Watching the group file into the cabin, Ron finished making the remaining Lightning Rods. After having the sulking Rotom use Thunder four more times, he returned it to the breeding hut.
Back in the main house, Jessie and James were already distributing plates at the dining table. Since they usually let Meowth eat at the table, they thought nothing of the Rattatas joining them and set the plates down casually. Jessie squatted beside Indeedee, watching it cook with drool practically dripping from her mouth.
"Indeedee..."
Indeedee swallowed nervously, then opened the refrigerator nearby and found a loaf of bread to hand to Jessie.
"Indee."
"For me?!" Jessie asked delightedly, clutching the bread.
"Indeedee, indeed." Indeedee nodded while continuing to prepare breakfast.
Jessie immediately stuffed the bread into her mouth.
This bread had been made in early winter, filled with hazelnut paste and some dried fruit pieces. Though cold, the taste was surprisingly good.
Besides, Jessie was never picky about food. For her, even snow molded into sushi with soy sauce drizzled on top counted as supreme delicacy.
Not to mention this already tasty hazelnut bread.
"She's eating so well, meow." Meowth watched Jessie's eating manner and swallowed his own saliva.
"Indeedee..." Indeedee let out a long sigh. It felt the three of them were indeed rather pitiful, yet also felt somewhat helpless.
It opened the refrigerator again and pulled out another hazelnut bread to give to Meowth.
Meowth happily accepted the bread, thanked Indeedee repeatedly, then shared it with James and Wobbuffet.
Even the gluttonous Rattatas had never sought extra food right before breakfast. Watching Team Rocket huddled together, they couldn't help showing some sympathy.
"Rattata, rattata."
Sailor patted Meowth, who was devouring the bread, offering comfort.
"Thank you, meow." Meowth thanked Sailor between large bites.
Ron sat down in silence.
Truth be told, he hadn't let the three of them go hungry while traveling with Haley either. Even if they hadn't eaten well before, things should have improved after all these days.
He thought for a moment, then said, "There's still plenty in the refrigerator, and we have all the ingredients. If you want anything specific, you can make it yourselves. This house isn't locked, so you can come in anytime."
At these words, the group still eating heartily turned to look at Ron.
Under their grateful gazes, Ron finished his meal and hurriedly left the farm.
Meanwhile, in Kalos.
Since they were preparing for the Coumarine City Festival, Abigail and the others had gone to the Coumarine Gym early in the morning. They planned to prepare gifts for their Pokémon immediately after Abigail finished her Gym challenge.
Serena and Bonnie had both celebrated this festival before.
But this was Dedenne's first time as Bonnie's own Pokémon. Bonnie held the sleeping Dedenne in her bag, thinking about what gift to prepare.
At this moment, aside from Abigail who had the Gym challenge, almost everyone was thinking about gifts.
Abigail was thinking about that so-called Mega Stone. After asking around yesterday, she had roughly understood that this was Kalos's unique Mega Evolution, and that her Gengar, Amber, happened to be capable of Mega Evolution.
Even at some Gyms here, certain Gym Leaders would use Mega Evolution against challengers who possessed Mega Stones.
Then Ramos definitely knew about Mega Stones.
Abigail planned to ask him immediately after the Gym challenge ended.
Thinking this through, the four arrived before the Gym.
Unlike other Gyms, the Coumarine Gym was located at the top of Coumarine City's Pledging Tree. To reach the Gym at the treetop, one had to climb the vines winding around the massive tree all the way to the entrance.
"Why don't you just go." Haley looked up at the towering tree, clutching her Sunkern tighter, and tried to pull Serena and Bonnie to her side. "The three of us can go pick out gifts, what do you say?"
"I don't mind either way." Bonnie said. "Going to the Gym or picking gifts, both are fine!"
"Shouldn't we still accompany her up?" Serena asked somewhat hesitantly.
"You received Ramos's evolutionary stones after all. No matter what, you should at least say thank you at his door, right?" Abigail asked upon seeing this.
"..." Haley let out a long sigh. "But this is really so high..."
Though she said this, the four still began climbing the vines toward the Coumarine Gym.
Winding upward, just as Haley was about to give up, the four finally reached the treetop, panting and out of breath.
Ramos had been standing at the entrance early on. Seeing the group arrive as promised, he smiled and welcomed them over.
"Good morning. You came quite early. Have you had breakfast?" Ramos said this, but his attention was entirely on the Sunkern in Haley's arms.
The four exchanged glances. Haley generously handed the Sunkern to Ramos. "Thank you for the evolutionary stones. I'm Haley, and this child is Sunkern."
Ramos hurriedly accepted the Sunkern, weighing it in his arms, then stroked its leaves.
"Sun sun?"
"Come in, come in." Ramos examined the Sunkern repeatedly, clearly reluctant to put it down. "It must have been tiring climbing up. Have some tea first. This was bought in Lumiose, you can't get it anywhere else."
With that, Ramos placed four cups before the group while holding the Sunkern, then poured tea into them.
When Abigail left Pelican Town, Ron hadn't started making tea yet, so she couldn't tell.
But Haley recognized it immediately. She drank a few more sips, then looked up at Ramos. "Is this from Lumiose?"
"Yes, it's from that food company that's been trending lately." Ramos smiled. "Don't let my appearance fool you, I keep up with trends quite well."
Though this was limited to things he was already interested in, like tea.
Speaking of which, this stuff was rather difficult to obtain. Apparently due to limited production, it was currently purchase-restricted. Even as a Gym Leader, he only got some specially because he could help promote the tea.
Fortunately, the taste was truly excellent. Both the fermentation and drying techniques were top-tier. It seemed they also used fresh flowers for fumigation, giving it a subtle floral fragrance.
Haley paused, uncertainly opening her backpack and comparing Ramos's tea with her own several times.
"Ah... it's definitely the one Ron made."
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