"What are you talking about?" Ash asked as he came back after gathering the berries. From his perspective, the two girls were whispering and giggling, seemingly quite happy.
"Nothing!" they replied in unison to Ash.
After speaking, they glanced at each other and burst into laughter together.
Ash scratched his head curiously, wondering how it seemed that the two girls had gotten a lot closer in the short time he was away. Relationships between girls were indeed strange.
"Let's go, we've finished buying everything. It's time to head to the next island."
"Are we leaving already? Can't we stay a little longer? Although the Seven Berry Islands are known for berry cultivation, there are many beautiful scenic spots and various kinds of Pokémon here," Nainai tried to persuade Ash and his friends to stay for a few days.
There are also many Pokémon inhabiting the Seven Berry Islands, but these Pokémon are fundamentally different from Snorlax in that they don't eat as much...
Even if some Pokémon eat berries, as long as they don't eat the core island's berries, they can eat them without restriction. There are plenty of Sitrus Berries on the Seven Berry Islands—except for Snorlax.
Aside from Snorlax, most other Pokémon can be satisfied with one Sitrus Berry for a meal, and if one is not enough, two will suffice. Pokémon are not mindless beasts; they have intelligence comparable to humans, and most Pokémon possess a heart kinder than most humans.
Therefore, they never take endlessly. Eating Sitrus Berries is just something that happens occasionally, and when they do, they pay back in various ways. Nature is their home, and no one understands the treasures it holds better than they do.
Sometimes, what they bring back as a token of gratitude is far more valuable than a Sitrus Berry. The people and Pokémon here are mutually beneficial, respecting and caring for each other. If only that Snorlax hadn't come...
Nainai's words made Ash hesitate a little. If it were just about the scenery, it wouldn't have much attraction for Ash; after all, he still had the responsibility of finding Lugia, so he couldn't pause his journey here.
But when considering the diverse Pokémon here—it wouldn't hurt to stay for a day or two, right?
So Ash and his friends decided to stay on the Seven Berry Islands for two days. Each island had inns available, as it's a famous tourist destination, and where there are people, there must be places to stay.
Their accommodation was free of charge, as they had helped everyone with a big problem. Without Ash, they couldn't have dealt with the Snorlax.
Nainai and the others even promised Ash that he could pick and eat the fruit from the fruit trees on the island without any limits.
Although Nainai didn't explicitly say it, this unlimited feasting of berries was obviously meant to be enjoyed on the Seven Berry Islands. Taking them away would be excessive, as a single Sitrus Berry was worth five hundred bucks, not five.
If they were five bucks each, Nainai could afford to give Ash a whole sack of them.
Even without it being said, Ash and his friends would naturally respect this unspoken rule—none of them were shameless or desperate.
After settling their luggage, the three of them eagerly headed towards the heart of the island.
Not far from the inn, they saw clusters of bright red berries hanging from short trees, with a few Rattata sitting underneath, happily munching on the fallen fruit. Hearing footsteps, they only glanced up before continuing to feast.
Pokémon here were used to seeing people; they wouldn't flee even if someone approached to pet them, unless someone tried to attack.
"Wow, those berries look so sweet!" Serena exclaimed, her eyes lighting up. She ran over to pick one, wiped it clean, and popped it into her mouth, instantly squinting her eyes with delight. "It's really delicious, you guys should try it!"
Misty followed suit, picked one, took a bite, and nodded. "Indeed, it's better than the ones we bought on the road."
Ash took the fruit Misty handed him and tried a bite. It was true—natural, pollution-free crops were much tastier than those mass-grown outside.
These fruits were just ordinary produce, costing around twenty bucks per pound, incomparable in value to the berries here. Even if they filled up on them, they wouldn't equal the worth of a single Sitrus Berry.
Walking along the cobblestone path, the scenery gradually became richer. Occasionally, Oddish could be seen swaying its leafy top as it passed through the roadside shrubs.
In the clear creek, a few Magikarp and Goldeen swam back and forth, creating ripples on the water's surface.
In the distant orchard, Paras, carrying its mushroom shell, leisurely cleared the weeds on the ground, assisting the staff with fruit tree maintenance. The mutual assistance between humans and Pokémon was made evident at this moment.
"This place is so peaceful, with a sense of idyllic tranquility where nothing disturbs you. Ash, when you achieve your dream, find a place like this to settle," Misty said, hands behind her back, her emerald eyes filled with longing.
Upon hearing this, Ash glanced at Misty, and after pondering for a moment, he took her hand, which was hidden behind her, and said, "That day will come. When I become a Pokémon Master, let's find a place like this to live with our partners and with you, Misty. By then, we can explore and enjoy leisure time every day, living a retired life."