The first step in building a Pokémon town was to construct houses.
There could be many kinds of houses.
Stone houses, wooden houses, treehouses, caves. As long as the Pokémon liked a certain type, any kind would be acceptable.
Of course, careful planning was still necessary, because there were not many large flat areas available on the plateau.
Silas used a tree branch to draw a simple plan on the open ground, dividing the area into three parts.
A residential area where Pokémon could live, a commercial area for work and shops, and a public area shared by everyone.
"Everyone, clap clap."
Silas clapped his hands to draw the attention of all the Pokémon.
"Choose where you want to live based on your habits."
"Hippo~"
"Watch!"
"Bun!"
The Pokémon responded and began choosing the areas where they wanted to live. Most of them decided based on their personal preferences.
For example, Hippopotas chose the dry rocky area, planning to dig a cave there as its home.
Watchog liked jumping between trees, so it chose a treehouse.
Buneary and Litleo chose wooden houses and planned to build their small cabins together.
After everyone confirmed their housing choices, Silas counted the materials required and handed the list to Volcanion.
"As long as it is stone or wood, leave it to me."
Volcanion accepted the task and called Hippopotas to go search for the materials.
Silas signaled the Noivern to help transport the supplies, and Diantha's Tyrantrum also joined. In the future Pokémon town they would also have their own little homes.
Whether in the past, present, or future, food was something every Pokémon town had to solve. At the very least they had to achieve self sufficiency.
Farming happened to be Silas's specialty.
He called Watchog, Pangoro, and Chesnaught over.
Yesterday he had already found a place that could be turned into farmland. It was beside the lake.
The soil there was moist and soft, and water could be drawn directly from the lake for irrigation. It was an excellent location for farming.
After calling the three Pokémon closer, Silas used a branch to draw the outlines of farming ridges.
"Watchog, you know Rototiller, so taking care of the crops in the future will mainly be your responsibility."
Silas assigned each of the three Pokémon their tasks.
At the early stage of development they could only work like this. Once the town became more developed in the future, everyone could separate and manage their own work independently.
But for now they had to focus their strength together.
Only by working together could the town grow better and better.
Silas also explained his plan to the three Pokémon.
All three agreed. Being able to keep everyone fed was more important than anything else.
"Good. Let us begin clearing the land."
"Pangoro, please move the large rocks out of the terraces and place them over there."
Silas pointed toward the side near the lake. He also planned to reuse the stones to build a path.
"Pang~~"
Although Pangoro looked very fierce at first glance because of its large body, that was not the case.
It was actually a very gentle and timid Pokémon. It disliked fighting, which was why it had once been abandoned.
Lifting a large stone with both arms, Pangoro held it steadily and followed Silas's instructions, placing it carefully and embedding it into the soil.
One stone after another was placed from top to bottom, forming a winding stone path that extended downward.
While Silas and Pangoro worked on the path, Watchog and Chesnaught were busy as well. They cleared all the weeds and small stones from the terraces.
Silas could not help feeling a little regret.
This time when he came out he had not brought Mudsdale and the others.
If they were here, transforming wasteland into farmland would have been extremely easy.
Even ordinary farmland could eventually become rich fertile land under their hooves, and the next harvest could easily double.
While Silas and the three Pokémon were working, the Pokémon remaining at the camp were not idle either. Everyone was helping.
Diantha also took this opportunity to teach Magearna.
In the future Magearna would be responsible for managing the Pokémon town, and the burden on her shoulders would be the heaviest.
Diantha and Silas could not stay here forever.
What the Pokémon town would become depended on the joint efforts of Magearna and the Pokémon.
…
As the sun gradually set, fiery clouds appeared along the horizon.
Standing on higher ground, Silas looked at the neat square terraces in front of him and felt a deep sense of accomplishment.
This farmland was the result of everyone's hard work.
In the future it would provide a continuous supply of food for the Pokémon town, and no one would have to go hungry again.
"Watch?"
Watchog asked if they could plant seeds now.
"Of course."
Silas nodded with a smile and took out extra autumn seeds from his spatial satchel.
"Please spread the seeds evenly across the fields."
After assigning the sowing work to Watchog and Chesnaught, Silas turned toward the lake.
Two Pokémon were waiting there.
"Later I will need you two to help water the fields. Once that is done, today's work will be finished."
Lotad and Wooper poked their heads out of the water and nodded. They came to the shore and waited for Silas's instructions.
The seeds were planted.
The fields were watered.
The land clearing work for the day was successfully completed.
Silas called the three Pokémon and headed back.
As soon as he returned, Jigglypuff grabbed his hand and pulled him to look at something.
Under everyone's combined efforts, the first building had been completed.
"The warehouse is finished already. That was fast."
Silas nodded in praise.
A warehouse was absolutely necessary.
At the moment there was not much to store inside, so it could temporarily serve as housing for the Pokémon.
In the future it would store food, building materials, and many other supplies.
"Cin Cin~!"
Cinccino stood proudly with its hands on its hips, indicating that it had contributed as well.
Being able to finish the warehouse so quickly was the result of everyone's hard work.
"Yes, yes."
Silas scratched Cinccino's soft belly.
"Cinccino is amazing."
The moment he finished speaking, he was suddenly surrounded by a group of Pokémon. Cyclizar immediately pounced forward and knocked him to the ground.
"Cyclizar is still the same as before, exactly like when we first met."
Taking the towel Diantha handed him, Silas wiped the saliva off his face. He brushed aside his wet bangs and glared at the five dragons standing before him.
Cyclizar was not the only culprit.
Dragonite and the Noivern had clearly learned this bad habit from it.
"You guys…"
Silas gritted his teeth.
Bonk. Bonk. Bonk bonk bonk.
He jumped up and knocked each of them on the head one by one before finally calming down.
Diantha stood nearby holding Jigglypuff and watched the scene with a smile.
"Silas, you really have a good relationship with them."
"Do not mention it. They are so troublesome I am about to go crazy."
While Silas was still speaking, Cyclizar shamelessly clung to him again and bit onto the leg of his pants.
"Let go, Cyclizar."
No matter how much Silas shook his leg, Cyclizar refused to release its grip.
"Cyc." (I will not.)
"Stop messing around. I still have to cook."
Since force did not work, he had to try a softer approach.
"You would not want everyone to go hungry tonight, right. Hurry up and let go."
As soon as Morpeko heard the words hungry, it ran over anxiously to help.
The tiny Pokémon grabbed Cyclizar's tail and pulled with all its strength, but because of the huge size difference it could only provide very limited help.
"If you still do not let go, today's little red flower will go to another Pokémon."
Silas had no choice but to use his ultimate move.
The moment Cyclizar heard the words little red flower, it immediately released Silas's pant leg and sat down obediently.
At the same time it placed Morpeko on top of its head, pretending to behave well like a good buddy.
"You really are something."
Silas poked Cyclizar hard on the forehead and turned to leave.
"I will go back and get it for you later."
After receiving Silas's confirmation, Cyclizar happily spun in circles on the spot, chasing its own tail.
With the one it was about to receive, it would soon have ten little red flowers.
Once it had ten, it could exchange them with Silas for a small wish.
Diantha already knew what the little red flowers were for. Seeing Cyclizar so excited, she asked curiously.
"What kind of wish does Cyclizar want to exchange for?"
"Gao!" (I am not telling you!)
Cyclizar quickly ran after Silas, who had already gone ahead to prepare dinner.
(End of Chapter)