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The next day, early in the morning.
As soon as he arrived at the Gogoat rental station, Ron saw Viola standing there too. Ron paused for a moment, then quickly recalled Indeedee into its Poké Ball before it could take action, and then took a few steps forward to greet Viola.
Viola handed the money to the vendor and was just about to say something when her gaze landed on Ron.
"Ah, Ron, I can't believe I'd run into you here!" Viola looked at Ron in surprise. "Why are you here?"
"I have some business in Santalune City," Ron said, pressing down on the Poké Ball that was restless in his pocket.
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing," Ron said, stuffing the Poké Ball back into his backpack. "Are you heading back to Santalune City too?"
Seeing Viola nod, after the two mounted their Gogoats, Ron casually mentioned his plan to challenge the Santalune Gym.
"You're coming to challenge the Santalune Gym?!" Viola looked at Ron with delight. "You're welcome anytime!"
Gripping Indeedee's Poké Ball tightly the whole way so it wouldn't pull any stunts, the two headed in the direction of Santalune City.
Meanwhile, in Pelican Town.
Early in the morning, today was Summer 4, which was Jas's birthday.
The farm work had now been entirely handed over to Magearna, and the work on Ginger Island was mostly done too. Aside from being busy making lunch for everyone, Team Rocket didn't have anything else to do.
Although they didn't have much talent in the culinary arts, thanks to their previous experience running a stall, making some decent-tasting snacks wasn't too difficult for them.
Taking the fried bread out of the pan, Meowth drizzled a little honey on it, placed it on the table, and then remembered something, saying, "The calendar on the bulletin board by the door seems to have everyone in Pelican Town's birthdays on it, meow."
"Birthdays, huh..." Jessie said, blowing on the hot bread while asking, "So?"
"Today is Jas's birthday, meow."
"You mean that... uh." Jessie thought for a moment and barely managed to dig the name out of her head: "That kid from Shane's family?"
"Should we invite them to come to the farm, meow?" Meowth asked. "Actually, Shane has helped us out quite a bit too, meow, right?"
Counting it up, Shane was the person who had spent the most time with Team Rocket, aside from Ron.
"Or maybe we should just give Shane a day off today, and we'll do his work for him?" James thought for a moment and suggested.
The group exchanged a glance and looked out the window, where they saw Shane rushing to finish all the ranch work as quickly as possible so he could celebrate Jas's birthday today.
"That works too." Jessie thought for a moment, then stretched. "Well, considering how much he's helped us."
Outside, Shane had promised to take Jas to play in the forest today. At this moment, he was pondering which Pokémon on the farm he should ask to see who could accompany him into the forest.
If possible, he also wanted to catch a Pokémon to bring home. He couldn't just let Jas look on enviously at Vincent forever. Even if he couldn't give Jas much else, just catching a Pokémon...
While Shane was thinking, the broom in his hand was suddenly taken by James.
Shane looked at the two in surprise, not quite knowing how to bring it up. Jessie awkwardly swept the floor in the corner.
James patted Shane on the shoulder: "I heard today is Jas's birthday. We're making a special exception and giving you the day off. Go spend time with Jas."
"Leave the farm work to us, meow!" Meowth chimed in.
Looking at the group, Shane paused and couldn't help but say thank you. Remembering the Pokémon matter, he glanced at Jessie and the others a few times, and spoke up a bit shyly.
"You want to borrow a Pokémon, meow." Meowth scratched its head. "Meowth and the others won't work, meow. Why don't you see who on the farm is willing to go with you? Meowth can translate for you, meow."
After chatting for a bit, Meowth and Shane walked over to the other Pokémon on the farm.
The main combat powers, Bellossom and Froakie, weren't around. Meowth scanned the Pokémon but couldn't think of anyone to ask for help.
"If you're not looking to battle, you could take a Rattata with you, meow," Meowth said. "They can help you avoid strong Pokémon, but when it comes to fighting..."
Honestly, Meowth had never seen them fight. However, the fact that they hadn't evolved into Raticate even without holding an Everstone meant their levels probably weren't very high.
"——Meowth doesn't know who could help either, meow." Meowth scratched its head, looking back and forth between the Rattata and the Geodude. "Anyway, Meowth is out, meow."
Learning that Shane intended to catch a Pokémon, the Rattata who were originally busy foraging and collecting fiber slowly gathered around.
"Rattata, Rattata?"
"Rattata!"
"Rattata, Rattata!"
"You think Orthworm should go, meow."
"Rattata!"
"You think Sailor should go, meow?" Meowth thought about Sailor's appearance. "Can Sailor really do it, meow?"
"Rattata?" Sailor, who had been fishing all night and came home with bloodshot eyes, stopped in its tracks. It slowly ran up to Meowth: "Rattata?"
"You're asking where you fall short, meow?" Meowth fell silent for a moment. "Are you up for battling? Shane wants to help Jas catch a Pokémon, meow."
Sailor thought for a moment, stood on its hind legs, and slapped its chest resoundingly. It even took the time to glance at the signboard, and seeing that today was Jas's birthday, it stood beside Shane without a second thought: "Rattata, Rattata?" (What does she like?)
"It's asking what Jas likes, meow."
"Things?" Shane's mind didn't make the connection right away. He thought about it and replied, "She probably likes Fairy Roses the most."
Besides that, she also liked Plum Pudding and Pink Cake, as well as some Strange Dolls. But those were beside the point for now.
Sailor immediately ran over to the chest containing the Fairy Roses, pulled one out, carried it in its mouth, and then followed Shane toward Marnie's house.
Meowth still had to help Jessie and the others, so it didn't go with them. After watching Shane and Sailor walk away, it went into the barn and started getting busy.
"How did it go?" Jessie asked. "If you really can't find anyone, having Gourgeist go should be fine too."
"Sailor went to help, meow."
"I see." Jessie nodded and continued to work hard.
Meanwhile, Jas was still lying by the window, hoping Shane would hurry up and finish his farm work so he could take her on an adventure in the mountains.
Although she didn't hold out much hope for catching a Pokémon, for Jas, just being able to go play in the forest with Shane was already pretty good.
She was indeed envious of Vincent's Paras, but other families were other families, and her family was her family. She had Marnie—and Shane—and that already made her very happy.
Just as Jas was thinking this, a Fairy Rose suddenly and miraculously popped up by the window.
"Rattata." (I heard today is your birthday?)
Before the sound even faded, a little head popped up from beneath the window.
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