Meanwhile, as usual, Sailor rummaged through every trash can in Pelican Town without being noticed.
Returning with a full load, Sailor brought Geodude back to the farm, then took Nacli to the bus stop.
Pam sat in the driver's seat. Seeing Sailor board, she smiled and said, "So you're Sailor, huh? Sandy told me about you ahead of time. Your ticket, she already—"
She paused, noticing Sailor had brought along an additional Pokémon whose name she didn't recognize.
Seeing this, Sailor stepped onto Nacli's head and placed 500g into the nearby ticket box.
This was the 'playing fund' Ron had issued yesterday.
The other Rattatas had been so engrossed in Gus's hamburgers that the money had hardly been touched; Sailor had traded cookies he'd scavenged to gather it all.
"Then hop on," Pam said, closing the window and starting the bus.
This was Sailor's first bus ride. Excitedly, it pressed against the window, watching the bus enter the tunnel and gradually pick up speed.
"Nacli?"
Nacli pressed against the window beside Sailor.
Before long, the rain outside stopped. When the sunlight came, an indescribable sense of comfort for Nacli.
It felt as though a warm breeze had brushed over it, drying the damp, clumped salt within its body with the dry air.
"Nacli!"
Sailor turned its head to look at Nacli. "Ratta?"
'Do you like this?'
Seeing Nacli nod, Sailor paused briefly, then looked away.
Though Sailor had brought Nacli out hoping to make it more comfortable, that didn't mean it had the right to unilaterally decide to change Nacli's living environment, trainer, or anything like that.
It fell silent for a moment, momentarily troubled.
The bus soon stopped in the desert.
Nacli cheerfully hopped off immediately and began frolicking in the sand.
dHaving been confined in Santalune City for so long, it never imagined returning to such an environment. Now it couldn't help but hop around everywhere, even burying itself in the yellow sand at one point.
Sailor solemnly instructed Nacli not to wander off, then ran toward the oasis with a slightly worried expression.
"Welcome, Sailor!" Sandy had been sitting at the counter, yawning boredly, but upon seeing Sailor enter, she excitedly stood up and pulled out a custom-made sailor suit.
"You really came!" She quickly stepped out from behind the counter. "Try it on! Doesn't it look good?"
She slipped the suit onto Sailor.
Made to fit Sailor's size, it was perfect. Sandy held Sailor and examined it from all angles.
"Ratta." Sailor tugged at the collar uncomfortably.
"Now that's what a sailor should look like!" Sandy said with a smile.
Turning her head, she spotted Nacli rolling in the sand nearby. "Is that one from the farm too?"
Sailor turned, glanced at Nacli, and nodded.
"It's adorable too," Sandy said, squinting. "Does it want some clothes as well?"
Looking at Nacli's square shape, Sailor shook its head on Nacli's behalf.
After receiving the complimentary sailor suit from Sandy and gathering desert specialties—cactus fruits, plus coconuts and honey Sandy sold—Sailor shouldered a fully packed bag and bid Sandy farewell.
Taking along the somewhat reluctant Nacli, Sailor began the return journey to the farm.
"Ratta, ratta."
'You can come again anytime.'
Sailor patted its chest, assuring Nacli, who lay by the window.
"Nacli." Nacli shook its head, then slowly pulled out a stone and handed it to Sailor.
"Ratta?"
Examining the pebble-like object, Sailor turned it over and over but couldn't identify it.
Still, it differed from stones found in the mine—likely something special.
Sailor tucked it into the bag as well.
Meanwhile With Ron…
Ron was crouching beside a box near Geodude, staring at a paper covered in paw prints, lost in brief thought.
He recalled Sailor had indeed made plans with Sandy to visit the desert today.
But no one mentioned taking Nacli along. Given the circumstances, it looked less like a desert outing with friends and more like running away from home, leaving behind a farewell note saying, "Don't come looking for me."
Still, if Nacli preferred staying in the desert, Ron didn't mind.
Nacli hadn't contributed much else to the farm, but it had helped with seasonings.
The salt it produced was far superior to store-bought variety, improved dish flavors, and Ron had even shared some with Gus.
—
However, salt isn't consumed quickly; the small amount produced earlier was estimated to last until next year.
Just as Ron pondered this, Sailor returned to the farm carrying bags of various sizes, Nacli looking nearly refreshed.
Likely due to the farm's humidity, Nacli's color had appeared much darker before; now it looked lighter and noticeably healthier.
"Ratta ratta!"
Wearing its sailor suit, Sailor stood upright on its hind legs amid a crowd of Rattatas and began distributing the desert specialties it had gathered.
Ron glanced from afar, seeing cactus fruits and honey, and initially paid little attention.
Then he froze, quickly stepped around the Rattatas, approached the bag, and picked up a pebble-like object.
"This is—" He frowned and scanned it with his Pokédex.
[Everstone: A mysterious stone that prevents a Pokémon from evolving while held.]
Just as Ron prepared to ask Sailor where it came from, he suddenly received Nacli's memories regarding this Everstone.
"Found in the desert?" Ron startled, then joyfully lifted Nacli. "Are there more stones like this? Any others?"
"Nacli—" Nacli stared blankly at Ron.
Ron took a deep breath, calmed himself, and said, "If that place makes you feel more comfortable, you may go every day. But if you find more stones like this, be sure to bring them back for me."
"Nacli?" Nacli paused, then instantly brightened: "Nacli!"
Ron carried Nacli outside.
Pam was still on duty. Ron walked to the bus stop and asked, "From now on, could you take this little one to the Desert every morning?"
"The Desert?" Pam blinked, surprised.
"I'll pay the fare in advance," Ron added. "Just drop it off each morning, and bring it back whenever it wishes to return."
Pam hesitated, then waved her hand. "Forget about the money. It's no trouble at all. Consider it done."
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