Previously on Oranges to Grapes...

While Jessica takes care of something (and catches a Grimer in the process), Rosita sells some of her backpack contents for extra cash, and they both finally make it to Porto Marinada...

-

"Okay," Rosita said as she and Jessica stood in front of the marketplace, "FINALLY, Porto Marinada. Now we just have to inspect which of these different kiosks is carrying Kelpsy or Qualot Berries... possibly both, maybe."

"Right," Jessica agreed. "But here's the thing about auctions; there's no guarantee that they'll be carrying what we're looking for just because they had it before."

"Excuse me, young ladies," one auctioneer called out to the two felines, grabbing their attention. "Did I hear you two correctly, and you said you were in the market for Kelpsy and/or Qualot Berries?"

"Unless you have one or both, do not toy with us," Jessica said, "because we are in no mood for jabs."

"Then check the display tray, spotty."

Sure enough, the tray was filled with the very Berries they were looking for! "Wow! Look at them all!" Rosita said.

"Hold on," Jessica stopped. "What's the starting price?"

"How's 1,000 Poke sound?" the auctioneer said. "That low enough of a buy-in for you?"

"Fine, I'm in," Jessica said. "Rosita, get ready to put your money where your muzzle is." Soon enough, two more customers approached the kiosk, ready to get those Berries as well.

-

"Okay, people! We got ourselves a Kelpsy-Qualot Berry pack starting at 1,000! 1 thou, 1 thou- 1 thou, do I hear higher than 1 thou-"

"1,100!" Jessica bid.

"1,500!"
"1,700!"

"17 hun, 17 hun, any higher, 17 hun-"

"2 thousand!" Jessica got in.

"2,200!"
"2,600!"

"26 hun, here we are at 26 hun, any higher, any higher, 26 hun-"

"3 thousand!" Jessica interjected, getting heated.

"Durn it! Too rich for my blood..."
"3,500!"

"One out, and we're at 35 hun, 35 hun, who's got more than 35 hun-"

"4,300!" Jessica bid, hellbent on getting those berries.

"Crash, darn someone, crash," Rosita muttered in the background, trying to keep up the counting.

"5,100!"

"51 hun, 51 hun, who's got more than 51 hun-"

"6 thousand," Jessica said lowly, almost sounding like a growl.

"Okay! Okay! I'll back off!"

The auctioneer slapped the table and shouted, "SOLD to the snow leopard with all the khaki pockets! That'll be 6,000 Poke, please."

Rosita gave Jessica the exact amount, and the berries were paid for promptly.

-

"Yeah, that's what happens, people! That's what happens!" Jessica said as she held up her prize in triumph. "Never stand in the way of a woman on a mission!"

"Great, we got the berries!" Rosita said. "Now we can keep Conner and Leopold going!" But then, she looked around and said, "Huh. Speaking of which, where are they?"

"Huh," Jessica said. "Now that you mention it, I haven't seen Leopold since we regrouped by the Pokemon Center. You don't suppose..."

"Now, let's not hit the panic button just yet," Rosita reasoned. "Come with me, I have an idea."

And so, both the caracal and the snow leopard left the marketplace through the south exit, then came to a corner of the neighborhood before Rosita stopped at a lawn.

"Now, then," Rosita said as she knelt down by the grass, "when Conner first gave me my Sealing Ball, he told me that as long as I have it on my person, he'll be able to come whenever I need him. I just need to find a source of grass and leaves for him to make a new body for his spirit. That was apparently how he was able to talk inside of my head when I was Cure Grudge."

"Interesting," Jessica said, "but now there's another snag. Leopold's gone too, and I still have my Sealing Ball, but where am I supposed to find a source of ice and snow for his body in a town by the beach during the tail-end of summer?"

"Maybe we don't really need them right now?" Rosita guessed. "I mean, it is getting late, and we don't have to go anywhere right now, so..."

"Right, of course," Jessica said. "We don't have to go anywhere that needs us to make any slides or ladders or anything, and those crystal domes are too far to cause any trouble for us. I mean, what could possibly go wrong?"

"What's going on out there?" a deep, male voice called out as the porch lights went on... on the blue house the girls were standing in front of.

"Oh, crud," Jessica muttered as the door was opened. "I did it again, didn't I?"

-

To be continued...