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"What did you say?" Joy stared at Ron, eyes wide. "You know that place? You know Pelican Town?"
Ron nodded. After a moment's thought, he recalled the letter from the Pokémon Nurse Academy—about sending a Joy to Pelican Town, and that a Joy had once worked there.
"That place really exists?!" Joy's face lit up with joy—then she grabbed Ron's arm. "What about Gabriel? How is he? Is he alright?"
"Who?"
"The farmer from Pelican Town!" Joy remembered faintly the time he'd visited her family.
"…If you mean my grandfather," Ron said slowly, "he's… passed away."
Joy's face went pale. "Really? How… how could that happen?"
Ron glanced toward the forest path. "I have to return to Pelican Town by tomorrow night. If you'd like to pay your respects… his grave is in the corner of the farm."
Before Joy could respond, Ron had already walked into the woods.
Normally, he might have stayed to comfort her. But time was tight—he couldn't afford idle chatter.
Joy wiped her eyes and hurried after him.
As an outsider, she knew she had no right to press for details about the legendary Trainer's death.
And as family, Ron must be carrying far deeper pain than she was.
So she swallowed her grief, steadied herself, and followed in silence.
"What are you doing in Santalune Forest?" she finally asked, walking beside him.
"Cyllage City needs starter Pokémon for new Trainers," Ron explained. "I need to find suitable ones to breed back home."
Joy nodded thoughtfully. "Oh—what's your name?"
"Ron."
Then, remembering the Community Center, he added, "By the way—Pelican Town is rebuilding a Pokémon Center. The Nurse Academy said they'd send a Joy."
"Really?!" Joy whispered excitedly. "I'll apply right away!"
The news lifted her spirits completely. Her sadness vanished, replaced by eager questions about Pelican Town.
"Oh—and this thing on my head—you called it a Junimo?" The word felt strange on her tongue. "What is it? Some kind of Pokémon?"
"In Pelican Town's legends, they're forest spirits," Ron said. "If you work at the Community Center—the, uh, Pokémon Center—you'll probably meet them."
Joy touched her hair clip, suddenly full of anticipation.
As they walked, the afternoon sun dipped lower. At the forest entrance, Ron scanned the area, Pokédex in hand.
"What're you thinking about?" Joy asked, pulling two sandwiches from her bag. She took a bite of one and offered the other to Ron.
"Thanks," Ron said, then listed what he needed: Honey, Small Mushrooms, and four Berries.
Berries wouldn't be hard—without them, the forest Pokémon would've starved long ago.
But Sweet Honey and mushrooms? He wasn't sure where to start.
"Honey?" Joy chewed thoughtfully. "If we find a Combee or Cutiefly with the Honey Gather ability, we'd be set."
"But Santalune Forest doesn't have either of those," she added.
"…" Ron paused. "Is there anywhere we can buy it?"
"Maybe the pastry shop in Santalune City?" Joy guessed.
"Then let's focus on mushrooms and berries first."
They ate as they searched the forest together.
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Meanwhile, in Pelican Town
After finishing her tutoring, Penny headed to the farm with a homemade dinner—worried about the lone Froakie.
She wasn't sure if it was too early—but wild Pokémon roamed the path at night, so she had to come now.
Should I take it home after the chores? she wondered—then hesitated, thinking of her cramped RV.
By then, she and Clefable had already reached the farm.
Clefable, visiting for the first time, curiously explored the grounds.
"Froakie…?" Penny called out, unsure what to expect. She'd never seen one—only guessed it was frog-like.
Just then, a blue head popped up from the potato patch.
"Froakie?"
"That's you?" Penny approached. It looked slightly different from regular frogs—but still cute. "Good afternoon. Your owner asked me to look after you."
"Froakie." Froakie resumed its grueling task, spitting water onto each plot.
After a moment, Penny realized it was watering. She turned to Clefable. "Clefable—can you use Mimic?"
Clefable chirped and began sprinkling water over the field.
In the meantime, Penny fetched a watering can from Ron's toolbox, filled it at the pond, and joined Froakie.
The overworked Froakie nearly wept with relief.
(Thankfully, its tears blended into its blue skin—undetectable.)
Thanks to Penny, the evening watering finished hours early—before Froakie even exhausted its Water Gun PP.
Froakie, touched by this kind human, was about to offer her its precious loaf of bread…
—when Penny pulled three beautifully prepared meals from her pocket.
"I'll take care of you today and tomorrow," she said gently. "I'm not sure what you like—try these! If you don't like them, we'll try something else tomorrow."
Froakie stared at the food boxes, overwhelmed.
After days of endless watering and bland bread…
…it felt like heaven had opened its gates.
"Eat slowly," Penny smiled. "Ron must be very busy—no wonder he couldn't give you better care."
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