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There’s a new restaurant in town.
Well, not in town, exactly. More precisely, it’s in the Ranger HQ, which is Crawli’s workplace, and it’s good! Or so he hears. It must be really, really good because it’s always packed completely full.
At least it is according to Dartreux when Crawli calls him on the phone. Maybe. Crawli isn’t really sure. He’s still learning to understand Dartreux. To be fair, it’s a little hard when Dartreux’s entire vocabulary consists of bastardized variations of his name.
Crawli can figure it out. He’s figured it out with his own pokemon… mostly. He sometimes isn’t sure if Golisopod is trying to say that it’s scared or that it’s terrified (is the emphasis on the first syllable meant to imply fear and emphasis on the second syllable meant to imply terror, or is it the other way around?)
Well. He can’t be perfect. At least he can usually tell when Galvantula wants to burrow into a plant’s soil now, and he more or less can figure out if Araquanid is messing with Ariados again by watching Ariados sulk.
Surely Dartreux wouldn’t be too hard to figure out as well, right?
“Darling!”
Rorim B. waltzes into Crawli’s room in the Ranger HQ, striking his signature pose as he does. Crawli facepalms, hiding his grin behind his hand.
“Hi, dad,” Crawli says. “How are you?”
“Great, darling!” Rorim B. singsongs. “I just had the most wonderful meal of my life.”
Crawli perks up. “Oh?”
“I’m surprised you haven’t heard of it,” Rorim B. says. “It’s right here, after all!”
Right here? Crawli narrows his eyes. “Are you talking about Dartreux’s Izakaya?” he asks.
“Of course, darling. Dartreux is a true artist. You absolutely must try the seared Octillery; it’s simply divine.”
“Seared Octillery, huh. I’ll make a note of it, if I can get a reservation there…”
Rorim B. frowns. “I got one pretty easily.”
“I thought I wouldn’t have any problems booking one either,” Crawli says. “But I guess Dartreux is busy. Who knows how many others are clamoring for that reservation?”
Rorim B. nods. “I’m sure he’ll find a spot for you! You’re the Head Ranger, after all, darling, and Terajuma needs you. Don’t you worry!”
Crawli smiles. “Thanks, dad. Hey, speaking of singing, have you worked on anything new?”
“Well, I did take a new wandering trainer under my wing. She seems to love my music– she always cheers right up when I come along.”
Crawli grins. “You do tend to have that effect on people. They love your exuberance.”
“Aw, darling, you’re too nice. She just needed someone to believe in her, and of course I had to do that for a new trainer starting on her journey!”
“Okay, dad. So, uh, seared Octillery, right?”
“Absolutely, darling,” Rorim B. says. “And don’t forget the fried Krabby! And the Slowpoketail stew!”
Dartreux picks up on the penultimate ring of the phone. “Dartuu?” he asks.
“Hey, it’s me,” Crawli answers “Crawli. I was wondering if any new spots opened up for reservations at your Izakaya?”
“Dartreu, Dartreu,” Dartreux warbles. “Dart! Dartuu!”
“No?” Crawli says. “Aww, that’s too bad. I really wanted to try out the seared Octillery. I’ve heard so much about it.”
“Dartruu…” Dartreux chirps.
“Well, could you at least let me know if anything opens up?”
“Dartr… Darteu… Dartreux.”
“What? Really?” Crawli asks. “There’s nothing open for three months? You’re booked completely full?”
“Dartuu…”
“Okay, okay. I’m glad your business is successful, at least. Thanks for taking the call.”
Holly bursts into Crawli’s room. “I just dealt with some more stupid Wurmples.”
Crawli sighs. “Mom, I told you that you don’t have to keep on calling challengers ‘stupid Wurmples.’”
Holly shrugs. “They’re stupid. They’re Wurmples. They’re stupid Wurmples.”
“They’re not stupid, and they’re not Wurmples,” Crawli groans. “They’re good! They’re good enough to make it here.”
“Hah!” Holly says. “They’re still too stupid to make it past the puzzles.”
