Previously on Oranges to Grapes...
Rosita and Jessica escape detection from Mr. Mijuumi before they regroup with their partners for a late-night snack. Back at the Academy, a mysterious figure named Terry comes to Balto in a dream...
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The next morning at the Academy, the sun rose to start the next day of recovery and cram-sessions for our other heroes as they got ready to start the cyclical process all over again for the next few days, changing into their uniforms again. But as soon as they were all dressed up for success...
"Camilla Otore, Pico Hatsuki and Balto Mijuumi, please report to the director's office. Again, Camilla, Pico and Balto, to the director's office, please."
That made them wonder what the director wanted them for this time, but no words were said as they made their way...
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(Scene transition: Academy crest)
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Director Clavell was sitting at his desk, just as before, and a knock on his front door was heard, just as before. "Come in," he called.
In came the three summoned students, just as before, and just as before, they walked past the lab equipment and sat down in the chairs before his desk. "Good morning, Director Clavell," they said.
"Ah, and a good morning to you three as well," Director Clavell replied pleasantly. "Now, before I tell you what it was I called you in here for, how is your recovery coming along?"
"Well," Camilla started, "my foot is starting to feel better enough to put weight back on it if I keep the cast on."
"And I'm staying on top of my post meal brushing regimen," Balto chimed in. "Gotta make sure the pearly whites are healing bright!"
"Good to know," Director Clavell said before turning to the lizard. "And what of your tail, Pico? Has it come back in yet?"
"It has," Pico said, "but I'd rather I showed instead of told, if that's acceptable."
"Of course," Director Clavell said.
"Okay, good," Pico said as he stood up. "I have to say, Miss Miriam sure knows her stuff. All I had to do was spread the salve on the stump, keep myself fed, and watch it grow."
"P-P-P-Pico," Balto muttered to himself after that comment, imagining a time-lapse of Pico's tail growing back.
The reptile boy then slowly turned around in a small circle and showed everyone in the room a short, cute replacement of the tail he lost to the Diademons two days ago before he sat back down.
"Well, it pleases me greatly to know that your recuperation has gone swimmingly," Director Clavell said. "Now, the reason I called you in here is because it has been brought to my attention that confinement to your dormitories may have been unfounded, so now that I see you have been healing up nicely, the three of you will no longer be restricted to quarters for the rest of the week."
"Really?" Balto said with budding hope, his tail starting to wave.
"However," the director interjected, "that does not mean you may embark on your Treasure Hunt just yet. I am merely expanding the boundries to all of school premises so you can practice retraining your muscles for regular movement. In the meantime, you still have five more days to return to 100%, as well as 40 more classes each if you've kept up your studies."
Balto's tail lost its wag, but he said in response, "I understand, Director Clavell."
"I do, too," Pico added.
"As do I," Camilla tacked on.
"Good," Director Clavell said. "Now then, I believe you three have more classes to attend, so be sure to give your teachers the good news with your presence. Dismissed."
And so, the three students got up and left to begin their third day of recovery at the Foremost World-Renowned Pokemon Academy of Paldea... but let us leave them for now, because we have other characters to follow.
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Back at Porto Marinada.
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A new day was upon the small market town by the sea. The sun was out, the water was shimmering, Wingull and Wattrel were chirping... and two certain girls were just waking up from sleeping on a bench.
Rosita stretched out and said with a yawn, "NNnnnn... Houh, morning, Jessica."
"Mmmmorning to you, too," Jessica said as she stood up and stretched as well. "So, now that we have our Berry supply restocked, what should we do next?"
"Why don't you just ask us?" Leopold's voice asked, and the girls looked to find him carrying Conner on his back on the edge of a ledge.
"Well, we may have an end to justify our means now," Conner added. "As it stands now, we have come across... 5 crystal domes around Paldea so far, 2 of which has sent out monsters made from Pokemon materials that we had to fight."
"And if we find any more of those domes," Rosita supposed, "there's a chance they'll make more of those monsters in greater numbers, right?"
"Exactly," Conner answered. "But just because there's power in numbers doesn't mean we can't push back. If we find the other two spirits with their partners-"
"Then those who-knows-whats won't know what hit them, even if they send out an army!" Leopold said excited.
"Okay, quick question," Jessica said, "but now that we have two spirits with bearers, what should we even call this little group of ours if people, INCLUDING other bearers, ask who we are?"
"Good question," Rosita said, "but we'll have to walk and talk, I think Leopold's going to melt."
Just as the weasel was about to protest, he and the snail were picked up by the snow leopard and caracal, respectively, and carried away when...
"Hold it right there! You're not going anywhere until we talk!"
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To be continued...
