Chapter 422: Eve of the Tournament, Video Call
Around the 15th day since Will arrived at the Village of Dragons.
Wendy's father Mabe came back.
Opelucid Gym was not difficult for him; he obtained the badge on the first try.
The reason why he was out for so long.
Was because he was asking around for news everywhere outside, looking for possibilities to cure Wendy.
This took him a lot of time, and there was no result.
At the moment seeing Mabe.
Will was somewhat surprised in his heart.
Because the gap between him and the appearance seen in the photo was really too big.
There is a family photo in Wendy's home.
Wendy on that photo was probably only about five years old, should have been taken six years ago.
The one holding Wendy at that time was a young man looking only in his twenties, looking quite handsome and unrestrained.
But now appearing in front of eyes.
Is a middle-aged man wearing glasses with a slightly receding hairline and a bit chubby.
Mabe's current age should be only thirty.
But looks like forty years old, with some lingering haggardness between eyebrows.
Looks like these three years.
Mabe worried a lot because of Wendy's illness, reaching the point of obviously affecting physical condition.
But although full of sorrow in his heart.
He wouldn't show it on the surface.
To Cynthia and her group.
Mabe expressed a warm welcome, treating them a lot with Scrafty.
Like Scrafty, he is very grateful that Will and others are willing to play with Wendy every day.
And.
Even knowing Cynthia is an enemy in the Unova League, his attitude didn't change at all, even encouraging Cynthia, expecting to meet her in the finals.
Usually.
Mabe would also specifically avoid the place where Cynthia conducted training.
Sure enough, as Scrafty said.
Even separated from the arena for a long time, there is still some arrogance in his bones, disdaining to inquire about intelligence of other opponents before the battle begins.
Of course.
This might also be related to a sentence Wendy usually says—Proud and confident Dad is the coolest!
The following time.
Will asked Mabe about Wendy's illness every day.
Occasionally would accompany them to the hospital for checkups with Wendy.
The situation he currently knows is:
The disease on Wendy is similar to cancer, but not.
There is also cancer in the Pokémon world, and relying on the combination of technological means and Pokémon power, healing methods are quite effective and diverse.
Even at the late stage, there is a very high probability of cure.
But this disease on Wendy.
Cannot be cured.
Because this is not a disease humans can get.
It is said to be a disease originally appearing only on Pokémon, and currently no cases of inheritance.
But don't know why Wendy inherited it.
Nurse Joy guessed one of Wendy's parents might be a Pokémon suffering from this disease.
Of course, there is another possibility.
Wendy might be a failed work of some evil experiments.
Like experiments trying to transplant Pokémon cells.
Such experiments were not nonexistent in the past.
Now some people are conducting them in secret.
Since the Unova League was established, these "test subjects" saved by the League are counted in hundreds.
The reason for the appearance of such experiments is not hard to guess; nothing more than someone wanting to try whether humans can master extraordinary power and learn various moves like Pokémon.
Wendy might be a guinea pig of this kind of experiment.
Three years ago.
When Wendy was diagnosed.
The Unova League even dispatched an investigation team to search the place where Mabe picked up Wendy back then, but no results.
But they have no time to care about that now.
The cure probability of this disease on Pokémon is quite low.
Those malignant cells will constantly devour the host's life force, and with their proliferation, this devouring speed will become faster and faster.
Most Pokémon suffering from this disease die of weakness.
Only those Pokémon with high level, strong physical fitness, and discovered early might be able to withstand long-term surgery to be cured successfully.
And human physical fitness can't withstand it at all. Not to mention when Wendy's illness was discovered, it was already a bit late.
Even if discovered immediately.
With a little girl's physical fitness, she can't withstand surgery.
Plus sitting in a wheelchair for a long time lacking exercise, this makes Wendy's physical fitness worse and worse.
Now the success rate of surviving surgery is 0.
This day.
Cynthia didn't take Wendy out to play.
Because Wendy had a fever.
Cynthia thought it was just an ordinary fever, taking care of her by her bedside all the time.
But Mabe and Scrafty knew it wasn't.
This is one of the manifestations of declining body resistance.
In these three years, Wendy repeatedly caught colds, fevers, various minor illnesses entangling her body; situation getting more and more serious.
These few days probably because of good mood and more sun exposure.
So rarely no situation appeared for half a month.
But fell ill today after all.
Outside the door.
"What do you plan to do?"
Will looked at Mabe.
"Take Wendy for chemotherapy; she was originally firmly refusing to go, because didn't want to lie in the hospital bed all the time in these last days."
Mabe looked up blankly towards the direction of Opelucid City,
"But changed her mind these few days... afraid if not doing chemotherapy, won't last until the day I win the championship."
