After finishing their massive shopping spree at the Sail Market, Ash and the others found a nearby courier company and began mailing out all the gifts.
After all, he had purchased quite a lot.
Although Ash possessed a System Storage Backpack and could personally hand-deliver gifts to people such as his mother Delia, Aunt Mihoko, Professor Oak, and even his bargain-bin mentor Giovanni when he returned home—
The gifts intended for friends far away in Kalos, such as Tierno, Trevor, and Clemont, naturally had to be shipped through a delivery service.
"Bzzz"
After filling out the shipping forms and sending off the packages, Ash and the others began discussing where to have dinner.
Just then, his phone suddenly rang.
"Hmm?"
"Daisy?"
Seeing the caller ID displayed on the screen, Ash paused briefly before quickly answering.
"Hello, Daisy."
"Ash."
"You remember that I promised to entrust Clefable's child to you, right?"
"And later, when you told me you wanted to pass it on to your little girlfriend in the Kalos region, I agreed."
"Since Cleffa had only recently hatched, I kept her with me for a while."
"Now she's officially out of the infant stage, so I'm ready to send her over."
Daisy's gentle voice came through the phone.
"Cleffa's already out of infancy?"
Ash's face immediately lit up.
"Then please send her over!"
"You already know the transfer code for my Poké Ball transporter."
"Perfect timing too. I was just planning to contact Serena."
"I can transfer Cleffa directly to her afterward."
His voice carried obvious excitement.
Back during Professor Oak's Pokémon Summer Camp graduation ceremony, both Ash and Gary had received Outstanding Student awards.
As a reward, they had been granted trainer status before officially setting out on their journeys at age ten.
To celebrate the occasion, Daisy had prepared gifts for both boys.
Gary had received an Eevee with high-tier potential.
Meanwhile, Ash's gift had been a child of Daisy's ace Pokémon, Clefable.
However, Cleffa had only just hatched at the time.
She was still in her infant stage and unsuitable for immediate transfer.
As a result, Daisy had kept Cleffa by her side to raise personally.
Now that Cleffa had successfully passed through infancy, and both Clefable and Cleffa had accepted the arrangements and received all necessary explanations, Daisy was finally ready to send her to her new trainer.
"Alright."
"Then I'll transfer her over now."
After reminding him, Daisy recalled Cleffa into her Poké Ball and placed it into the Poké Ball Transfer System.
Ash immediately pulled out his portable transfer machine as well.
"Zzzzt..."
A series of faint electrical sparks crackled.
Moments later, a Poké Ball materialized before Ash and the others.
It was blue and green in color, decorated with a bright yellow crescent moon.
A Moon Ball.
"Daisy, I received it."
"Oh, right."
"I'm still in Cerulean City, and I actually picked out a little gift for you while I was here."
"Let me send the Poké Ball back one more time."
"I'll have Cleffa bring it to you."
As he spoke, Ash released Cleffa from the Poké Ball.
The tiny Pokémon blinked curiously.
Ash gently placed a bracelet crafted from naturally shed Corsola branches around her wrist.
After explaining the situation to Cleffa, he returned her to the Poké Ball and sent it back through the transfer machine.
"Wow!"
"What a beautiful Corsola bracelet!"
"Thank you, Ash."
"I really love it. (^_^)"
Back in Pallet Town, Daisy released Cleffa and immediately received the gift.
Her eyes sparkled with delight.
"As long as you like it."
Seeing Daisy's happiness made Ash smile as well.
After a bit more conversation, Daisy sent Cleffa back again.
The two chatted briefly before ending the call.
The moment the call ended, Ash immediately dialed another number.
"Bzzz"
Far away in the Kalos region, Serena was currently sitting on the living room sofa.
Beside her sat her mother, Grace.
The two were watching television while enjoying tea and snacks together.
Curiously, Grace glanced at the vibrating phone.
"Who's calling?"
She asked casually.
Before she could see the screen, Serena snatched up the phone.
"Mom, don't ask~"
Serena replied with a slightly embarrassed pout.
"Fine, fine."
"I won't ask."
Grace took a sip of tea and rolled her eyes dramatically.
"Judging by that excited look on your face, I don't even need to guess."
"It's obviously that brat from Pallet Town."
There was unmistakable dissatisfaction in her tone.
After all, her precious daughter had essentially been stolen away by another boy.
Any mother would feel at least a little resentful.
Serena completely ignored her mother's complaints and answered the call happily.
"Hello, Ash! ^o^"
Her voice instantly softened into an impossibly sweet tone.
Watching this transformation, Grace nearly rolled her eyes out of her head.
If the girl in front of her hadn't been her own daughter, she might have muttered something far less polite under her breath.
"Ash, huh?"
"Shameless little thing."
Of course, she wisely kept that thought to herself.
"Serena."
"Remember how I told you Daisy's Cleffa would eventually be entrusted to you?"
"Well, Cleffa has officially grown out of infancy."
"Daisy just transferred her to me."
"If you head over to the Pokémon Center, I can transfer her directly to you."
"And there's something else."
"I've been participating in the Water Pokémon Beauty Contest here in Cerulean City these past few days."
"I also brought Clarissa along so she could finally meet Misty."
"Tomorrow, I'm heading back to Pallet Town."
"Since I was already here, I bought gifts for everyone."
"I'll let Cleffa bring your gift—and one for Aunt Grace too."
Ash said with a smile.
While shopping for gifts earlier, Ash hadn't forgotten Serena's mother.
Knowing that Grace was a Rhyhorn racer—strong-willed, energetic, and not particularly interested in extravagant jewelry—he hadn't chosen something traditional like a pearl necklace.
Instead, he selected a pair of sapphire earrings designed around the elegant shape of a marlin.
They were beautiful without being overly flashy.
Refined, yet carrying a subtle sense of strength and determination.
Ash had a feeling Grace would appreciate them.
"Cleffa is coming?"
"And you bought me a gift too?"
"Thank you, Ash!"
"I'll head to the Pokémon Center right now!"
Serena practically bounced off the sofa.
She slipped into her cute indoor slippers and dashed straight out the front door, racing toward the Pokémon Center in town.
Watching her disappear like a gust of wind, Grace sat frozen for several seconds.
Then she let out a dramatic sigh.
"Hmmph..."
"Girls really do leave home once they fall in love."
Not having heard the conversation—and completely unaware that Ash had also prepared a gift for her— Grace 's expression became even more resentful.
And far more pitiful.
The lonely mother sat on the sofa with her tea, staring at the empty doorway through which her daughter had vanished.
Looking every bit like an abandoned parent whose precious child had forgotten she existed.
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T/N:
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