Previously on Oranges to Grapes...
Our heroes are thrust into another dome removal by a kick in the pants from Coach Dendra, and through a combination of remembering the past, sheer force of will and sickness of nonsense, they liberate Alfornada...
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After a quick breakfast stop at Seabreeze Cafe, Hilda and the Squawkabilly were once again called up to take the group back to the south gate of Mesagoza. There, they re-entered the city and followed the glitter-trails back to the central plaza's Battle Court, where the Ghost, Fairy and Psychic-type logos were restored.
"Whew," Camilla said. "It took some doing on... their parts, mostly, I didn't really do much this go-round... but now there's only three more domes to remove from Paldea, and we'll finally be done."
"And the best part is, this time there's one for each of us," Pico added as the map was pulled up again. "That means one over the summit of Glaseado Mountain, where I'll rescue Grusha..."
"One over the False Dragon Titan's den, where I'll gain access to the last Herba Mystica supply," Camilla added.
"And one over the Caph Squad's base, where the collectors will get the last Starmobile," Balto tacked on. "I vote the lot of us split up so we can get it done quicker!"
"Then we'll have to divvy up the bodyguarding as well," Jessica said, "and we know exactly how to do it."
"Right," Rosita said. "Me and Jessica will come with Camilla, since her stop is at Casseroya Lake, and she'll need our help if she wants to navigate the waters."
"I'll come with Pico on his journey," Dina offered. "He'll need me to keep warm since he's going to the summit of Glaseado Mountain; literally, the coldest place in all of Paldea."
"Then I guess that leaves me with Balto," Eartha supposed. "But I'm not complaining, because that way, we can talk amongst ourselves along the way."
"Agreed. And... break!"
As the group went their separate ways to undertake the final phases of their journey, we return to the Academy.
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As Ko woke up from his dorm bed, there were even more jars of jam ready to go. "Nnnnngg... ah," he said as he stretched. "Alright, second day of supplying for the Academy Expansion Fund. Just gotta pack up these fresh jars and I'll be ready to go search for more customers!"
But just then, the announcement chime rang out before Director Clavell's voice said, "Garaboshi Kosaru, please report to the director's office. Again, Ko to the director's office, please."
"Huh, must be ready with the news about how much further I need to go to meet the goal," the bear supposed. "Hey-hey-hey, I'm on my way!"
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(Scene transition: Academy crest)
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A knock on the door was heard at Clavell's office, and Ko opened the door with, "You announced?"
"Master Kosaru," the director said plainly. "Please come in and sit down."
"Yes, sir," Ko said as he picked up on the tone of the director's voice. As he walked up to the front desk, he noticed that Rika was at her desk on the monitor, making him worry. "You wanted to see me?"
"Yes, we did," Director Clavell said plainly. "We want to talk about this product you've sold yesterday."
"What exacty was it called again?" Rika asked in the same flat tone.
"Bubba Ko's Jam," Ko stated.
"And what exactly was in it?" Director Clavell pressed.
"Just a random assortment of locally gathered Berries boiled down into preserves and sweetened with honey for taste," Ko said. "May I ask what this is about?"
"I may have to commandeer the monitor to show him this next part," Rika stated. "It sounds like he doesn't know."
"By all means," Director Clavell said.
"What don't I know?" Ko asked as the chairwoman's secretary clacked away on her keyboard.
"This was recorded yesterday evening in Levincia," Rika said before the image on the monitor swapped over to video footage.
As the sky was turning orange, people were wandering the city walkways as usual. The lights were about to switch on in the buildings, one of which was part of Paldea Realty. As its doors opened, a tan anthro caracal was walking out while saying behind her, "See you tomorrow. Don't worry, if I ever see him again, I'll ask for more jars."
"Hey, I remember her!" Ko piped up. "She was one of my first customers!"
As the video continued, the female feline produced an empty jar and said, "This stuff has caused nothing but trouble," before she noticed the camera on her. "Wait a minute, I'm being recorded!?" She then angrily ran up to the camera and got up in its lens before growling, "Listen up, whoever's watching this. If you ever come across a white bear who calls himself Bubba Ko, do not have any Pokemon about. He has been selling jars of this delicious jam, I don't know what's in it, but whatever it has is highly addictive to Pokemon. I opened up a jar to offer my coworkers a taste, but the Tadbulb around at the time swarmed us sparking and licked it all up before we could get a taste! See this!?" She then produced the empty jar to the camera before continuing. "This jar was two-thirds full when I brought it in to work today! Now it's licked clean! I'm telling you, he has set an end of days to us!"
