Time skipped ahead to the next day.
Because today was Haley's first day participating in a Pokémon Contest, just like with Abigail's time, everyone brought chairs and food to the Community Center to watch the competition broadcast.
Emily specially got up early for this, even calling Sandy from the desert to come along. Everyone crowded into the Community Center, staring at the host on TV introducing the competition. After a while, someone turned and asked, "Is that one over there also your relative?"
Joy looked up from behind the counter and glanced over: "Ah—her? Sort of, uh, a cousin? That's Joy from Coumarine City."
"Your genes are really powerful." Hearing this, Pam sighed in admiration, cutting winter melon on the table while examining the Joy on TV.
"Almost identical."
Because Sandy, the only one who would travel back and forth to the desert today, was already sitting in the Pokémon Center, Pam also gave herself a day off. She finished cutting the winter melon, placed it on a plate, and set it on the table.
"Really? Actually, I think the differences between us are quite significant." Joy smiled. "But besides ourselves, there really are very few people who can tell us apart."
"It's Haley's first competition. It seems the girl who won last time is also there. I don't know if she can win."
"If it's Haley, I think it'll be fine." Jas said, hugging her doll and sitting beside Marnie, staring motionlessly at the TV.
Today was the weekend, no classes, so Marnie brought Jas along too.
Of course, even if there were classes, as Haley's debut, there was no reason to let Jas miss this moment for one more day of studying.
Beside Jas sat Vincent.
Honestly, Vincent wasn't very interested in this competition, but the feeling of everyone gathering together to watch TV was really nice.
Especially since it was winter now, with freezing weather outside. The fireplace in the Community Center was burning brightly, and with many people inside, it was much warmer.
Robin leaned against the counter, looking around with his head tilted up. "When I have time, I'll come help reinforce this place—anyway, there's nothing much to do during this period."
"Mm, actually it's fine." Joy followed Robin's gaze: "Ah, but if it's convenient, could you make a room for lodging?"
This was standard in other Pokémon Centers, providing accommodation for traveling challengers.
But Pelican Town didn't have passing challengers anyway.
But if there could be one more lodging room, then if they encountered seriously ill Pokémon later, they could arrange for them to recuperate at the Community Center for a while.
Before this, those seriously injured Pokémon Joy encountered on the road, after receiving basic treatment at the Pokémon Center, would be sent to the clinic to stay temporarily.
This was specially permitted by Harvey, because the clinic had several beds that mostly went unused.
Although the patients faced by both sides were different, they cooperated quite well.
For example, her Wigglytuff could be lent to Harvey when necessary to soothe children who refused medical treatment, or when necessary, directly use Sing to lull them to sleep.
More than half a year had passed, and Joy felt she had completely integrated into this small town.
Thinking this, she wiped the counter, then turned to go to the kitchen, brewed a pot of tea with the tea leaves Ron gave her, and brought it out.
"Right, isn't Ron also returning from Kalos today?"
She asked while pouring tea for everyone.
"Ah, it seems to be today."
"Hope it's not too late." Joy said, handing out the teacups.
"That's hard to say." Pam said, turning to look outside. "But it's better to be early."
Don't let Penny freeze.
She thought, taking a sip of hot tea.
Meanwhile, watching Haley go to the venue with Serena and the others, Ron took Team Rocket on the return journey.
"How many days to go back, meow?" Meowth trotted to Ron's feet and looked up to ask.
"Very soon." Ron paused, then turned toward the nearby shipyard.
"By boat?"
"Mm." Ron said, entering the shipyard.
If it were anyone else, Ron would just take them back. But for Team Rocket, it was necessary to be slightly discreet.
Thinking this, Ron bought a small boat similar to Willy's.
The price wasn't too expensive. He had saved quite a bit of money selling ingredients in Kalos during this time, plus the deposit received from the Lumiose Gym, which was just enough to buy one.
—
Getting on the boat and sailing away from Coumarine City's port, Ron glanced at Team Rocket trying hard to remember the direction to Pelican Town, then reached out and released Bellossom from its Poké Ball.
"Use Sleep Powder."
Ron said softly.
Before the words finished, a sweet, cloying pollen emanated from Bellossom's body.
"What a sweet smell, meow—" Meowth murmured, leaning over the boat's edge, couldn't help but yawn. "Such a familiar smell—James, do you smell—"
Before the words finished, it saw James, who had already fallen asleep on the deck, and Jessie beside him.
"Was it Sleep Powder, meow?" Meowth turned its head and saw Bellossom standing beside Ron.
Before it could feel a jolt in its heart, its eyes closed and it fell asleep.
The next instant, with a flash of light, the boat appeared beside Willy's boat.
"As expected, I can bring the boat back together." Ron paused, dropped the anchor, and placed Team Rocket onto Willy's boat.
Although he really wanted to sail his own boat back, Ron chose to wait until next time when he came with Willy.
This made going to Kalos much more convenient later, at least without having to specially borrow Willy's boat again.
Thinking this, Ron sailed the boat toward Pelican Town.
"—So cold, meow." Meowth on the ground smacked its lips, chewed the Chestnut Berry Bellossom had stuffed in its mouth, and slowly opened its eyes.
"Bellossom~"
Bellossom pointed at Meowth's luggage and called out.
"Oh, we're almost there, put on the hat?" Meowth nodded, put the hat from its luggage on its head, wrapped the scarf around its neck, then suddenly reacted, "You used Sleep Powder on Meowth just now, meow?"
"Belloss~"
"Because the route to Pelican Town needs to be kept secret, meow."
Meowth first nodded understandingly, then belatedly reacted.
"If that's the case—if Meowth and Jessie and James want to return to Kalos—what should we do, meow?"
"Bellossom~"
"Not going back?" Meowth huddled in its scarf, watching the snowflakes falling from the sky.
"That won't do, meow."
But it didn't argue with Bellossom.
In any case, they could just sneak back when the time came. Even if it had slept for a day, this was only a one-day voyage. Finding their way back to Kalos would be easy.
If they remembered the route along the way, it wouldn't be that troublesome to find their way back.
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