Previously on Oranges to Grapes...

Our heroes chart a course for Zapapico for after the third dome on their current route is cleared, which proves difficult but rewarding. Along with the Hell-Sent Cures unlocking a new team attack and Camilla's Sprigatito evolving into Floragato, she manages to defeat the Axe Head Diamant and claim the Prime Steel Tera Jewel...

-

After everyone else came to, Camilla caught the rest of the group up on what happened before they set back off to their destination. They navigated the other craters in the field before finally arriving in Pico's hometown.

"Welp, here we are," Pico said once they were within the boundary. "Everyone, welcome to Zapapico... my home."

"Oh, boy!" Dina said. "Now I can meet Jill again and tell her I know her son... er, if she's okay with that." But just as the older, female lizard's name was mentioned, she had just exited the Every Wich Way and was walking through town. "Oh, here she comes now!"

Jill noticed the voice and looked that way, and she saw the axolotl she served not too long ago. "Oh, hello there. Avocado Sandwich, right?"

"That's what I ordered, yes," Dina said in response. "Dina Goldman's the name... and I didn't come alone."

"Hello, Mama," Pico said with a wave. "I'm just out on my Treasure Hunt with a few friends."

"I see," Jill said. "Well, I hope you're being careful out there. I saw some really strange happenings outside of Zapapico that made me concerned for-" But as she looked up, she noticed that some of the domes around Paldea were already gone! "Huh, that's funny. I could've sworn there were crystal domes over there a few moments ago."

"There were," Dina said, "but your son got rid of them! And not just the one over Levincia, but he also got rid of the one over Artazon, and one waaaaaay~ over in Cortondo on the opposite side of the region!"

"Well," the younger, male lizard said modestly, "I can't take all the credit. I also had some help from friends, more than I might have time to introduce you to."

"Well, it sounds like you've been keeping yourself busy," Jill said, "and I am proud of that. And I'm also happy that your tail grew back!"

"Mama," Pico muttered under his breath, "no one needs to know about that. It's embarrassing!"

"Why?" Dina asked. "There's nothing to be embarrassed about. If I got all blushy like that every time I lost an appendage, I'd pop a blood vessel!"

"Ai, papi, look at the time!" Jill said as she looked at her watch. "I only have a few minutes left on my lunch break, so I can't get into this talk further, so keep up the good work, Pico, and good luck with your Treasure Hunt and all, and Dina, it was nice to see you again, hope it happens more. Okay, adios~!"

The mama lizard quickly ducked into the Seabreeze Cafe, leaving everyone else dumbfounded. "Okay, that was something to be embarrassed about," Dina said. "My mistake."

"Eh, no point crying over spilled Moomoo Milk," Pico dismissed. "Let's just get to the Flying Taxi and ride back to Mesagoza."

-

(Scene transition: Paldea Flying Taxi)

-

"Thanks for the ride!" Pico told Hilda after the group left the cab at the south gate of Mesagoza. "And be sure to look forward to more pickup requests from us sometime in the near future!"

"Sure thing!" Hilda said before the Squawkabilly carried her off with the cab. The group then entered the gate and approached the outer ring past the entrance to the central plaza. Once Pico and Balto presented their Prime Tera Jewels to restore the Fire and Electric logos, the passage was opened up a little more to the Battle Court where the Fire, Electric and Steel logos were restored to the central ring.

"Well, that was a bust," Dina said.

"So much for 'standing as an example for you to follow,' huh Rosita?" Eartha said.

"Now, now, let's think positive here," the caracal said in defense. "We can always hold off on Porto Marinada long enough for this whoopsie to blow over, right?"

"Ooh, maybe not," Pico said as Camilla pulled up the map again. "Our mission may have just put your footpaw in your muzzle. You want the good news or the bad news first?"

Rosita lowered her ears and said, "Fine, give me the bad news first. At this point, what have I got to lose?"

"Alright, the bad news is that the next two domes for us to clear out are the domes over Cascarrafa and Asado Desert," Pico said, "and Porto Marinada is right by them."

"Okay, so what's the good news?" Rosita asked cautiously.

"Balto doesn't have any business with either of those domes, so he doesn't have to come if he doesn't want to," Camilla offered.

"Well, let's ask him," Jessica said, and she faced the husky to ask, "Balto, would you like to come with us anyway and see your dad again?"

"I would," Balto said, making Rosita wince.

"And would it be okay if we tagged along with you to Porto Marinada?" Jessica asked.

"Please say it won't, please say it won't, oh, please say it won't," Rosita muttered with all her finger-beans crossed.

"As a matter of fact," Balto retorted, "I would like you all to come so I can introduce all my new friends to my dad."

"Then it's settled."

"BY RESHIRAM'S PUBES!!!" Rosita hollered in frustration.

As the group made their way towards the west gate, Balto rushed to Rosita and demanded gruffly, "What is your damage against coming as my friend!?"

"Were we not in the same crowd back in Zapapico?" Rosita retorted. "How do you know that what happened with Dina and Pico won't happen again with us?"

"Well, the way I see it, there are three key differences," the husky said as he counted off on his finger-beans. "One, you are not Dina, two, I am not Pico, and three, MY DAD IS NOT HIS MOM!"

"So you can honestly look me square in the eye and tell me that your dad won't say anything embarrassing," the caracal hypothesized, "and when I try to sympathize with you, I won't just make it worse?"

"You don't know that it'll happen!"

"Neither do you that it won't!" Rosita spat back. "See, this is why cats and dogs do not, will not, can not, SHALL NOT mix. Dogs just cannot think about the future."

"Isn't one of your Pokemon a dog-" Balto tried to ask.

"NONE OF THAT CRAP PROVES ANYTHING!!!" Rosita hollered as the gate was closed behind the group.

-

To be continued...