Story 10

…Heyyy...

…Heyyy... Somebody? Anybody?!

You can hear a voice from beyond the stone.

Oh! Hey, bud! I’m real glad you found me! Sorry for the sudden request, but, uh...think you could help me out?

Sweet! I owe ya one!

This is kinda embarrassing, but I, uh...got myself stuck in here...
Normally, I could bore straight through a cave like this no prob and be outta here in a flash!
But I guess I overslept and my muscles still haven’t woken up or somethin’, cause the walls and floor here are wicked hard! I was about to give up, if I’m bein’ honest.

But look at you, bud—you made it here! That means you can smash through the walls and floor of this cave, yeah?

Think you could bust up that wall there in front of you to help me get outta here?

Zzzzzz...

I got myself stuck in here... Could ya bust up that wall there in front of you?
Just give it a “WHAM! THWACK!” and smash it up!

Dang! I thought for sure you could do it...

I always heard that you should try usin’ your head when your muscles don’t work, but I’m not so good at that...

Hey, I know! You got any really smart friends?
Could ya maybe ask them how to bust through the walls around here?
I’ll be patiently waitin’ here! I’m countin’ on ya, bud!

Heh. Good one, bud. That was kinda funny. But if a headbutt could do the trick, I’d already be out!
Oh, I got an idea! You know any really smart Pokémon?
Could ya maybe ask them how to bust through the walls around here?
I’ll be patiently waitin’ here! I’m countin’ on ya, bud!

You find a way to bust through the walls around here yet? I’m countin’ on ya, bud!

Oh, (your name)! Do you have a moment?

I can’t stop wondering what’s beyond that wall of stone.

I don’t believe that wall was there back when I was a young little thing...
But, whether it existed then or not, so much time has passed that I don’t remember at all what lies beyond it.
Seeing what you’re capable of now, I daresay you could break through that wall for me.

If it’s not too much trouble, could you please take me to the other side of that wall?

Hm? Did you have a question for me?
My apologies, but I’d really like to see the other side of that wall first.
I’m just too preoccupied with that to think about anything else!

Would you please break through that wall and take me to the other side?
It seems like you may have some sort of question for me, but you can ask me afterwards.

Oho! Well, would you look at that! So this is what awaited us on the other side—the vast sea itself!
Now that I see it again, I DO have some faint memories of gazing out over this sea as a child!

Hm?!

Wh-what could this be?
It’s covered in sand...but it certainly looks like a human-made building of some kind!
I don’t think this used to be here in the old days, either...

Hm? What’s that boxy doohickey?

*bzzzt* *crackle* *beep*

What is this boxy doohickey?

... *crackle* ... Ahhh, testing, testing, one two three...
Hello, good morning. Or maybe good evening!
Is this really recording? Ah, whatever. I’ll give it a go.

Ohhh, the box spoke! Is this another PC?

Excuse me! You there! Welcome to our hideout. You look like a real hero! And, you know, a real nice guy!
But...wait. Whoever hears this might not be a guy... Uh, forget that last part!
You’re, uh—I mean, you have honest-looking eyes! I’m certain you have a pure and worthy heart.

And believe you me, all of us have pure and worthy hearts too! After all, we’re a business that uses Pokémon—
Err, I mean, we’re an organization that works hard to improve the environment for the sake of all Pokémon.
And we’re fun! And independent!

Ah! That look in your eyes tells me that you want to join, right? Well, I can tell you’ve got a lot of potential!
But if you really want to become one of us, you have to overcome a difficult trial. We call it the Team Initiation Challenge! Let’s get you started right away with Part One.

Your first task is to gather … and put them in this delivery hatch!
Don’t worry—WE’RE not going to eat them! They’re for the Pokémon, of course!

And one more thing! As you work your way through the Team Initiation Challenge, you’ll get some quality gifts! We’ll be waiting with bated breath, so get to it!

Hmm. Seems it’s finally done talking.
I couldn’t make heads or tails of what it was saying, but it sounded like a human voice...and they seemed like they might need help.
I’m still really curious about this building. It might even give us some clues about what happened to the humans.

