Majesty, shall we proceed with the next phase of the plan?" Elif asked.
Lucien fell into deep thought.
At present, Pokémon Centers and friendly shops across the region were mostly completed, but the Joys had not yet fully arrived.
Moreover, this new Poké Ball had only just been developed and was far from mass production.
"How many Poké Balls has the factory produced so far?" Lucien asked.
"Approximately two thousand," Elif replied. "We have nearly exhausted the berry harvest from the Cone Trees near Lucien City. However, people within the territory have already begun planting more."
Lucien shook his head. "That will take too long."
Even with Grass-type Pokémon assisting in cultivation, Cone Trees required time to bear fruit. Waiting for the next harvest would delay everything.
After a moment of consideration, Lucien said, "Purchase large quantities of berries from other cities and send them directly to the Poké Ball factory."
"Yes, Your Majesty," Elif responded immediately.
"Have the Joys from other regions arrived yet?" Lucien asked.
"We dispatched trial-operation flying Pokémon taxis to collect them," Elif replied. "They should be arriving soon."
Lucien nodded slightly.
Once the Joys arrived in Lucien City, they would require standardized training. They needed to learn medical procedures, herbal identification, and Pokémon treatment methods before being assigned to their respective regions.
At the same time, high in the sky.
Several Joys from different parts of the kingdom were riding inside a flying Pokémon taxi operated by Braviary, heading toward Lucien City.
Beyond the window stretched a vast blue sky. White clouds drifted lazily, and the land of Unova far below appeared impossibly small.
The Joys sat close together, their faces tense. None of them dared look down.
This was their first time riding such a vehicle and their first time flying so high.
If they fell from here, they would surely die instantly. At least, that was what one of them could not stop imagining.
There were four Joys aboard the flying taxi.
The gentle and scholarly eldest sister, Joy Aileen.
The calm and composed second sister, Joy Amelia.
The lively and cheerful third sister, Joy Rin.
And the precocious youngest sister, Joy Ivy.
The four sisters had originally lived with their parents in a forest outside Funtopia City.
Since the end of the war, newspapers had become increasingly widespread throughout Unova.
Not long ago, their father, who worked in Funtopia City, brought several newspapers home.
From them, the sisters learned about two Joys named Lena and Celina.
They read how the two worked at the Pokémon Center in Lucien City.
At first, the people had been wary of the two girls who looked exactly alike.
But as time passed, and as the Joys continued to heal injured humans and Pokémon with remarkable skill, the people gradually accepted them.
They lived happily, no different from ordinary citizens.
That story deeply moved the sisters.
They had spent their lives hiding in the forest, avoiding discrimination.
Now, learning that Lucien City welcomed Joys instead of fearing them, a longing stirred in their hearts.
The youngest sister agreed immediately.
After discussing the matter with Amelia, the two convinced their third sister as well.
The eldest sister, Aileen, strongly opposed the idea at first. But in the end, out of concern for her sisters, she chose to accompany them.
As the eldest, it was her responsibility to protect them.
The four sisters left a letter for their parents and traveled to the Trainer Association in Castelia City.
After explaining their purpose, the staff of the Pokémon Association quickly arranged transportation for them to Lucien City.
That was the flying Pokémon taxi they were currently riding in.
When the vehicle first took off, the sisters were startled.
But very quickly, they discovered the advantages of this form of transportation.
It was incredibly fast.
This flying taxi was far faster than any oxcart or horse-drawn carriage they had ever seen.
In the blink of an eye, Castelia had already disappeared into the distance.
Ivy cautiously pressed her forehead against the window, peering outside.
What greeted her eyes was the vast expanse of the Unova region.
Endless green plains stretched as far as the eye could see, dotted with dense forests. Rivers wound across the land like living veins, and even distant mountain ranges were clearly visible from this height.
Staring at the magnificent scenery, Ivy's pupils widened, and an excitement she had never felt before surged within her.
"Wow. It's so beautiful."
"Ivy, be careful. Don't lean too far," Aileen called out worriedly.
"Sister, come and look. It's incredible," Ivy urged excitedly.
Hearing this, the other three sisters could not resist. They leaned toward the window, and after just one glance, they froze.
"So amazing," one of them murmured.
Aileen, the eldest, opened her mouth but found herself unable to form proper words. After a moment, she could only say, "It really is amazing."
"Not just amazing. It's super amazing," Ivy said, her eyes shining. "If Mom knew we were flying in the sky, she would be shocked."
At that moment, the four sisters noticed the outline of a city gradually appearing on the ground ahead.
They all turned their gazes toward it.
The driver at the front, who was also Braviary's partner, turned around with a smile.
"We're almost at Lucien City."
Hearing this, the sisters immediately focused their attention on the city below.
"So that's Lucien City?" Aileen asked excitedly. She had not forgotten the purpose of their journey.
"That's right," the driver said proudly. "This is the territory ruled by His Majesty Lucien. It's nothing like any city you've seen before. You'll be amazed once you arrive."
"Why do you say that?" Aileen asked, curious.
