Clint remembered his last visit clearly: the farm had been choked with boulders and weeds.
Even the newly tilled plot felt desolate amid the overgrowth.
He opened his mouth, then gave Ron an awkward smile.
"Morning," Ron said, glancing at Clint. Suddenly remembering he needed jars, he tucked away his earnings and walked over.
"I don't really have business here," Clint said sheepishly. "But… uh, did you hear me talking last night? At the saloon?"
"Which part?" Ron asked.
Clint flushed. "Er… what part did you hear?"
"That you wished my farm well," Ron replied after a beat.
Clint visibly relaxed. "Good! See? Your farm's thriving—just as I always knew it would!"
Ron instantly guessed what Clint hadn't wanted him to hear—but he didn't care. Instead, he mentioned needing glass jars.
"Jars?" Clint nodded. "Sure—but I'll need Refined Quartz. One piece makes about ten jars."
He led Ron to the furnace in the corner. "Just toss regular Quartz in here—it refines fast. Done in no time."
Ron pulled Quartz from his backpack—the haul from yesterday's mining—and handed it over. He watched as Clint fed it into the furnace.
Guilt-ridden over using Ron as gossip fodder, Clint decided to finish the jars right then and there.
Ron thanked him and got to work.
While Clint crafted, he also used scrap Iron Ron had lying around to forge tiny buckets—perfect for Rattata to carry in their mouths.
The Rattata immediately grabbed their new buckets and began shuttling water between the pond and strawberry fields.
After helping with watering, Ron checked on the Nursery.
He collected the new egg, fed Ditto and Fletchling, then recalled yesterday's hatched Fletchling into its Poké Ball.
Sitting down, he opened the Breeding System on his Pokédex.
He noticed that thanks to foraging and watering, one Rattata now had 2 Potential Points—the highest so far.
Combee had gained 1 point too; Ron allocated it to Special Defense.
Unlike Effort Values (EVs) in games (capped at 510 total, 252 per stat), Potential Points had no limit.
As long as his Pokémon kept working, every stat could eventually max out.
Thinking of his deal with Viola, Ron glanced out the window—at Combee buzzing dutifully over the crops.
---
Meanwhile, in Kalos – Santalune City Gym…
"Good job, Orthworm," Viola praised, tossing an iron ore chunk to her trainee. She scanned it with her Pokédex.
Thanks to constant challenges from Trainers seeking to battle this mysterious Pokemon, Orthworm had already hit Level 20.
"If he decides to challenge the Gym…" Viola mused, turning to her assistant, "do you think training Orthworm is the right call?"
This Orthworm had immense potential. Even untrained, it dominated battles. With proper Gym conditioning, it could shine in the League—if Ron chose to compete.
"I don't know," the assistant said slowly. "But… probably not."
Training alongside your Pokémon was irreplaceable—bonding, battle intuition, everything grew through shared struggle.
Handing Ron a pre-trained powerhouse would be like pulling up seedlings to help them grow.
"I thought so too," Viola sighed, leaning back. "Here's the plan: if he challenges the Gym, he faces this Orthworm. If he can't win, he doesn't get the Badge—simple. He'll have to return when his team is ready."
"And if he never challenges?"
"Then it won't matter."
She'd just hate to see such talent go to waste.
Remembering Ron's Pokémon—she'd only seen Geodude and Orthworm, but both were well-raised—she figured he had his own methods.
The assistant nodded… though privately, he worried: At this rate, by the time Ron beats Orthworm, Santalune might be his last Gym.
---
Back in Pelican Town…
Unaware his Orthworm was being held hostage by Viola's ambitions, Ron had just tasked Rattata with taking the newly hatched Fletchling into the forest. Foraging would help it grind Potential Points faster.
Unlike Potatoes (tuber crops yanked whole from soil), Strawberries grew above ground. After harvest, roots remained—requiring full replowing before new planting.
So he had to retrieve Orthworm before Summer to till the fields.
Timing was tight:
– Spring 27: Finish watering.
– Immediately sail to Kalos.
– Return by Summer 1 to buy seeds, replant.
Plus, sprinklers must be ready by Spring 28—installed on Day 1 of Summer.
Then, no more watering at dawn.
Step one toward automation.
With Froakie and idle Rattata in tow, Ron headed to the Mines.
Fletchling could Mine—but monster-killing granted EXP, risking unwanted level-ups. Better to keep breeding stock at exact levels.
(Thankfully, foraged goods sold well—no real loss.)
At the Mine, Ron took the elevator straight to Floor 15.
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