The next day, I decided to visit the person Nurse Joy had recommended, taking Kirlia's with me.
A quiet mix of hope and nerves settled in my chest as we walked. Meowscarada and Lopunny stayed close, their presence steady and comforting.
The house was modest and quiet, tucked away in a calmer part of Saffron City. It had a simple wooden door, plain curtains in the windows, and nothing flashy or imposing. Just a normal home that blended into the neighborhood.
I rang the bell.
No answer came.
I waited a minute, then rang again. Still silence.
Meowscarada tilted her head, ears twitching curiously. Lopunny gave a soft "Lopuu~?" and looked up at me.
I shrugged. "Maybe he's out. Let's wait a bit."
We stood there for a few minutes, the city noise faint in the background.
Then a voice came from behind us, calm and sudden.
"Hello, young man. Do you need me for something?"
My heart jumped. We spun around fast. We hadn't heard any footsteps or felt anyone approach. He was just there all of a sudden.
Meowscarada let out a startled "Nyaa!?" her tail puffing up. Lopunny's ears shot straight, a quick "Lopuu!?" escaping her as she grabbed my arm.
The man stood quietly. He wore a teal-green jacket with black stripes, and a tan baseball cap pulled low. A full beard framed his serious face, his narrowed eyes giving a tough, no-nonsense stare.
I blinked, then asked, "Are you William?"
He nodded once.
"Yes, that's me. What brings you here?"
"Hi... Nurse Joy gave me your address. She said you might be able to help with a psychic Pokémon problem."
William smiled faintly and nodded.
He glanced at my Pokémon with mild curiosity, clearly noting he'd never seen anything quite like them before, then turned toward the door.
"Ah, Joy sent you. Come inside, then. We'll talk."
Before he reached the handle, the door swung open on its own with a soft, smooth click.
Me and my Pokémon froze for a second.
"Nyaa!?"
"Lopuu!?"
I blinked, heart skipping once.
Then I remembered, this man truly had psychic abilities.
That realization hit me like a quiet wave of relief.
If William could do something so simple as this, maybe he really could help Kirlia.
Hope flickered brighter in my chest.
Meowscarada and Lopunny followed me closely, tails swishing with cautious curiosity as we stepped into the quiet house.
The door closed behind us on its own with a soft click.
Inside, the house was simple and orderly.
A worn sofa sat against one wall, covered with a plain blanket. A few books were neatly stacked on a shelf. Soft light came from the ceiling.
A framed photo hung on the wall nearby, a man and a woman, one older and one younger, clearly his wife and daughter, smiling in a casual family portrait.
The younger woman's face looked oddly familiar, like I'd seen it somewhere before, but I pushed the thought aside. I didn't come here to discuss family matters.
William gestured for me to sit on the sofa, then took the armchair across from us.
Meowscarada and Lopunny settled close on either side of me, their fur brushing my arms as we faced him.
"Show me the Pokémon."
I released Kirlia from the Dream Ball.
Its small body appeared, still limp, eyes closed, breathing shallow but steady.
I explained everything again.
William nodded slowly, expression calm.
He placed a hand lightly on Kirlia's head.
A soft Blue glow emanated from his palm, faint and careful.
He closed his eyes for a long moment, brow furrowed in concentration.
The glow pulsed once, twice, then faded.
He opened his eyes and withdrew his hand, sighing quietly.
"I understand what this is. A severe psychic overload locked its mind in a deep dream loop. The evolution to Kirlia happened naturally, but the coma remains. I'm afraid I may not be able to help with this…"
My shoulders sagged slightly.
Meowscarada let out a small, worried "Nyaa...?" her ears drooping as she leaned closer to Kirlia. Lopunny gave a soft, comforting "Lopuu~" and gently brushed her paw over Kirlia's horn, trying to offer warmth.
"Looks like I will have to go to Sabrina then."
William's face tightened at the name. His calm expression flickered with something like concern, eyes narrowing.
He leaned forward slightly, voice low and careful.
"You should avoid Sabrina if you can. She's the strongest psychic in Kanto. Her power is immense, but she is cold, unpredictable."
I looked down at Kirlia.
I shook my head firmly.
"I can't abandon this Pokémon. No matter how dangerous the situation is."
I stood up slowly, returning Kirlia to the Dream Ball.
Meowscarada and Lopunny rose with me, standing close at my sides, their expressions steady and supportive.
"Thank you for your help, William."
I turned to leave.
He raised a hand.
"Wait."
I paused.
"Sabrina may ask you for a challenge before helping your Pokémon. If you win, she may be able to help. But I think you should get a Ghost-type Pokémon if you wish to challenge her. They have a strong advantage against her psychic powers."
He glanced at Meowscarada and Lopunny.
"Though I've never seen Pokémon like yours before, they are clearly not Ghost-types."
I smiled faintly and glanced at Meowscarada standing close beside me, her pink eyes bright and confident.
"Lopunny may not be able to defend against Sabrina's psychic attacks, but Meowscarada will definitely be able to."
Dark-type hadn't been classified yet in this world.
But when Meowscarada used her dark-type move Night Slash for the first time, that moment triggered the memory.
As per my memories, Dark-types are immune to psychic attacks. But for some reason, Meowscarada couldn't fully resist them.
Still, with her willpower, she can overcame psychic pressure far more easily than Lopunny.
But it's not just her.
Almost all Pokémon have some natural disadvantage against certain elements, yet even when facing a type they're weak to, they can sometimes push through, if the trainer gives the right commands, or if the Pokémon itself has enough spirit and determination.
Some even manage to overcome their weaknesses entirely in the heat of battle.
William raised an eyebrow.
"Is that Pokémon a Ghost-type?"
I shook my head.
"No. But it's something similar…"
With a small, knowing smile, I left.
William watched me go, a quiet, thoughtful expression on his face.
He whispered to himself, almost inaudible.
"That boy... he might actually be able to do it."
From the conversation, the way Ryan spoke, the quiet determination in my eyes, it felt like he understood more than most trainers.
The door closed softly behind me and my Pokémon.