"Taylor, do you think Dratini's fin will heal?" Lucy asked, resting her chin in her hand as she sat beside Taylor, gazing at the Dratini in front of them.
"Yes, but it will take time," Taylor quietly watched Dratini.
Dratini was currently struggling to swim, constantly tilting and circling because of its damaged side.
Dratini was unfortunate; it had lost its left ear-fin, become disabled, and had been injected with chemical reagents, making its wounds difficult to heal even in water.
But Dratini was also fortunate because it could recover in the future, but until Taylor upgraded the Medical Pod, it could only rely on itself.
Just now in the Medical Room, Taylor had said that Dratini's disability could be cured, and Dratini was overjoyed upon hearing this news, finally having some hope for life.
However, Locke had just warned that while such a promise could stop Dratini from giving up hope for a short time, if the promise could not be fulfilled, then something would go wrong.
Taylor wasn't too concerned about this; after all, he knew his current situation. Although he couldn't get the two thousand Happiness Points in a short time, he could always accumulate them slowly, and then he could help Dratini recover from its injuries.
"This little Pokémon is so pitiful..." Lucy sighed, saying with a pained expression.
Taylor nodded; that was indeed true.
Taylor had been running this Pokémon orphanage for some time, but most of the abandoned Pokémon he had seen were rarely abused and tormented like Dratini.
The moment he saw Dratini, Taylor's mood became heavy, but fortunately, he had a solution to this problem.
Otherwise, facing a self-abandoning Dratini, Taylor himself wouldn't know what to do.
"By the way, Director, what did you name Dratini?" Lucy asked with some curiosity.
"Tempest," Taylor looked at the Dratini diligently practicing moving despite its injury, and softly spoke the name he had given it.
The inspiration for this name came from the storm-like power it would one day wield when it evolved into a mighty Dragonite.
Lucy looked at Taylor with some surprise; after all, Lucy had been working for Taylor for some time, and during this period, Lucy knew that Taylor, the Director of the Pokémon orphanage, was good in every way; the only thing that made people complain was his naming sense.
Primeape was called Bonk, and Murkrow was called Kuro; his naming was truly a bit simple.
So, Lucy had just assumed that Taylor would name Dratini something like Bonk, Little Dragon, or Finny.
But she didn't expect it to be Tempest.
"I hope this little one can grow up strong in the future, growing into a Dragonite," Taylor looked at Dratini. Although it moved unsteadily, at least it could get around on its own.
This also made Taylor breathe a sigh of relief.
Although Dratini had become a disabled Pokémon, with training it could still live a normal life.
However, for most Pokémon, they might be unable to accept the fact of becoming disabled, thus giving up on themselves.
But as long as they step out of the shadow of self-abandonment, they can slowly adapt to their current body.
However, Tempest's special situation also meant that it needed to undergo a period of observation, and although Dratini's final evolution, Dragonite, is a very powerful Pokémon, its strength is still somewhat weak before it fully evolves.
And to cultivate Dratini into Dragonite, a lot of resources are required, which also leads to relatively fewer people willing to cultivate Dragon-type Pokémon.
Taylor felt that Tempest probably wouldn't be adopted by anyone in a short time.
"Director, can I come and see Tempest later?" Lucy looked at Taylor eagerly, and Taylor immediately nodded.
His Pokémon orphanage did not exclude others from visiting, and he would not stop them if they wanted to visit, not to mention Lucy had also donated a library.
Lucy, having received Taylor's consent, happily jumped up and then ran off to clean.
Today was the last day of their volunteer work here, and Taylor looked at Lucy's back, deciding to give them something.
Although these volunteers hadn't worked for very long, they were providing free service and Taylor felt he needed to give them something.
But, money was naturally out of the question. Taylor thought for a moment and decided to give these volunteers a unique small gift.
So, when it was time for dinner in the afternoon, all the volunteers received the gift from Taylor.
A greeting card with the paw prints or handprints of all the Pokémon in the Pokémon orphanage.
Looking at the excited volunteers, Taylor smiled and pulled them to take a group photo.
"Thank you all very much for your Helping Hand to the Pokémon orphanage during this period," Taylor bowed sincerely.
Although these Gym apprentices were brought by Giovanni, they worked very diligently and helped Taylor a lot.
Now the Pokémon orphanage looked much tidier, and that was thanks to these volunteers.
Farewells always carry a touch of sadness. This time, Taylor had put in a lot of effort to prepare a lavish feast for the volunteers. After the meal, as he watched them say goodbye to the little ones, Taylor quietly put the plates, forks and spoons away.
Looking at the quiet Pokémon orphanage, Taylor wiped his hands.
"Mr. Taylor, do you need me to give you some psychological counseling?" Locke asked.
"No need, it's just a farewell, I'm used to it," Taylor waved his hand, looking at the food box in Locke's hand, his eyelids twitched.
Taylor remembered that when they had just eaten the feast together, Locke had eaten a lot, three full plates and had also devoured most of the garlic bread and noodles.
And now he was still eating takeout?
"I... have a big appetite," Locke noticed Taylor's gaze; he raised the box in his hand, revealing a sincere smile.
"...Next time I'll make a bit more," Taylor said, and then turned off the lights in the cafeteria and walked out.
Locke opened his box revealing fried, he leaned against the wall, and watched Taylor's retreating figure.
"Taylor is really interesting," Locke smiled, then slurped some noodles with a disappointed sigh.
He had eaten these fried noodles many times, but ever since he had eaten the noodles made by this Taylor, eating them again felt like something was missing.
"Boring," Locke looked at the noodles in his hand, wanting to throw them in the trash, but then felt it would be a waste.
After thinking for a moment, he sighed and continued to pick up his fork to eat the noodles in the box.