The next morning was a little more hectic than normal, since Swablu seemed to like Piplup, and Larvesta was still a bit grumbly.

Ithica did what she could to make the morning run a little smoother. She coaxed Larvesta into giving them some fire, and was working on making breakfast for the three of them so that Mel could go around and feed the pokemon. Zorua and Dratini were watching her cook intently, while Feebas was relaxing in the stream.

Steven had donated some food towards breakfast, and then had broken out his maintenance kit and was seeing to his steel-types

Mel was feeding everybody, just trying to make sure everything went smoothly. But she did glance over to watch Steven do maintenance too because that was cool.

Steven was sort of hanging upside-down over one side of Metagross, reaching under behind one of the big joints. Metagross was obediently holding still with one leg raised, letting Steven work.

"Alright under there?" Mel asked, peering at him. She stayed a couple feet away though, giving Metagross room in case the pokemon needed to move.

"Doing fine!" Steven replied. He scrubbed at a stubborn spot, and then swung back up. "He's usually in pretty good shape, just catching the problem spots."

"Are there many?" Mel watched, curious. She even beckoned Ithica over, because she knew that her friend would like that.

"A few," Steven said. "Not as many as people think on a pokemon this size. He grinned. "Certainly nowhere near as many as, say, a Steelix."

Ithica looked over, but she was still cooking, so she didn't get up and go see. She did listen, though.

"I can imagine a Steelix has a lot of trouble spots." Mel smiled a bit. "So do you just kind of sand down the area?"

"Wire brush," Steven said with a bit of a grin, holding up the little spiral brush. "Or steel wool and oil soap, occasionally."

"Interesting." Mel grinned a bit. "Need some help? I'd be happy to, or I bet Ithica would love to if I take over breakfast."

"I'm just about done," Steven said. "Thanks, though." He glanced around. "Though I think your Swablu is still fluttering over Piplup."

"Yeah, they're fine." Mel shrugged, utterly unconcerned. "But I'll go separate them if you're thinking of heading out soon."

"Not yet," Steven said, shaking his head a bit. He quirked a grin. "Breakfast first."

Mel nodded and meandered over to help Ithica finish up. It was kind of starting how easily their routine shifted to accommodate a third person.

"Breakfast is ready," Ithica said as she slid eggs and fried potatoes out of the skillet and onto plates. "Enjoy. Dratini, that is not yours, that is mine."

Mel snorted quietly and took her plate, holding it up and away from Dratini and Zorua both.

"Thanks," Ithica said as she finished doling out breakfast. "Trade you mine for Steven's." She grinned and held out the last plate for Mel to take.

Mel snickered quietly but handed over Ithica's plate, taking the last one. "Don't let the little ones con you into giving them any, they'll try."

"Don't know what you mean," Ithica said with a completely straight face as she slipped each of her pokemon a small morsel from her plate. Then she giggled a bit.

Steven snorted a bit as he accepted the plate.

Mel huffed a bit at that and shook her head, but she didn't say anything. Instead she settled in to eat her own breakfast.

"I know, I spoil them," Ithica said. "I can't help it."

"You can, you just don't want to," Mel corrected with a grin. "And spoiling is not a bad thing but there are other ways to do it."

Ithica snickered.

"I know there are," she said. "But I'm saving the pokeblocks for Feebas right now, which reminds me you promised to help me make them at the next contest hall we find. I need good quality blue ones."

"Yes, yes, I know," Mel agreed, waving a hand. "I will. That's why I made the treats, too, for the rest of them." She huffed when Sablu settled on her head again.