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Meanwhile, at the farm.
Magearna was directing everyone to wrap up the final touches on the farm's chores.
Indeedee, on the other hand, was busy making some snacks to bring to the beach later to share with everyone.
After yesterday's events, Indeedee had developed a profound interest in cooking. It buried its head in researching snacks that everyone might like, while Meowth behind it ate its breakfast, staring at Indeedee's back.
"What's the potluck, meow?"
This was Team Rocket's first time participating in the Luau. It rested its chin on its hand, pondering. "Wouldn't throwing all the ingredients into one pot make the taste really weird?"
"Indee?" Indeedee thought for a moment. "Indeedee." (The one last year was pretty good.)
"So, last year's potluck was delicious, meow." Meowth took a bite of breakfast, then pondered for a while. "Then what should Meowth bring, meow?"
"Indeedee." (Something you like.)
"Something I like, meow." Meowth couldn't think of anything it particularly liked. It rubbed the collar around its neck while deep in thought.
After thinking for a while, it trotted outside.
"Jessie, James, what are you guys preparing, meow?" Meowth rushed into the barn and asked Jessie and James, who were hard at work.
"I haven't decided yet."
"What about Shane?" Meowth looked over at Shane.
Shane paused mid-work, then said, "Pizza."
"Pizza?! Won't it taste super gross if it melts in there?" Meowth asked in disbelief.
"Should be fine. Gus's soup base is hard to mess up. But one year, Sam put something in there he shouldn't have." At this, Shane's expression changed, looking nauseous as if recalling something extremely disgusting.
Seeing Shane like this, Meowth keenly realized that to avoid associating today's potluck with something it shouldn't be associated with, it absolutely should not ask any further questions.
"Potluck, huh." Jessie said, "If it has everything in it, that complex medley of flavors must be amazing."
This actually hit right at Jessie's sweet spot, and she couldn't help but look forward to it.
Shane worked with a green tint to his face, right up until the barn work was officially finished, before finally recovering from the nausea.
Meanwhile, at the beach, the Luau.
The large pot quickly filled up. The ingredients Gus had placed inside beforehand tumbled in the boiling water, and an enticing aroma wafted out before long.
"Smells really good. What did you put in? It seems different from previous years."
Robin had just arrived at the beach and couldn't help but narrow her eyes, taking a deep breath.
"Spices Ron brought back from Kalos. I tested them out, and they fit perfectly," Gus said, a little smugly.
Robin leaned forward and tossed in the Goat Cheese she had brought.
Marnie, holding a giant ladle, stirred the pot.
"Every time this moment comes around, I'm reminded of that one year." Marnie stirred the pot up and down. "The year Sam put——"
"Stop!!!" Gus shouted in breakdown. "Don't, don't bring it up!"
Lewis, standing nearby, didn't look so good either. Marnie couldn't help but cover her mouth and laugh.
"I've learned my lesson," Lewis said. "Every time since then, I've kept a close eye on him!"
As the central figure of their topic, Sam stood not far away, pursing his lips in dissatisfaction. "That's not fair! That time, you were thinking about putting a Poison Mushroom in, and nobody stopped you!"
"I was just thinking about it." Sebastian laughed, snuffing out his cigarette and setting it aside. "How have you been lately?"
"Lately? Lately's been pretty good." Sam said, sitting down next to Sebastian. "Vincent and I are training our Parasect together. Once it gets strong enough, I'll take Paras on an adventure to Kalos."
With his father back home, Jodi clearly felt much more secure. Plus, with the new source of income, even if Sam didn't work, the family could still get by.
Although Jodi was still very opposed to him going to those unfamiliar continents, he felt that sooner or later, the resistance in Jodi's heart would gradually fade.
"An adventure, huh." Sebastian thought about it.
He and Croagunk didn't have any desire to go adventuring over there. Especially now that his family relationships had improved, he didn't feel the urge to escape that house anymore.
"I'll pass," Sebastian said.
Sam gave a noncommittal grunt.
Before long, the farm's crew also arrived at the beach.
As usual, the Rattata carried their ingredients, climbing up the steps next to the pot one by one, dropping their favorite foods inside.
The Geodude and Clodsire were playing on the other side of the beach as usual. Because they were stopped from adding rocks to the soup, they were currently looking displeased, trying to build their own potluck out of stones.
Beside them, Trubbish nodded in agreement, holding up the garbage it had brought and indicating it wanted to join the Geodude.
It was urgently stopped by one of them.
"Trubbish!"
Trubbish gave a slightly aggrieved cry.
These were all things that could be found in a trash can! How could they discriminate like this!
"——" The Geodude fell silent for a moment, instantly understanding why they weren't allowed to put rocks in the potluck.
Ron and Leah arrived at the beach together. Taking a moment to check on the Raccoon's house, they then made their way to the pot.
"What did you prepare?" Leah said, tossing the Goat Cheese in her hand into the pot.
"Secret." Ron said, stepping forward two paces and slowly dropping half a Stardrop—the leftover from making Stardrop Tea—into the pot.
——
"What was that?" Leah said. "It looked purple."
"Secret." Ron continued. "It's nothing dirty, that's for sure."
"What's purple?" Lewis, who caught the keyword nearby, hurriedly asked.
"What Ron put into the pot, it was purple," Leah said. "I'm guessing maybe Eggplant or a Purple Mushroom."
There really weren't many edible things that were purple. Lewis walked over to the pot with a sickly expression, taking the ladle from Marnie's hand. He then confirmed with Marnie: "Did you see clearly what Ron threw in just now?"
"Hmm... didn't catch it," Marnie said. "But it seemed purple."
Lewis looked at Ron with a green face, stirring the pot with the ladle as he said, "I never thought you'd do something like this, Ron."
"What?" Ron asked.
"——I trusted you so much. I never thought you'd do the same thing as Sam. In my heart, you've always been so steady, but you actually put——"
"Half a Stardrop." Ron asked, "Is that illegal?"
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