The footage was then ended, putting Rika back on the monitor. Ko was stunned. "That's what this is about? Some rabble-rouser trying to rouse a rabble?"
"The Tadbulb of Levincia help provide electricity to all of Paldea, Master Kosaru," Rika said. "Imagine how many people had to go without power to their homes and businesses because of what you saw."
"Well, I don't know what you're trying to accuse me of," the bear retorted, "but I can assure you that my jam is on the up-and-up. Before I brought that batch with me to Los Platos yesterday, I personally tasted the last morsel myself. Yes it was delicious, but did I just unhinge my jaw and guzzle down my own supply because of that? No, I did not!"
"Because your jam wasn't addictive to people or anthros," Director Clavell reminded, "but to Pokemon. And here in the Paldea region, Pokemon play an integral part in our lifestyle... lots of integral parts, actually. And if those parts were to be disrupted in any way, it could cause a rift in the Pokemon-Trainer dynamic. And that would end in... havoc."
"Now wait just a minute!" Ko said as he stood up in defiance. "Are you trying to shut me down because my jam is too good!?"
"Do not question our authority, Master Kosaru," Clavell said lowly. "Need I remind you that while you gained the full collection of Badges during your enrollment last year, the reason you were held back from graduation was because you refused to comply with Academy ordinances."
"What ordinances!?" the bear demanded. "Where in all your convoluted, harebrained madness did I do bad enough to lose out on a diploma!?"
"Allow me to answer that," Rika said as she clacked away on her keyboard again. The screen was then changed to old footage of the Academy's entrance hall, where Ko was turning a stack of papers over to the front desk. "Hoh," the recorded bear said. "It's taken four hours, but I finally finished!"
"Well done, young man," the desk worker said as she accepted the packet, which turned out to be the FWR-PAPAR. "Now I'll just tally up the scores and... ooh, 67! Well done!"
"Score!" Ko said in triumph. "EXP Candies, please."
"Oh, terribly sorry," the desk worker said, "but I already gave the last ones I had to another student. And I won't recieve another supply until next week."
"Wha..." Ko said in disbelief. "Are you saying I did all that work over nothing?"
"Oh, no, no-no-no-no, not nothing," the desk worker said. "Just that you won't recieve any physical compensation."
"So nothing!" the bear griped.
"Well, why don't you go outside the Academy and search for your treasure, then?"
"The reason I took this test in the first place was because I wanted to prepare for the Treasure Hunt!" the bear asserted as another student came behind him. "So how am I supposed to do that without my promised EXP Candies!? Spend hours defeating Lechonk!? That'll take forever!"
"Excuse me?" the other student piped up. "I'd like to turn in my test now."
"Well, I hope you don't plan on earning any EXP Candy out of it," Ko retorted, "because they don't have anymore!"
"You know what?" the desk worker said. "Just for that, your results are null and void!" She then pressed a button on the scanner, and it spat out ribbons of paper. "Retests denied, and your grade is forfeit!"
"NO!!!"
The footage was cut off, and Ko shrunk back in regret. "Oh, right. I never did repent for that, did I?"
"No, you did not," Director Clavell said. "And I was beginning to believe you were falling into that mindset once more. You do mean well, Master Kosaru, but you have a tendency to act on a flawed system, and when your flaws get pointed out, you take them as personal attacks."
"But they're not," Rika added. "They're chances for you to learn what you can do better next time. Like the jam you sweetened with honey. People used that stuff to attract Pokemon they were hoping to catch because it smelled great for them. Maybe you can learn from that?"
"Got it. Next batch, hold the honey, see how that goes," Ko guessed.
"Or use less," Clavell suggested. "And see how that fares."
"Well, thank you both," the bear said. "And I apologize for the attitude earlier. Perhaps when this is over, I could also correct a previous mistake?"
"I think that is a good idea," Clavell said with a smile.
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To be continued...
