Previously on Oranges to Grapes...

Eartha transforms into Cure Fear for the first time to rescue Rosita and Jessica from the Diademons, but when she takes the fight to the crystal dome, it takes her friends and their spirit partners to patch up the damage...

-

"Okay, so here's what we know so far," Eartha said as she and the girls walked back up the mountain path with her arms bundled up. "The domes can't be destroyed either by rolling snowballs or by the crunching of the planet's surface, but they're the source of these crystal monsters with long shoulder spikes-"

"Diademons," Rosita corrected. "They call themselves Diademons, but we don't ask the enemy questions."

"And I get it," Conner added. "Only now do I see that these domes may be a new reality for Paldea. But I do have a plan-"

"No!" Jessica snapped. "No, you do not!"

"Hold on, let's hear him out," Leopold said.

"Need I remind you what happened the last time we 'heard him out?!'"

"If you're talking about the injuries or the knockouts, we're not responsible for that," Anton defended.

"You stay out of it!" the snow leopard barked.

"Okay, clearly one of us is in no mood to care about the future," Conner said. "Call me when her cycle's over!" And he popped in a burst of grass and leaves after that.

"Don't forget me," Anton added. "I'll just be 'staying out of it!'" And he crumbled into dirt and rocks shortly afterward.

"You know what, they're right," Leopold tacked on. "Just because your body comes with a curse doesn't give you the right to take it out on us!" And in a puff of frost, all three spirit partners were gone.

With the girls left by themselves for now, Rosita said, "Nice one, Jessie. Now we'll never know what Conner's plan was."

"Chances are it would've landed us in more hot water," Jessica muttered.

Deciding that there was no more point in talking, the conversation was muted as the three walked back up the path until they saw the first Pokemon Center in the distance. Closer to them was a sign that said "To Montenervera" pointing in their direction, so they decided to turn around and go that way. "And now," Eartha said to the 4th wall, "while I wait for my arms to work and Jessica to cool off, here's something we hope you'll really like."

-

Meanwhile, back at the Academy.

-

While Camilla, Pico and Balto were still taking their alloted classes for the day, Ko was down in the libratrium looking through the many bookshelves for something. "Let's see here... Scarlet Book, too outdated. Violet Book, too ahead of its time. 'Jelly-go-Lightly and the Karate Sausage?' Can't believe that's actually a thing... Might have to put reading that on the backburner for later. Ah, here we go! 'Arven and Mabosstiff's Happy Tummy Fillers: A Nutritional Guide.'" He then carefully pulled the lattermost-listed book from the shelf to carry it to his usual desk. "Once I obtain the knowledge archived in this, I'll be able to craft my own delicious meals without going back to the cafeteria or any of those Every Wich Way places. Way to stick it to Big Sandwich, Ko!"

Halfway through his walk, though, something odd happened. A pair of female students were gabbing by the staircase to the second floor. "OMG, you are not going to believe what I found out in class today!"

"No. Way. Is it better than what I found out in class today?"

"Let's find out!" the first girl said. "So, apparently, like, neither a Sawk nor a Throh can produce an Egg without a Ditto. Cray, isn't it?"

"Not really," the second girl answered. "That's because there aren't any females."

"Wavelength!" both girls said in unison, which grabbed Ko's attention.

"Huh," the bear said to himself. "They both knew the security phrase and the authorized response... but it could just be coincidence." And he resumed his walk up the stairs.

But on the second floor were two male students holding a similar conversation. "So, I just found out some interesting info from an... anonymous source, let's say."

"Oh, yeah, what's that?"

"Neither a Sawk nor a Throh can produce an Egg without a Ditto," the first boy said. "And do you know why?"

"Because there are no females?" the second boy guessed.

"Aw, man, you ruined the surprise!" the first boy griped, but Ko overheard as he kept walking up the stairs to the third floor.

"The evidence is mounting," he said as he reached the central balcony, "although two times hardly establishes a pattern. I'd feel more comfortable raising the alarm if I were a bit more certain." And he sat down at the center desk facing the entrance and placed the book on the table to read the table of contents.

As he settled into his reading, three particular figures met behind him: Ms. Tyme, Miss Miriam and Mr. Salvatore. "Ah, Tyme, Salvatore, you got my message," Miriam said. "That's good."

"Oh, Miriam," Tyme said. "How is our new health teacher doing?"

"Yes, you did sound rather worried in the text you sent," Salvatore added.

"Well, I don't want to sound ungrateful for my promotion," Miriam said, "but I thing we need to bring biology class back. Some of my students have been spreading a rumor that doesn't sound right."

"Oh, dear," Tyme said, a little worried... with a tinge of sympathy. "I do seem to recall some of my students muttering under their breath as well."

"So have some of mine," Salvatore added, "but perhaps we shouldn't be so quick to judge. They could be talking about something different. So, what was the rumor?"

"It was this," Miriam said within earshot of Ko. "Neither a Sawk nor a Throh can produce an Egg without a Ditto-"

"Because there are no females?" the other two teachers finished for her.

"Yes! Exactly!"

Ko gasped as two and two finally came together for him! "That clinches it! Some dillpop leaked the security phrase and its authorized response, and now everyone at school knows it!" Suddenly the final bell rang to let the students know they were off the clock until tomorrow. "Perfect timing! Perfect! Timing! Guess my search for culinary knowledge will have to wait!"

-

To be continued.