The Story of the Great Fishing Festival

"Sorry to keep you waiting. Changing took a bit of time."

Blake and Lulina found Leon, whom Sonia had managed to keep rooted to the spot. Honestly, if Sonia had not suddenly tapped into her potential and successfully held Leon back, today's mission might have turned into a game of Find Leon.

"It's fine, it's fine. We can't battle today anyway, so waiting a little doesn't matter."

Leon said with a smile, scratching his hair.

"But this Great Fishing Festival is really interesting. Does it have any historical origins?"

Sonia took out a small notebook and asked. She was very interested in all kinds of Galar Region history, especially anything related to the legendary kings of Pokémon Sword and Shield. However, since Rose had not yet begun Galar's major development projects, many ancient buildings and ruins had yet to be excavated.

"Actually, it's nothing much. It's just the closed fishing season. But if we're talking about legends..."

Blake and Lulina exchanged a glance, then began recounting a story passed down through generations in Hulbury, one parents used to scare children.

It happened who knew how many years ago. According to legend, Hulbury had once been an extremely prosperous town. Because it stood near the sea, its endless catches allowed Hulbury to flourish continuously.

But the greed in people's hearts drove Hulbury's fishermen to keep putting out to sea and keep fishing. The holes in their nets grew smaller and smaller, and everything from ordinary fish to Pokémon was hauled ashore without exception. In the end, this unchecked fishing enraged the god of the sea. Raging waves capsized every fishing boat, swarms of Water-type Pokémon washed away the docks, and the fishermen who fell into the water never returned to land. The might of the ocean destroyed humanity's desires. In the end, the survivors began holding an annual ritual called the Great Fishing Festival to soothe the ocean's wrath.

"Is that a true story?"

Sonia wrote down every word they said, her eyes shining as she asked.

"Sorry, but it's fake. The real story is that people realized overfishing every year would reduce their catches. People in the past believed that meant they had angered the sea god, so they held rituals every year and rested for a while to give the fish time to spawn and reproduce. The story just now is really a cautionary tale. It hasn't even existed for two hundred years. Parents used it to scare children, with the original intention of teaching them to respect nature."

Blake shrugged. He also liked all sorts of local tales. Whenever his dad came back, he would collect local myths and legends to tell him. Hulbury's story sounded very real, but that was exactly why it was fake. Fishermen were far smarter than people imagined. Maybe some people would fish a lake dry, but not every fisherman would be that stupid. Besides, this was a world with Pokémon. Pokémon would not be dumb enough to say nothing.

More importantly, the story had only begun circulating far too recently. They could even find out who first made it up. It was a typical case of taking another story, changing the details, and making it into a Hulbury tale.

"What? Then it's just fake?"

Sonia said speechlessly.

"Hulbury used to be nothing more than a fishing village. It only developed in recent years. Legendary stories like that aren't so easy to find. Otherwise, archaeologists and historians wouldn't have to spend year after year researching them."

Blake spread his hands. History was famously a bottomless pit of a field. Countless people had plunged into it, only to vanish without making even a ripple.

"Grrrrumble~~~"

"So, how about we go get something to eat?"

Leon rubbed his rumbling stomach and spoke somewhat awkwardly.

"Then let's go try Hulbury's fish dishes. Our seafood is famous!"

Lulina said with a smile.

"We'll treat you today, as a gesture of local hospitality."

Blake said with a smile.

"Then, we gratefully accept!"

Leon and Sonia did not refuse. They really were hungry.

After winding through several streets, the four arrived at a small restaurant that no one but locals would visit. The owner, who was also the chef, had once been a sailor. Nothing else needed saying—his seafood cooking was excellent, no worse than the dishes at large restaurants. Most importantly, he could get his hands on certain Pokémon ingredients.

Things like Crabrawler claws, Veluza meat, and Octillery ink were all fine ingredients. Eating Pokémon was illegal, but ingredients produced by Pokémon were not. Still, obtaining them was often troublesome. Take Slowpoke tails, for example. They could fall off and regenerate, but to prevent people from maliciously capturing and harming Slowpoke, the sale and consumption of Slowpoke tails were strictly regulated. Though in some places, Slowpoke had become so abundant that every household even used their tails as side dishes.

At least the four of them were lucky today. A batch of Veluza meat had just been delivered. After the owner prepared it, the already delicious fish took on a distinctive new flavor. The four ate happily. As expected, fish always tasted best when prepared by fishermen.

"It tastes incredible!"

Leon swallowed the last piece of fish, then patted his stomach in satisfaction. Compared with the fish his mother and master's wife made, the fish prepared by this owner was practically food from heaven.

"It is Veluza meat, after all. This Pokémon's meat can make other Pokémon fight over it."

Blake shrugged and took the empty plate Haunter had licked clean. Ever since evolving into Haunter, this guy's appetite had grown larger and larger. One meal often amounted to seven or eight of Blake's meals, yet Haunter's body showed no obvious growth. Blake was becoming increasingly curious about where all that food went. By all rights, only Gengar had an alternate space inside its body. Haunter was supposedly still a Gas-type Pokémon, wasn't it?

"By the way, have you booked a room? Rooms at the Pokémon Center aren't easy to reserve right now. Since we opened up a tourist area here, the number of visitors has increased exponentially."

After returning the well-fed Chewtle and Wingull to their Poké Balls, Lulina asked.

"Uh... not yet!"

Only then did Sonia remember. Since she and Leon had gotten separated earlier, they had not gone to register at the Pokémon Center at all!

"Forget it, let's go take a look first. If there really isn't room, you can stay at my house. My place is pretty big, so a few extra people won't be a problem."

Blake smacked his forehead and said helplessly. It was already afternoon, so the Pokémon Center probably would not have any rooms left. Still, his home had guest rooms.

"Huh? Wouldn't that be too much trouble?"

Leon said, feeling a little embarrassed. They had only just met. Although they got along well, staying at someone else's home directly still felt rather rude.

"It's fine. My parents aren't home anyway, and they're just guest rooms. Besides, my courtyard has a Pokémon battle field. Didn't you say you wanted to battle? We can try it there tomorrow. I also have something I'd like your help with."

Blake waved a hand. He was quite at ease with Leon. Whether in the games or the anime, Leon was the kind of person who was exceptionally reliable in every way except finding directions.

"Alright! If there's anything I can help with, just say the word. I'll tell you everything I know!"

Leon was not the type to stand on ceremony. Since Blake was helping him so much, if there was anything he could do in return, then as long as it did not violate his principles, he would absolutely not refuse.

"Don't worry, it's nothing difficult. You'll find out when the time comes. Let's go to the Pokémon Center first and see whether there's room. If not, we'll head straight to my house. What about you, Lulina? Are you coming with me or going to the Gym?"

Blake asked.

"I'm coming with you! The Gym is closed for the next couple of days, so what would I go there for?"

Lulina's choice came as no surprise.