But there’s no use just standing here thinking about it.
Do you mind stopping by from time to time to check on this building, though, (your name)? Just once in a while would be fine!

Oh, I nearly forgot! You had something you wanted to ask me about—didn’t you, (your name)?

What’s that you say? An Onix is stuck in a cave?! Dear me, I certainly hope we can do something to help...

First things first, let’s head back and discuss this with the others!

It seems an Onix is trapped in a cave.
And the walls of said cave are so hard, even (your name) can’t break through them.
Does anyone have any great brainstorms about what we can do to help?

If we’re dealing with super-solid ground, we could try spraying it with some water? Maybe that’d make it all squishy and soft!

Hmmm... If the walls are so hard that even a tough’un like Onix can’t deal with them...
I imagine it will take more than a little water to soften them up.

Then why don’t we just wait for it to rain?

…Hmmm. Rain, you say?

I suppose you all wouldn’t know, but it doesn’t really rain around these parts.

Whaaa—? Really? How come?

I couldn’t tell you why, but the last time I saw any rain fall was when I was just a sprout—back when there were still humans around here.
I haven’t seen so much as a drop since.

Whoa, for real? Well, that’s fine by me. No rain, no pain!

Hold on! What do you mean, no rain?! We NEED rain!

I’m sure a little rain would not only help Onix—it might cheer up the other Pokémon here as well!

Sounds good! Let’s make it rain!

Easier said than done, I’m afraid! Let’s see... How CAN we get it to rain?

Wow, there’s stuff even YOU don’t know, Professor?

Hmmmmmm... Rain. What does rain bring to mind...

Oho! I think I’ve got it! We need a Slowpoke!

Slowpoke?

Yes, if we had a certain Pokémon called Slowpoke helping us, we might be able to make it rain!
Do you think you could find a Slowpoke and bring them here?
If I recall correctly, Slowpoke like sleeping in tall grass near the sea!

Do you recall that sand-covered building we found beyond the rock wall you broke for me?
If there’s any tall grass around there, I’m certain a Slowpoke would like it.

Do you think you could find a Slowpoke and bring them here?

If I recall correctly, Slowpoke like sleeping in tall grass near the sea!

Oh, hello there. What’s up?

Huh? Uh... Where are we going?

Wait...what? What’s going on?

... ... ... ... ... ...

Huh. So I have the power to make it rain?

... ... ... ... ... ...

Cool!

Oh, but hold on... The ground’s really bumpy around here, right? It’s hard to walk...
I think I’m gonna get all, y’know, tired out before we even make it to the professor.

... ... ...

You came up with a recipe for flat stone roof!

If you place steps where the terrain is different heights, Pokémon will be able to walk more easily!

Also, Pokémon can walk much farther on moistened paths than on dried-up ground!

If you could, y’know, clear off the path and make it easier to walk on, that’d be great.
’Cause...uh...’cause... Oh! Right! ’Cause I wanna get to the professor!

Huh? Oh, is the path all, uh, cleared out?

Hey there. Is that thing you were gonna do sorted? Like, clearing a path or something?

Oh, OK! I guess I’d better go check it out, then...

Oooh, OK. I guess I’d better head back then. Let me know when the path is, y’know, all clear, I guess?

Oh, OK! I guess I’d better go check it out, then...

Oooh, OK. Let me know when you’re done!

Sure thing, I’m not rushing anywhere! Just let me know when you’re done with...uh, what you said you’d do.

*pant pant* I think... I think I need a break...

If you place steps where the terrain is different heights, Pokémon will be able to walk more easily.

Also, Pokémon can walk much farther on moistened paths than on dried-up ground.

Oh no! There’s like, uh, stuff in the way. I dunno if I can make it through like this...

Hi. Uh, I’m here now!

Oho, it’s a Slowpoke! Thank you for coming!

Now then, as for why I’ve asked you here.

It’s because of an old human legend—that rain falls when a Slowpoke yawns! At least, that’s what I’ve heard!

Whoa, is that true?! Awesome!

I dunno... IS it true?

To cut to the chase, Slowpoke—could you please yawn for us?

... ... ...

... ... ...

