Ash's Story (Part 5: Modern Sinnoh)

Chapter 54: Haunted Performance

The road back from Celestic Town felt heavier than the road into it.

We had delivered the Old Charm, helped protect Stargleam Cavern, and faced Cyrus inside the ruins, but the stolen orbs kept following my thoughts. Even when the morning sky was clear, I kept imagining Team Galactic moving somewhere beyond it, carrying pieces of Sinnoh's old legends like tools.

Hearthome City was waiting for my Gym battle, but we passed through Solaceon Town first. Angie's family Day Care stood near the road, warm and busy, with Pokémon cries drifting from the yard. After everything that had happened at Summer Academy, seeing Angie again felt almost normal.

Angie waved from beside a fence before we reached the gate. "Ash! Lillie! Dawn! You actually came back this way!"

Dawn smiled and waved with Piplup. "We're heading to Hearthome, but we wanted to stop by."

Angie's smile faltered when something crashed inside the Day Care house. A long scarf fluttered past the window, followed by a panicked Shinx and two yelling helpers.

Tox looked toward the sound immediately. "That is not normal Day Care activity."

Angie groaned and pressed both hands to her face. "That's the Scarf Monster rumor. People think some monster keeps stealing scarves and snacks, but it's really a Lickilicky from the Day Care. The problem is, the Trainer left it here as a Lickitung."

I blinked. "It evolved while staying here?"

"That's why I'm worried," Angie said. "A Day Care helps Pokémon rest and grow, but we're not supposed to be careless with evolution. If the Trainer thinks we pushed it, my family's reputation gets hurt."

Angie led us into the yard before the next crash could happen. Several Pokémon were gathered near the fence with scarves tied around their necks for warmth, but most of the scarves had bite marks or drool stains. A Chansey helper tried to stack food bowls while a Cleffa hid behind her legs.

Angie pointed toward a storage shed with a torn curtain hanging from the roof. "It started with missing scarves. Then snacks vanished. Then one of the younger kids saw a huge tongue in the window and screamed about a monster."

Lillie looked at the worried Pokémon and softened. "So the rumor is scaring the Pokémon as much as the visitors."

"That is the worst part," Angie said. "The Lickilicky is not mean. It is playful, hungry, and confused because its body changed faster than everyone expected."

I thought about our own Lickitung, who had been watching the doorway with wide eyes. He tilted his head as the Day Care Lickilicky rolled out of the house, tongue wrapped around three scarves and one empty food bowl.

Lickitung's meaning came curious and hungry. "Round friend became bigger. Bigger tongue reaches farther."

Pikachu's meaning answered cautiously. "Do not call that a goal yet."

Our Lickitung waddled closer to the Day Care Lickilicky and tried to copy the way it balanced its bigger body. Lickilicky answered by wrapping one scarf around Lickitung's middle like a sash, which made Lickitung look proud for exactly two seconds before he tripped.

Dawn covered her mouth to hide a laugh. "They look like they are teaching each other the wrong lessons."

Tox watched more seriously. "Actually, the bigger one is showing post-evolution movement patterns. Clumsy, but not useless."

That made Lickitung straighten like he had received official approval.

Team Rocket appeared before anyone could untangle the scarves. Jessie and James rose from behind the fence in fake caretaker uniforms, while Meowth held a net launcher shaped like a baby bottle.