Previously on Oranges to Grapes...

Upon learning that their new team power is true flight, the Hell-Sent Cures use it to set a course for Mesagoza. Meanwhile, Camilla, Pico and Balto are called to Clavell's office to be informed about a big surprise test for them to take, leaving Ko alone...

-

As expected, Camilla, Pico and Balto were so focused on studying for the test, that Ko was left by himself to handle the mystery-solving by himself. From the garden progress to battle strategy, from therapy sessions to sleepy Pokemon, Ko got the big score with no help.

"I can't believe it," he said to himself calmly... before his tone shifted and he added, "They totally ditched me! I let those three go because the director needed them, and I figured that after they were done, they'd come back and help me solve The Mystery of... They Who Come and Go Duri-" then he stopped short with a sigh of exasperation and said, "You know what, I should've given this an abbreviation or something. But how can those three abandon me right when I need the most help at the final stage worth the most credit!? It's again' nature, I tells ya!"

Deciding to call it a night, Ko simply left the schoolyard and went back to his dorm...

-

(Scene transition: Academy crest)

-

Now that he was back in his dorm room, Ko simply flopped down on his bed in resignation. "Not that anyone would care, but the social chemistry between the four of us was what I was looking forward to. Without that, this fanfic's viewer traffic is in the pot! Weather reports get more viewers than we do now!" He then grabbed one of his pillows and began to throttle it as he added, "If we can't get more people to read this... Oranges to Grapes shall have no point!"

But suddenly, he stopped, and with a snap of his finger-beans he said, "Wait a second... I know what will bring in more viewers!"

-

Outside of the East Gate, a small pride of Shinx had gathered around a dried-up bush. After rubbing up against the branches, they all turned around and flicked their star-tipped tails upwards, revealing that they were all male with fuzzy, black sheathes and balls. Said genitals were pulled upwards, aiming towards the bush as six streams of urine flowed onto the branches, making "patter-swish" sounds as they tinkled in pulsating squirts. Whether the feline Pokemon in question were taking an actual potty break or marking the bush to attract females to do, no one could say.

Once all the streams petered out from their peters, the clowder of Electric-types each lifted a hind leg, sat down, and craned their necks to clean their fuzzy covers of any errant drips with their tongues. While that was going on, a mass of light soared through the sky and dove into a small atoll, and when it did, a quick flash snapped from the hole, and four girls exited through an opening in the wall.

"Okay, I don't think anyone saw us come in," Rosita started. "Coast is clear."

"And look," Eartha said, noticing that their spirit partners were still holding their form. "Anton was right. We didn't have to push the reboot buttons after we landed."

"Um, if I may interject," Jessica cut in, "Leopold was the one who said that, but I digress. The point is, now we're at Mesagoza, and Rosita was also right. No dome here."

"So, what's our next step in this plan of hers," Dina asked, "if I may be so bold?"

"The next step is to enter the city and seek out some help," Rosita explained. "As Dina mentioned before, those domes came from a column of light from out of the Great Crater. So, logic dictates that if we want to solve this, we'll need permission to enter, and there's only one way of getting a slim chance to do that."

"That all sounds like you're gunning for something that won't happen," Eartha said deadpan.

"Well, I'm not going to sugarcoat it, girls," Rosita said, "we don't have a lot of good options to take, but at this point, we may not have much choice. Now let's go." On the way, though, the group passed by the Shinx that were grooming themselves, which disgusted the caracal. "Ugh, get a room, you animals!"

"They're in the wild, and that is their room," Conner spoke up.

"Well, then hurry up and finish, and stop when you do!"

By that point, the clowder had finished licking their bits clean, so once the girls passed through the gate, one of them muttered, "Shinx..."*

-

On the other side of the gate, Rosita gestured with a flourish and said, "Behold, the city of Mesagoza!"

"Great, we made it!" Jessica said. "Right at the crack of dusk."

"Okay, so we may have to put the rest of the plan on hold until tomorrow," the caracal admitted, "but in the meantime... you girls thinking what I'm thinking?"

"I don't know what you're thinking," Eartha said, "but there is a chance it could be what I'm thinking."

"Well, let's do some narrowing down, shall we?" Dina offered. "We've just been on a long journey around Paldea, the sun has just set, and right now, we're in a large city with food stands, restaurants, and shops as far as the eye can see."

"Couple that with the fact that we still have money burning a hole in my pockets from the cash-in before the auction," Jessica added, "and that can only total up to one thing..."

"Okay, then let's say it all together, and see if it matches," Rosita said anxiously. "One... two..."

"GIRL'S NIGHT OUT!!!!"

Deciding to make that their final decision, the girls went their separate ways to explore the capital city of the Paldea region, agreeing to regroup at the Pokemon Center in the west side of town once they had their fill of joy. But until then, they were going to take advantage of everything Mesagoza had to offer until they crashed.

-

To be continued...

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*(Bonus scene)

"Well, I'm not going to sugarcoat it, girls," Rosita said, "we don't have a lot of good options to take, but at this point, we may not have much choice. Now let's go." On the way, though, the group passed by the Shinx that were grooming themselves, which disgusted the caracal. "Ugh, get a room, you animals!"

"They're in the wild, and that is their room," Conner spoke up.

"Well, then hurry up and finish, and stop when you do!"

By that point, the clowder had finished licking their bits clean, so once the girls passed through the gate, one of them muttered, "Prude..."