When Pam returned, Penny stood up, smiled at Abigail, and followed her mother out of the farm.
Abigail rose too, said goodbye to Ron, and headed straight for the Community Center.
Ever since she'd decided to go to Kalos, Abigail had made it a habit to visit Joy after work. She wanted to learn about Kalosian culture and pick up tips on battling and adventuring.
Before, she might've found sitting still to study boring—but now, she couldn't get enough of it.
She'd also received her Pokédex, map, route planner, and even a guidebook detailing League formats and schedules. In her spare time, she'd scanned every Pokémon in Pelican Town with her Pokédex.
And she'd discovered something else: Pokémon Contests, Kalos's glamorous alternative to the League. Since she loved performing, she'd signed up on the spot.
Watching Abigail leave, Ron turned back to his work—crafting Poké Beans, gathering Berries, and giving final instructions to the Pokémon staying behind.
With Indeedee around, he wasn't too worried. Even if the beans ran out, Indeedee could cook for them—though it'd be a lot of extra work.
As for the Miltank: over the summer, their number had grown to eleven. Unlike the lab, the ranch didn't have a Pokémon receiver, so Ron would need to personally deliver them.
The one Miltank he kept would be enough to supply milk for the dwarves.
His Rattata, rarely separated from him, now circled his feet, clearly distressed.
Froakie, perched on his shoulder and set to travel with him, patted each Rattata solemnly.
"Froakie."
It was trying its best to comfort them—but it wasn't working.
Orthworm and Geodude weren't as clingy. They couldn't sleep in the cabin with Ron, and only saw him briefly during the day, so their bond wasn't as deep. Still, they felt a pang of separation—after all, he was their Trainer.
Indeedee, though the youngest in size, acted like the wise elder of the group, gently soothing each Rattata in turn.
By nightfall, Ron had finished all the Poké Beans needed for the farm's Pokémon. He stored them in the fridge, grabbed the bus keys, and headed for the station.
---
Meanwhile, in the Desert…
Sandy watched over her little shop as usual.
When bored, she'd stare down the empty road, imagining Emily suddenly arriving by bus to surprise her.
Lost in daydreams, she noticed something new in the bus stop's shadows—several pairs of tiny red dots.
Eyes? But they were too low to the ground for her to make out what they belonged to.
"Do you think… monsters escaped from the mines?" she asked nervously.
The ever-stoic bodyguard standing by the stairs slowly turned, peered through the window—and shook his head.
"No."
"What are they, then?" Sandy pressed.
That was the limit of his patience. He turned away, hands clasped behind his back, resuming his rigid stance without another word.
"Ugh," Sandy huffed. "You're no fun. Should've never rented the second floor to your boss."
(Though in truth, without that mysterious tenant's generous rent, her shop would've shut down long ago.)
Earlier, Pam had told her the bus would officially run on Fall 1. She couldn't visit Pelican Town right away—that stung—but it meant Emily could finally make it to her birthday this year.
Smiling at the thought, Sandy drifted off again.
---
Back at the Bus Stop…
Ron pulled up in the bus. The doors opened—and several dwarves clambered aboard.
Their short legs made the steps tricky, but they helped each other up. The seats were high, but a quick boost got them settled.
They'd packed carefully for their move to Pelican Town:
- Mine ores
- Cave carrot seeds
- A sturdy little pot
- Ancestral dwarf tools
The ride back would take time, so Ron handed them the blueprint. Once at the farm, they'd load the materials.
The teleport totem wasn't urgent—just needed before Ron returned from Kalos. But worried they might not come to the farm, he'd already delivered the materials and their promised milk.
---
Summer 28
That night was the Dance of the Moonlight Jellies. The jellyfish would ride ocean currents to Pelican Town's beach, dancing under moonlight until dawn, when they'd vanish with summer's last glow.
So departure for Kalos was set for early morning—after the festival.
The League had provided Abigail with a spacious backpack. Most of her belongings fit inside.
It was her first voyage beyond Pelican Town—she'd barely slept from excitement.
Pierre and Caroline were just as restless. That morning, Caroline handed Abigail a heavy bag of Poké Balls.
"What's this?" Abigail gasped, glancing toward their room.
"From your father," Caroline whispered, ruffling her hair. She gave last-minute advice for life in Kalos.
"I'll miss you, sweetheart," she murmured. "Oh—and Joy says the Pokémon Center will have a video call computer. If you miss me, call anytime."
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