I’m not really sleepy right now.

Oh, uh... Right!
But do you suppose you could just...try for us, please? It would be such a huge help!

OK! I’ll give it a shot.

... ... ...

…*yawn*

... ... ...

Um... It’s not raining.

Awww, I shoulda figured it wouldn’t work...

No, no! It’s just because that yawn was only … …!

… …? What are you talking about?

That just now wasn’t a serious yawn at all! It was a mere …-point yawn!
For it to actually start raining, we need Slowpoke to give us a full 100-point yawn! ...Probably!

Oh wow... Really?

...Are you just making stuff up?

So how are we gonna get a full 100-point yawn, then?

Hmmm... Well, maybe if it was more humid around here... Then I’d be extra comfy, and then I’d get real sleepy!

Humid?

The air’s so dry around here, right? Like, it’s missing some proper humidity... You know?

Oh yeah, I get that!

…You do?

Right, then! Let’s all work together to raise the humidity around this place!
And then we’ll make it rain!

Yeah!

(your name), why don’t you start by spraying some water around the area?
That ought to help Slowpoke yawn better!

Why don’t you start by spraying a bit more water around the area?
That ought to help Slowpoke yawn better!

Oho! You sprayed that water, did you?
So, how’s Slowpoke’s yawn coming along?

After you’ve given the other Pokémon’s ideas a whirl, you might find that the humidity has risen.
Try asking Slowpoke to yawn to check the current yawn points!

*yawn*...

A mere …-point yawn... It seems we haven’t raised the humidity enough yet.

*yaaawn*...

Hmmm, I’d give that yawn about … points. It must still be a bit too dry around here.

*yaaaaaawn*...

Oho! I’d say that was a solid …-point yawn! We’ve got some fairly decent humidity!

*yaaaaaaaaawwwwnnn*...

My word! That yawn was worth at least … points! Come on—we’re almost there!

I must say, if Onix can’t break through those cave walls, they must be exceedingly hard!

Helloooooo, everybody! Could you gather around here for a moment, please?

What’s up, Professor?

Hi. Uh, I’m here now!

Oho, it’s a Slowpoke! Thank you for coming!

Now then, as for why I’ve asked you here.

It’s because of an old human legend—that rain falls when a Slowpoke yawns! At least, that’s what I’ve heard!

Whoa, is that true?! Awesome!

I dunno... IS it true?

To cut to the chase, Slowpoke—could you please yawn for us?

... ... ...

... ... ...

I’m not really sleepy right now.

Oh, uh... Right!
But do you suppose you could just...try for us, please? It would be such a huge help!

OK! I’ll give it a shot.

... ... ...

…*yaaawn*

... ... ...

Um... It’s not raining.

So close! That yawn was … …!

… …? What are you talking about?

That just now wasn’t a serious yawn at all! It was a mere …-point yawn!
For it to actually start raining, we need Slowpoke to give us a full 100-point yawn! ...Probably!

Oh wow... Really?

...Are you just making stuff up?

So how are we gonna get a full 100-point yawn, then?

If there was just a little bit more humidity, I bet I’d be so comfortable I could fall right asleep...

Humidity?

It’s so scratchy around here... Like, the air, I mean. No water in it...
I bet I’d fall right asleep if there were just a little bit more, y’know, humidity...

Yeah, I know what you mean! (your name) really did a great job making things greener, but...
Things could be just a bit more damp, for sure!

You think so? Huh...

Right, then! Let’s all work together to raise the humidity around this place!
And then we’ll make it rain!

Yeah!

(your name), why don’t you start by spraying some water around the area?
That ought to help Slowpoke yawn better!

You know, it seems that some of the other Pokémon have been thinking up ways to help humidify the area.
You might want to look for them and listen to what they have to say!

In your Pokédex, if you select Requests and open the “Yawn up a storm!” request, you’ll see which Pokémon have ideas for you!

You know, it seems that some of the other Pokémon have been thinking up ways to help humidify the area.
You might want to look for them and listen to what they have to say!

In your Pokédex, if you select Requests and open the “Yawn up a storm!” request, you’ll see which Pokémon have ideas for you!