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The sound made Penny flinch. Froakie shrank into her arms, and she quickly stroked its head to calm it.
Taking a deep breath, she pushed open the RV door.
"I'm home," she said softly.
Just as she'd feared, Pam was sprawled on the floor, drunk, clutching an empty beer mug, face flushed as she ranted.
"You still remember… to come back?" Pam slurred, forcing her heavy eyelids open to glare at Penny. "If you don't wanna be here, just leave—like your damn father did!"
She took another swig, then collapsed onto the couch.
Penny flinched so hard that Froakie let out a startled croak.
"Sorry…" she whispered, pulling out Froakie's Poké Ball. "Can you go back inside for now?"
"Froakie?" Froakie looked up at her.
"I need to clean up…" Penny murmured. "I'll let you out once it's tidy."
Froakie glanced at the mess—then at Pam, passed out on the floor—and at Penny's worried face.
In the next instant—SPLASH!
A Water Gun blasted Pam square in the face.
The icy shock jolted her awake. She wiped her face, blinked around wildly—and locked eyes with Froakie in Penny's arms.
"You can't do that!" Penny gasped, fumbling to recall Froakie. "I'm sorry, Mom—it didn't mean to—"
Before she could finish—SPLASH!
Another Water Gun hit Pam.
Pam staggered to her feet, furious—but her drunken legs gave way, and she fell back down.
"Ahh!" Penny rushed to help her up.
Pam opened her mouth to yell—then froze.
Froakie sat before her, silent, staring.
She couldn't understand its words—but in those yellow eyes, she clearly saw disdain.
Stunned, she stared back—until Penny gently dabbed her face with a soft towel.
Like waking from a long nightmare, Pam opened her mouth… but no words came out.
Silence filled the RV. Only the soft rub of the towel broke the stillness.
"It didn't mean to," Penny said carefully, watching Pam's expression. "It was just—"
She couldn't finish.
After years with Clefable, she knew Pokémon were intelligent, empathetic beings.
But she couldn't say what they both knew: Even this Pokémon thinks you've gone too far.
No one spoke.
Outside, wind rustled—and rain began to fall.
After a long while, Pam took the towel from Penny's hands and wiped her face without a word.
Then she stood. Slowly, she reached out and gently touched Penny's hair.
"I'm sorry… sweetheart," Pam whispered. "I didn't mean it. I don't want you to leave. I just… I say awful things when I drink."
Her soaked clothes clung to her, chilling her into clarity.
"I'm grateful you're with me…"
As a mother, she knew she'd failed. But after her husband abandoned her, Penny had become her only reason to keep going.
She chose drinking over suicide—because Penny was still here. Her daughter. Her blood.
She felt a tremor under her hand—then heard Penny's muffled sob.
"Tomorrow…" Pam said hoarsely, "I'll look for a job."
In the next second, Penny threw her arms around her.
---
Meanwhile, in Santalune Forest…
Since navigating the forest at night was dangerous, Ron and Joy had camped by the fire. At dawn, Ron was already up, packing his sleeping bag.
"Morning," Joy greeted, slipping out of her own bag and fastening her Junimo hair clip.
Among the vast Joy family—identical in face, differing only in skin tone and tiny hat or clothing details—she stood out solely because of this unique accessory.
"Morning," Ron replied, extinguishing the fire and stowing it back in his backpack. He checked the map.
Joy packed her gear. "By the way—what kind of Pokémon are you looking to catch?"
"Fletchling," Ron said after a moment.
As a registered Breeding Facility, he'd received official documents listing Gym Leaders and recommended routes.
While Trainers could challenge Gyms out of order, Leaders adjusted their team strength based on how many Badges the challenger held—so following the route was wisest.
The first Gym was in Santalune City—Viola, Bug-type specialist.
The second was Ramos, Grass-type.
Without access to the standard Fire-type starter, a Flying-type like Fletchling—which evolved into a Fire/Flying Pokémon—was ideal for beginners.
And crucially, as Kalos's regional bird, Fletchling could be found right here in Santalune Forest.
Joy nodded, shouldering her pack. "Then let's go!"
---
Back in Pelican Town…
That morning, Pam had already left to search for work.
Penny, after breakfast with Froakie and Clefable, arrived at the farm.
It was the season's first rain—so Froakie got a rare day off from watering. It leapt joyfully through puddles, savoring its unexpected holiday.
Penny, in a raincoat, watched and smiled.
"You really don't need an umbrella?" she called.
Clefable chimed in agreement.
Laughing, Penny turned toward the potato field.
"Oh! So many potatoes are ready!"
Boots sinking into the mud, she grabbed a potato stalk, loosened the soil with her hoe, and pulled.
"Ah—two!"
She and Clefable worked side by side, their cheerful cries echoing through the rain:
"This one has three!"
"Look—two more here!"
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