The earth was warm over the dormant Turtwig and Michi patted it down firmly, making sure the sprout would get plenty of sunlight over the winter. While hibernating, the little grass-type wouldn't need any more nutrients than what the sun provided. She and Zac had planted it the center of the garden where it still had plenty of room to grow. It would be the most sheltered from wind or wild Pokemon foraging around the outside.

"Sleep, little turtle, sleepy sweet-po-turtle," Michi sang to herself, already making up her mind to come back and repot the Turtwig if anything happened. With the black plastic sheeting they were putting down she wasn't so worried about weeds or frost, but her many years in Hoenn had given Michiko the habit of being habitually prepared. Disasters, environmental or otherwise, were a fact of life here. That didn't make the region any less wonderful!

They worked in peace for a time, planting seedlings in a circular pattern with the Turtwig in the middle. Then-- "Hello Skitty!" Michi exclaimed suddenly. It was ambiguous whether she was just stating the name of her favorite stationary character or actually greeting the Skitty who was sniffing around their gardening supplies. It was actually drinking out of the Lotad Pail, lapping delicately at the green water dish. "Aaahh, how cute! Zac, do you see?"

Pets like Cinccino and Glameow were more fashionable these days, but the ongoing success of the Hello Skitty franchise meant the pink Pokemon had never really lost its charm. It always made Michi a little sad when she saw stray Skitty around the neighborhood, but they always got plenty of fish down at the docks in the evenings, so it wasn't too sad. At least they were well-fed!

Taking a break to watch Skitty, Michiko followed it as it padded around, sniffing Matchan's toes. I suppose it is more like Charmmy Skitty than Hello Skitty, Michi thought, comparing their sizes in apples. Charmmy Skitty was Hello Skitty's pet Skitty, since Hello Skitty was actually a little Galarian girl named Skitty Sword. 

She watched as it wiggled its haunches, then pounced on something hiding in among the tamato berry starts. The kitten Pokemon withdrew with something spindly and faintly glowing dangling from its teeth. "Ah! Put it down, I think this mushroom is poisonous," Michi said, distressed. She hadn't thought the soil was wet enough to sprout mushrooms, though it was the season. 

Holding its 'kill' in its mouth, the Skitty turned and began to lope/scurry away with its tiny, tiny legs. "Waah! Matchan! Catch Skitty!" Michiko exclaimed. Matchan's top-heavy physique was not particularly suited to grabbing very small things running on the ground, but he did his best. Fully believing in Matchan's ability to separate the kitten from the toxic fungi, Michi tuned out the crashing slapstick comedy going on behind her and went back to gardening.