"...In a few more days, have to go to the Unova League to register information."
"Mm."
Mabe smiled reluctantly,
"Good luck in the competition."
After leaving this sentence.
Mabe turned back into the house to take care of Wendy.
Once the competition starts.
He might not have time to accompany Wendy every day.
Next day.
When Mabe took Wendy to leave for Opelucid City.
Cynthia didn't notice anything wrong.
Because Mabe and Wendy didn't plan to tell her the specific situation from beginning to end.
Until now.
Cynthia thinks Wendy is just a neighbor girl with inconvenient legs.
Usually she also says she hopes to travel with Wendy in the future.
This is also good.
This is also what Mabe and others expect.
Only in this way.
Can Cynthia not deliberately go easy in the competition.
A few more days passed.
Early morning.
"Riolu!"
"Um?"
Will opened his eyes dazedly, looking at Cynthia lying beside him confusedly.
"Get up quickly; we should go to the Unova League today."
"Oh, then you get up; I want to nap for five more minutes."
"You are pressing my hair!"
"You are also pressing my tail."
Bedside.
N holding Victini, together with Keldeo beside, looked at the two of them sighing helplessly.
Why can the same drama be staged every morning?
Half an hour later.
Everyone was ready to go.
After bidding farewell to Grandmother Dragon, headed towards the direction of Opelucid City.
They have to arrive at Opelucid City first, then take a bus through the bridge to the Unova League located on the northern rocky mountain of the eastern continent.
After going to the Unova League.
Have to register participating Pokémon's information first.
Then head to Higaki City (Vertress City) located at the foot of the rocky mountain, near the river.
Higaki City.
This is a city not existing in the game, only existing in the anime.
Is a place established by the Unova League in recent years, specifically used to hold League tournaments; the Athlete's Village is also located here.
Long journey all the way.
Departed in the morning.
Arrived at the Pokémon Center in Higaki City at night.
Coming to the Pokémon Center, the first thing Cynthia wants to do is make a video call to her home far away in the Sinnoh region.
Beep beep screen lit up.
Appearing on the other side of the video was not the charming golden-haired wife (Kaoru), but Cynthia's grandmother, Carolina.
"Grandma!"
"Cynthia, already arrived at Higaki City?"
Carolina on the other side showed a doting smile to her granddaughter in the video.
"Mm! Why did Grandma return home?"
Cynthia asked curiously.
Because Carolina is busy with work, having to look after Celestic History Museum and manage Celestic Laboratory, so rarely goes home usually.
Of course.
When Cynthia's father was still there in the past, Carolina might also have the idea of not wanting to disturb their family.
"Your mom guessed you would call today, specifically asked me to come home and wait."
"Oh oh, where is Mom?"
"League discovered a wild Totem Pokémon over there; your mom has to go contact and see, took that Druddigon along too."
"Big Silly?!"
Cynthia showed a surprised expression on her face.
"Why are you so surprised? Didn't you bring that child back?"
"Big Silly like that... can he deal with other Totem Pokémon?"
Cynthia showed a skeptical expression on her face, looking at Will confusedly.
Will's expression was also weird.
Druddigon...
Strength is definitely enough.
Size shouldn't be weak either.
Although the Totem identifier has moisture, physique strengthening multiple is not high.
But don't forget Druddigon is a Pokémon from the monster era, naturally big physique.
The problem is does he have that courage to stand in front of other Totems?
Don't shrink his head under Kaoru's butt.
That would be too shameful for him, the boss.
"I say, you underestimate Druddigon too much; even my Lucario is not his opponent. With him, Kaoru's work is much easier."
Carolina looks like she likes Druddigon very much.
This made Will breathe a sigh of relief.
Looks like Druddigon not only didn't cause trouble for Kaoru and Carolina, but also won the love of the mother and daughter.
"Right, where is your Riolu?"
"Here, what's wrong?"
Cynthia reached out, picking up Riolu.
Although Will is not light, about 65 kg/143 lbs.
But human physique in the Pokémon world is also extraordinary; 130 catties for Cynthia is just a bit heavy, not to the extent of unable to pick up.
"Grandma."
Will raised his hand to wave, greeting.
"Oh~ really a well-developed Riolu; no wonder Cynthia you talked about him every day for these two years."
Carolina pressed her face against the screen, eyes full of curiosity.
This is her first time meeting Will.
Before only heard about him.
Looking at it now, really amazing; just this size is exaggerated enough.
Will looked at the video and smiled casually.
He is more concerned about Wendy's situation in his head now, no mood to respond to the elderly.
But the next moment.
His attention was all placed on the screen in front.
"Bark?! (Wolf Mom?!)"
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