Crawli sighs again. “Is there something you wanted to tell me, mom?”
“Oh, right. You should try the new restaurant.”
“Really?” Crawli asks. “Are you going to call me a stupid Wurmple if I don’t?”
“No, you’ll always be my little Beautifly–”
“Thanks, mom.”
“But it would be a stupid Wurmple move not to do that,” Holly finishes.
Crawli sighs for a third time. “I haven’t heard about any openings from Dartreux. He said he’d call me back, but there’s nothing. Either that, or he said that he’d go back to Alola. I’m not sure…”
Holly frowns. “That’s a stupid Wurmple thing of him to do. He really didn’t give you a spot?”
“It’s fine.” Crawli scratches his head. “I couldn’t ask Dartreux to kick out one of his customers for me.”
Holly shakes her head. “Stupid Wurmple,” she mutters again.
“He’s not a Wurmple, mom, he’s a Dartrix.”
“Stupid Dartrix, then. But his food is good. You should go as soon as you can.”
“Dad told me the same thing.”
“You should listen to him. He’s not a stupid Wurmple.”
“I’m glad to see that there’s at least one person you respect.”
“I’m glad to see that there’s at least one person who isn’t a stupid Wurmple.”
Crawli sighs for the fourth time.
“So, still nothing?” Crawli asks.
“Da… Dartuu,” Dartreux squawks.
Crawli hangs his head. “Six months?!” he asks. “I didn’t even know that you scheduled reservations that far in advance!”
“Dartreu.”
“You have a website? How could I have missed this…” Crawli groans. “Okay, thanks, Dartreux. I’ll make sure to book an appointment there.”
“Darteu!”
“Thanks for having us, Crawli,” Tesla says.
“It’s no problem, Ms. Von Brandt,” Crawli says. “It’s an honor to have you and Amber here.”
“See, mom?” Amber gloats. She grins, looking up at Tesla. “I’m a badass.”
“Okay, Amber.” Tesla smiles back, ruffling Amber’s hair. “By the way, do you know of any good restaurants here? The Teila Resort Cook-Off is starting soon, and I’m looking to refine my palate.”
“There’s Dartreux’s Izakaya,” Crawli says, “but that place is always booked completely full. I don’t think you’ll be able to get a spot there.”
Amber looks at Crawli strangely. “Dude, we got a reservation there already because everyone told us about how awesome it was. It was pretty easy. We just called Dartreux.”
“...What?” Crawli asks.
“Were you not able to secure a booking there?” Tesla asks.
“No,” Crawli says. “Dartreux said that they were booked full for six months straight!”
“Well, Dartreux is full of shit,” Amber drawls.
Today is the day Crawli intends to find out why Dartreux doesn’t want him at the Izakaya.
He invites Dartreux to his gym under the pretense of there being a new challenger. There isn’t. And when Dartreux finally gets to his gym, Crawli sends out his team so they can train all thirty of their eyes on Dartreux. “Why have you been lying to me about the restaurant’s availability?”
“Darteu! Dartuu!” Dartreux screeches.
Crawli puts his hands on his hips. “Well, you’d better explain quickly.”
“Dart Dart Dartruu!” Dartreux trills.
Crawli frowns. “Aww, if your youngest kid was afraid of bugs, why didn’t you just tell me?”
“Dartreu…”
“My pokemon will be fine. I’ll order extra for them.”
“Dartreu… Dartruu,” Dartreux croaks.
“You can fit me in this weekend if I leave my team here?” Crawli asks. “Really?”
“Dartreu,” Dartreux caws.
“Wow, thanks a ton! Sorry about all of this, but–”
“Dartreux!”
“Okay, okay. I can’t wait to finally try some of this fried Krabby I’ve heard so much about.”
By the time the weekend rolls around, a battleship has crashed on Terajuma beach and for all Crawli knows the fate of the entire island hangs in the balance. But…
At least he got to try the Slowpoketail stew once. That alone makes saving Terajuma worth it.