"Because Lucien City isn't just a city where humans live," the driver explained. "Countless Pokémon live here as well."
"Pokémon," the sisters repeated softly.
They had read in the newspapers that magical beasts were now called Pokémon.
Unlike many others, they were not afraid of such creatures. Near their forest, there had always been docile Pokémon living quietly alongside humans.
But what interested them even more was something else.
"What kind of person is His Majesty Lucien?" Joyce asked.
"He's the best king in the world," the driver said without hesitation, his tone filled with respect. "His Majesty stopped the war and has done so much for ordinary people like us. Being able to serve him is an honor."
The four sisters exchanged glances.
Joyce then asked, "Are there Joys in Lucien City?"
"Of course," the driver replied, scratching his head. "Two Nurse Joys work at the Pokémon Center there."
"Uncle, can I ask you something?" Joyce said hesitantly.
"Sure."
"Do you think it's strange that the four of us look exactly alike?"
The driver thought for a moment, then replied, "It is a little unusual. But you're all human, just like everyone else. You have eyes, noses, and mouths. Some people say getting close to Nurse Joy brings bad luck, but we go to the Pokémon Center all the time, and nothing bad ever happened."
He laughed awkwardly. "I'm not good with words, but Nurse Joy is very kind. Thanks to them, both my illness and Braviary's were cured quickly last time."
As he spoke, the city beneath them rapidly grew closer.
"Look, we've arrived."
Braviary lowered its altitude and slowly descended onto the landing platform of the flying taxi company.
The four Joys stepped out of the vehicle.
The driver and Braviary waved goodbye.
"If you're heading to the Pokémon Center, go straight through that intersection," the driver said. "You'll see a red-roofed building on the right. Someone will be waiting for you there."
"Thank you, Uncle," Alieen waved enthusiastically.
The driver smiled and turned back to his duties.
The four sisters turned around and stood on the unfamiliar street, looking around with wide-eyed curiosity.
Pokémon were everywhere.
Some played with children in the streets, others perched lazily on rooftops. Some helped people carry goods or work side by side with them, while others strolled leisurely, enjoying food together with humans.
The road beneath their feet was paved with clean, neatly laid red bricks. On both sides of the street, shops displayed a dazzling variety of goods. The people passing by wore elegant clothing, long robes made of fine cashmere that looked incredibly expensive at a glance.
The city was prosperous, lively, and bustling with activity.
For the four sisters, who had grown up in the countryside and were visiting a city for the first time, the sight was almost overwhelming. They subconsciously slowed their steps, feeling both awe and restraint.
"Just like the driver said… Pokémon really are everywhere here," Rin couldn't help but whisper.
Although Rin was usually mature for her age, standing in this unfamiliar environment made her feel nervous. She instinctively moved closer to her eldest sister.
"Big sister…" Rin murmured softly.
"It's alright," Aileen said gently, holding her hand. "Let's go to the Pokémon Center first."
Following the driver's directions, they soon spotted a red-roofed building by the roadside.
There was no doubt about it.
This was the Pokémon Center.
The doors were open. As soon as the four sisters stepped inside, they saw many Joys already gathered there.
Some wore nurse uniforms openly, while others still hid their faces beneath hoods and veils, clearly not yet accustomed to being seen.
Judging from their expressions, these Joys had likely heard the same news and traveled from different cities, just like them.
"Sister… there are so many Joys here," Ivy whispered in disbelief.
Aileen held her younger sister's hand tightly. Even as the eldest, she could not help feeling nervous in this moment.
Just then, a Joy dressed neatly in a nurse's uniform and cap stepped forward from the crowd.
Her gaze swept over everyone present, and a gentle smile appeared on her face.
"Please don't be nervous or worried," she said softly. "I'm Joy, one of the doctors working at this Pokémon Center."
"Welcome to Lucien City. I believe all of you came here for the same reason we did. We want to live normal lives in the city, without fear of being driven away or treated as symbols of misfortune."
Her words caused many of the Joys to stiffen slightly.
"Perhaps you've all experienced such things before," Joy continued calmly. "But I can promise you this. In Lucien City, that will never happen again."
Her voice echoed through the hall.
The room fell silent.
After a long moment, one of the Joys finally asked hesitantly, "Then… what do we need to do?"
Nurse Joy smiled warmly.
"His Majesty Lucien has already arranged suitable work for us. As you can see, we will serve as doctors in Pokémon Centers."
"Pokémon Centers are being built throughout the kingdom, and they are severely understaffed."
"If you are willing, you can sign up here," she said, gesturing to a desk nearby. "Our instructor, Ms. Lila, will teach you everything you need to know to become a Pokémon Doctor."
"Once you complete your training, you can be assigned to Pokémon Centers in other cities."
"You don't need to worry about being driven away," she added gently. "Because we are working under His Majesty Lucien."
"And if we sincerely help both people and Pokémon, then one day, they will truly change how they see us."
The Joys listened in silence.
Many lowered their heads, gripping their sleeves tightly.
After a long pause, one voice trembled slightly as it asked,"Can we really… live like normal people?"
...
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