He pulled on a pair of medical gloves and began his examination.
Elara moved to assist, and I noticed how different her demeanor was with Gible unconscious.
No fear.
No hesitation.
"Second-degree burns on the shoulder and snout," Oak narrated as he worked. "Significant scale cracking across the torso and back. Multiple impact sites consistent with blunt force trauma."
He paused, running a gentle finger along one of the gaps where scales had torn free during Scale Shot. "And these... these are separations. The scales didn't crack from damage. They detached cleanly."
"Scale Shot," I said quietly. "Gible learned a new move during the battle. It launches its own scales as projectiles."
Oak's eyes widened. "Self-weaponization? That's... I've never heard of such a technique. The physiological stress alone should be prohibitive."
"And yet Gible did it anyway," I said, watching as Oak applied a specialized healing salve to the burns. "Because the alternative was losing."
"Remarkable," Oak murmured. He looked at Elara. "Make a note. The Prism Transformation may grant not just physical changes but also access to techniques we've never heard of."
Elara's fingers flew across her tablet. "Already noted. This is incredible, Professor. If other Pokémon can undergo similar transformations, the implications for battle strategy alone are—"
"Are secondary to making sure this one survives," Oak said firmly. He attached small monitoring devices to Gible's chest. "Heart rate is elevated but stable. Breathing normally. Body temperature is slightly high, but that's expected after a Fire-type attack. The burns will heal cleanly with proper treatment."
"And the scales?" I asked, looking at the exposed flesh where crimson armor had torn away.
"Will regenerate," Oak assured me. "Dragon-types have remarkable healing capabilities. Steel-types even more so. Gible's hybrid nature should accelerate the process. I'd estimate full recovery in about a day or two."
"For now, rest is the best medicine," Oak continued. "The body needs time to repair itself. I'll keep Gible here overnight for monitoring, but barring complications, you can take him back to your room tomorrow."
I nodded, relief washing over me. Gible would be okay. The fight had been brutal, the injuries severe, but my partner would recover.
"You should rest too," Elara said as she looked me up and down. "You look exhausted."
I probably was. The adrenaline from the battle was fading, leaving behind a bone-deep weariness.
"I'll stay," I said, pulling up a chair beside the examination table. "Until Gible wakes up."
Oak smiled slightly. "I suspected you'd say that. Very well. But if you fall asleep in that chair, don't blame me for the neck pain tomorrow."
—
One Week Later
I woke to morning sunlight streaming through my bedroom window and the now-familiar weight of Gible curled up on the cushion beside my bed.
The little dragon's scales had fully regenerated. Where there had been gaps and cracks a week ago, now there was seamless crimson armor, gleaming like polished rubies.
The burns had faded completely. Even the slight limp from the Bulldoze had disappeared.
Gible was whole again. Stronger, even.
'Good morning,' the little dragon's mental voice was bright and energetic. 'Today feels different. Something's going to happen.'
"You're not wrong," I said, sitting up and stretching. "Today's the day the researchers arrive to verify the Prism Transformation."
'The ones who want to study me?'
"The ones who want to confirm you're real," I corrected. "There's a difference. Though yes, they'll want to run some tests."
Gible's eyes narrowed. 'I don't like tests.'
"I know. But it's important. Once they verify everything, the article becomes official. You'll be recognized as the first documented Prism Pokémon in history."
'Will they try to take me?'
The question caught me off guard. "What? No. Absolutely not. You're my partner. Nobody's taking you anywhere."
Gible seemed satisfied with this answer and hopped down from the cushion. "Gible!"
A knock at my door interrupted the moment.
"Samael?" Oak's voice came through. "The research team from the Consortium has arrived. They're waiting in the laboratory."
I stood, pulled on a clean shirt, and looked at Gible. "Ready?"
'Ready.'
The laboratory was more crowded than I'd ever seen it. Oak's usual workspace had been cleared to make room for additional equipment, and three women in pristine white lab coats stood near the main examination table, reviewing data on their tablets.
The lead researcher looked up as we entered. She was in her mid-thirties, with dark hair pulled back in a severe bun, and sharp, intelligent eyes hidden behind rectangular glasses.
"Dr. Miriam Chen," she introduced herself, extending a hand. "Head of Genetic Anomaly Research for the Pokémon Research Consortium. These are my colleagues, Dr. Yuki Tanaka and Dr. Sofia Reyes."
I shook her hand, noting the firm grip. "Samael Oak."
"We've read your article extensively," Dr. Chen said, her attention already shifting to Gible. "The documentation was thorough, but seeing the specimen in person is... extraordinary."
Gible growled softly at being called a "specimen."
"Gible is my partner," I said firmly. "Not a specimen. If we're doing this, we do it with respect."
Dr. Chen's expression softened slightly. "Of course. My apologies. Force of habit." She crouched down to Gible's eye level. "Hello, Gible. We're here to learn about what makes you special. Is that alright?"
Gible looked at me. I nodded.
'Fine. But if they hurt me, I'll bite 'em.'
"Gible says that's acceptable," I translated. "But no invasive procedures. Visual examination and basic measurements only."
"Understood," Dr. Chen said, standing. She gestured to the examination table. "Shall we begin?"
The next hour was a careful dance of scientific inquiry and Gible's barely contained hostility.
Dr. Tanaka attempted to measure Gible's height and weight, which went smoothly until she tried to use calipers to measure scale thickness. Gible snapped at the instrument, and Dr. Tanaka jerked back with a yelp.
"Apologies," I said. "Gible doesn't like being prodded."
"Noted," Dr. Tanaka said, making a mark on her tablet with shaking hands.
Dr. Reyes ran a type confirmation scanner, and the device beeped with results that made all three researchers lean in close.
"Dragon/Steel confirmed," Dr. Reyes said, her voice carrying disbelief. "The scanner's registering both type signatures with equal strength. This shouldn't be possible for a Gible."
"And yet it is," Oak said from where he stood observing. "I've run the same tests myself. The results are consistent."