The breeding process for Pokémon takes time. Carver didn't bother Quagsire and Swampert, allowing them to roam freely in his backyard.
When evening came, Bewear would bring them their food, and the day would be complete.
At around 5 PM, Carver was thinking about the information Taillow had given him earlier—the one about the large number of Clefairy appearing at Meteor Falls. He planned to close the shop early and head to Meteor Falls with Bewear to check things out.
However, just as he was about to do so, someone knocked on the door of the breeding house.
"Hello? Is anyone here?"
Carver walked over and opened the door, finding two dusty-looking young trainers standing outside with travel backpacks.
They didn't seem very old—probably just around ten years old, which meant they were likely beginner trainers.
"How can I help you?" Carver welcomed them inside and asked.
"We want to stay the night!" one of the boys replied.
Carver was slightly taken aback; this was the first time anyone had come to the breeding house for lodging.
But he quickly recovered and nodded: "Of course, that's no problem. We have six rooms available right now, and you can choose any one you like."
"Besides the rooms, we also serve some simple meals. If you need anything, just let me know and I'll prepare it for you."
The two young trainers walked up to the counter and stared at the chalkboard hanging on the wall.
On it was listed the prices and services of the breeding house:
[Bewear Inn]
2,000 Pokédollars per night
Bewear Café currently serves:
Ramen: 800 Pokédollars/bowl
Congee: 300 Pokédollars/bowl
Berry Juice: 100 Pokédollars/glass
Sandwiches: 500 Pokédollars each
Pokémon Snacks: 500 Pokédollars each
The two young trainers sighed in relief. The accommodation wasn't expensive. They nodded and handed over the money:
"We'll stay for one night! Also, could you prepare two bowls of ramen, two glasses of Berry Juice, and two servings of Pokémon food for us?"
"Please wait for a moment," Carver smiled and nodded. "Growlithe, don't run around—be careful not to bump into our guests. Bewear, please take them to their rooms. I'll get started on their food."
"Goo~" Bewear happily agreed.
The two boys watched Bewear with wide eyes, gulping nervously.
What kind of Pokémon is this…?
Preparing ramen was fairly simple. Carver brought water to a boil, added in the noodles, and let them cook for a few minutes. He then poured in the broth he had prepared earlier—rich, flavorful, and golden. He sprinkled in some chopped green onions, nori flakes, and placed a soft-boiled egg cut in half on top.
The end result was a bowl of ramen that, while not luxurious, was warm and delicious.
The broth was rich and golden, shimmering under the light. The soft-boiled egg oozed golden yolk, and the aroma alone was enough to make one's stomach rumble.
Now that the breeding house was up and running, Carver had a steady income, and he could afford to stock up on better ingredients.
Finally, he poured two glasses of Berry Juice and prepared two servings of Pokémon food.
When Carver brought the dishes out to the dining area, the two boys and their Pokémon were already waiting.
A Poochyena and a Zigzagoon.
They looked as if they hadn't had a proper meal in ages. The moment they saw the steaming bowls of ramen, their eyes lit up with joy.
"Please enjoy!" Carver said with a smile.
"Alright! Let's eat!" The two boys nearly drooled as they started wolfing down the ramen.
Carver's eyes drifted to the two Pokémon beside them. The Poochyena and Zigzagoon were dirty and scruffy, but just like their trainers, they were devouring the Pokémon food with great enthusiasm.
"Oh my gosh, this is so good!" One of the boys couldn't help but tear up. "It's been so long since I've had a proper meal!"
The other boy didn't say anything—he was too busy shoveling food into his mouth.
Carver: "…"
Was it really that exaggerated?
He knew his cooking was good, but good enough to make someone cry?
But in the next moment, he saw little sun icons of happiness appear above the boys' heads.
And then, familiar lines of text popped up before his eyes:
[Xander's mood increased, Happiness +60, received Xander's gift: "Axew's Habitat (Meteor Falls)"]
[Axew's Habitat: The specific location of the Dragon-type Pokémon Axew at Meteor Falls. Xander had discovered traces of a Haxorus group during his travels. Your delicious meal moved him, and he decided to share this information with you.]
[Sunny's mood increased, Happiness +70, received Sunny's gift: "Clefairy's Location (Meteor Falls)"]
[Clefairy's Location: The specific area at Meteor Falls where many Clefairy are currently appearing. Sunny accidentally stumbled upon it during his travels and decided to share it with you after enjoying your food.]
The moment these lines appeared, Carver felt like two bits of information had been imprinted into his brain.
In his mind, he envisioned the terrain of Meteor Falls.
Even though he had never been there, he felt as if he knew the place intimately.
Moreover, two specific spots within the giant cavern of Meteor Falls stood out in his memory.
If he went to Meteor Falls, he was certain he could find those two places without issue.
No doubt about it—these were the memories of those two boys!
Carver was utterly stunned.
What's going on? His ability only worked with Pokémon's emotions before…
How come it works with humans too?
Wait! Suddenly, Carver recalled a certain theory.
In the Pokémon world, there was speculation that humans themselves were just another kind of Pokémon.
No way…
After a brief pause, Carver decided to strike up a conversation with the two trainers.
"So, where are you two from?"
The two boys, now satisfied and patting their full stomachs, belched contentedly and replied:
"We started our journey from Rustboro City two weeks ago!"
Rustboro City, Carver thought. That was southwest of Meteor Falls, and it was also Steven's hometown.
"We originally planned to pass through Meteor Falls, head to Petalburg, and then cross Mt. Chimney to get to Lavaridge Town," one of the boys explained.
"But we ended up getting chased by a dangerous Pokémon in Meteor Falls, got lost, and spent a whole week trying to find our way out!"
"We ran out of food, nearly ran out of water, and finally found your shop. If not, my Poochyena and Zigzagoon wouldn't have made it to Petalburg."
Carver: "…"
No wonder they looked so ragged.
"Meteor Falls can be pretty dangerous for rookie trainers," Carver said sympathetically.
With just a Poochyena and a Zigzagoon? Wandering into Meteor Falls? That was practically a death wish.
Carver didn't know whether to admire their bravery or question their judgment.
"Well, now that you're here, just rest well for the night."