"A place to stay? Isn't there a Pokémon Center here?" Dawn asked as she followed behind Meowth.
"There is, meow," Meowth paused, then added, "But there's no accommodation area, meow."
"Piplup, pip." Piplup lay in Dawn's arms, feeling that something was suspicious about all this.
"It's fine, it's fine." Dawn comforted Piplup, though she was actually a bit unsure herself. Fortunately, she had brought Togekiss along. Normally, as long as she didn't run into any particularly tough opponents, she could stay safe.
With that in mind, Dawn looked around the town.
It looked a bit retro—European-style cottages scattered sparsely throughout the town. It didn't look like there were many locals.
"Right, if the Wizard brought you back," Meowth remembered, turning his head to ask Dawn, "did you arrange with him when he'll send you back?"
"Do I need to be sent back?" Dawn paused. "Is there no transportation?"
"If you're asking about going to Kalos, there isn't any here, meow." Meowth's expression even carried a hint of pity. He had always felt that Indeedee looked a bit familiar, and now he finally remembered—wasn't this exactly the same behavior as that little girl who followed the little brat around, trying to find suitors for Clemont everywhere?
But she actually managed to abduct someone here.
Then again, there weren't many smart little girls hanging around the little brat. Otherwise, Meowth and the others wouldn't have succeeded so easily so many times.
Even though they ultimately still failed, meow.
Thinking of this, Meowth retracted his pity, took a few steps, and emphasized again: "We really have washed our hands of our old ways, meow. You absolutely, absolutely cannot mention Meowth's past to them, meow!"
Dawn was just about to ask why when she saw two people walking toward them from not far away.
In the lead was Robin, who waved at Meowth from a distance.
"Meowth, when are you starting the gossip today?"
"In a bit, meow. Let me take her to Lewis first, meow," Meowth waved his paw enthusiastically.
Following behind Robin was Caroline. She also gave Meowth a warm, friendly greeting, and then her gaze fell on Dawn.
"Oh my, another young lady. Are you moving to Pelican Town?"
"Just staying for a few days," Dawn said.
Both smiled warmly at Dawn, then entered the Saloon one after the other.
"My, there are quite a few pretty young ladies from Kalos," Caroline said to Robin. "Looks like Abigail has another competitor."
"Uh—who do you mean?" Robin asked in a low voice.
"Guess."
Caroline didn't finish her sentence, but a figure had already popped into Robin's mind, so she smiled along.
It was a good thing Maru was a bit slow when it came to romance. Though it sounded strange to say, Robin felt that at this age where springtime feelings easily blossomed, no girl could help but like Ron.
But precisely because of that, the competition was fierce.
"I used to think Abigail would end up with our Sebastian," Robin said. "What a pity."
"A pity."
The two exchanged a smile, grabbed two beers from the Saloon bar, and walked toward the table they usually sat at.
"Discussing Abigail's marriage prospects?" Emily had just finished wiping down a table and, seeing the two of them, teased them a bit.
"Something like that. Another young lady moved to Pelican Town today," Robin sat down. "She's very pretty, and she has blue hair just like you."
However, compared to Emily's vibrant blue, her hair color was a bit darker.
"I see." Emily paused, touched her own hair, and pursed her lips.
***
Lewis, who was just about to go out, was blocked at the door by Meowth.
"Hmm—also from Kalos?" Lewis looked at Dawn, repeating her name a few times.
The name was quite uncommon, just as unfamiliar as the names James and Jessie.
"No, I'm from the Sinnoh region," Dawn continued. "Um, it seems I was brought here by Mr. Wizard due to a misunderstanding. If it's convenient for you, could you arrange some transportation to send me back?"
"You'll have to find Ron for that," Lewis said, thinking it over. "As for a place to stay, I'm afraid we can only temporarily—uh, how about this, Emily's place might be able to put you up for a night. Maybe you two will hit it off."
"Thank you for your trouble," Dawn said, and Piplup in her arms waved its flippers.
"Piplup, pip!"
"Then follow me," Lewis continued. "Since she was tricked into coming here by Indeedee, Ron should take some responsibility."
Dawn turned to look at Meowth, hoping he would explain something, but Meowth just kept walking forward on his own, completely ignoring her gaze. So, Dawn had no choice but to exchange a glance with the Piplup in her arms.
'I've really come to a strange, incredible place.'
'Why did I agree to come here in the first place?'
Dawn tried to remember, but failed.
But wasn't this sort of thing common? Impulsively agreeing to some baffling things for no reason, and then falling right into Team Rocket's trap.
With this thought, Dawn adopted a "since I'm already here, I might as well make the best of it" attitude and followed behind Lewis.
***
Meanwhile, at the Farm.
Ron finished his work, wiped his sweat, and looked up, noticing Indeedee standing frozen and motionless not far away.
Maybe it was a case of being nervous to return home, but Ron felt it was highly likely she had done something to wrong him again, which was why she was currently hesitating over whether to come over.
However, since she had been away for so many days, she had probably thought things through. So, acting like a mother knocking on her child's door to call them for dinner after the kid had misbehaved and given her the silent treatment, Ron called out to Indeedee.
"Indeedee!"
—
"Indeedee, Indee Indee!"
"Welcome home," Ron said. "Everyone missed you."
That was half true. The other half probably had something to do with Indeedee and the Rattatas' bizarre love triangle.
"Indeedee?"
Hearing Ron's thoughts, Indeedee tilted her head in confusion. Then, the inner thoughts of people from all directions started flowing in.
There were condemnations for the fickle Sailor, as well as pity for the Rattata and Indeedee.
That day, Indeedee learned that randomly fabricating romantic relationships and playing matchmaker for others was wrong.
But even so.
Remembering the girl she had casually invited over, Indeedee's gaze began to wander guiltily in all directions.
"Alright, go get some rest first." Ron set Indeedee down. He was just about to head back to the house to make some dinner, which would serve as a welcome home meal for her, when he saw Lewis stop at the farm gate, leading an unfamiliar girl.
"..."
"Ron, this is the young lady Indeedee tricked into coming here," Lewis introduced. "You'll probably need to find some time to take her back. And for the next few days, uh, she can experience life on the farm with you. As for lodging, she'll temporarily stay at Emily's place. Tomorrow happens to be the Dance of the Moonlight Jellies, so she can celebrate with us."
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