Story 39

Phew! What a relief to be out of there!

Oh! Are you sweeties the ones who saved me? What’s with the reaction?
Surprised to see such a charming Pokémon pop out of that barrel?

You’re...a Pokémon?! You said you were the best chef in town, so naturally I thought you were a human!

Well, I AM the best in town. After all, there’s no one else left here. And I’d appreciate it if you called me Chef Dente.
Besides, no human could chat so eloquently with Pokémon... Surely you know that?

Th-that’s as may be, but—!
Ah, fiddlesticks. I was so sure, but I suppose I jumped to conclusions.

In any case, you two have saved me! Isn’t that wonderful? Thank you so much, sweeties!

By the way, are you also searching for humans?

Oho! Indeed we are! I take it you are as well?

Yes. I’m looking for my buddy.

Your “buddy”... Do you mean your Trainer?

No, they were a chef at a restaurant. Truth is, my buddy was the best chef in town.

Ohhh, so that’s why you know so much about cooking!
Do you remember anything else about the humans?
What was your buddy like before they disappeared?

All I know is that when I woke up a bit ago, the town was in the state it is now.
I have no idea what’s going on or what happened.
But this place was already in a decline before...since so many of the humans who worked as coal miners left.
Even my buddy’s restaurant, which used to always be so full of customers, was seeing less business.
I know they were worrying about that...

But that wouldn’t be enough to make your buddy just up and leave you behind, would it?
They don’t sound like that kind of person to me.

Of course it wouldn’t!
When I woke up, it wasn’t just my buddy who was gone— every single human had disappeared.
As for the town itself, just look at the state of it. Gone completely to ruin...
I’m sure something really disastrous must have happened!

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but humans have disappeared from other towns as well.
And for a very long time now, I’ve been pondering what we can do to get them to come back.

Oh, I’ve just had the most wonderful idea! May I tell you?

My idea is to bring life back to this town—to make it just as lively as the good old days!
With excellent restaurants to eat at, cheerful music playing...
If we can restore this town to the energetic place it used to be, maybe the humans will come back!

Hmmm... You really loved this town, didn’t you?

Well, what do you say, (your name)? Shall we do as Chef Dente suggests?
Are you ready and willing to restore this town to the bright and lively place it once was—together?

Do you really mean it, pumpkin? Oh, thank you so much! I’ll be in your debt!

You’ll really do that with me, sweetie? Oh, thank you so much! I’ll be in your debt!

Hohoho! Well then, it’s just a question of how to get started.
You could make a bunch of habitats to attract lots of Pokémon to this town...
Or build houses for Pokémon to live in...
I’m sure there are plenty of other things you could do to help too! Oh yes, you’ll be busy!

It seems Chef Dente’s got an idea of some kind. Why don’t you try asking about it?

Hey, (your name)! Bet I know what’s on your mind! It’s gotta be...muscles! Am I right?!

Ha! I was close! After all, ya gotta eat to build muscle!

So ya wanna make bread and need some Ninetales’s gift?

I think the stuff growin’ in some of the fields around here is Ninetales’s gift—you should take a look around!

No clue if any of it’ll be ready to harvest, but if it’s not, just take a Pokémon who’s good at growin’ plants with ya!

If you’re hoping to grow some Ninetales’s gift, first you’ll need some nice, soft soil—like a crop field—…where you can plant your seeds.
After that, make sure you diligently water your crops!

Oh, but first you need to know HOW to make nice, soft soil for your crop field.
I suggest asking a Pokémon who’s good at digging in the ground—like Drilbur, for instance.

You won’t be able to meet Drilbur in this town.
To find Drilbur, try heading back to … first.