Pipple

Kleimann: Wheeee hee hee hee ha ha hoo! Now this is FASCINATING!
Pipple: Pipple.
Kleimann: What IS this specimen? An animal? A plant? Or something else entirely?
Kleimann: Care to accompany me to my lab, little creature? Just think of all the scientific breakthroughs we could engineer together! ...Hm?
Mitsuba: We're going to need some real unusual ingredients if we hope to win the contest! Something with OOMPH!
Notte: Yeah, you've only said that about a HUNDRED times, girl! I got the memo!
Pipple: Pi pi piiii!
Notte: Huh? Pipple and...Kleimann? What're you two up to?
Kleimann: Working through vital negotiations! Tell me—do you know why this strange critter suddenly started dancing? Is this some kind of ritual?
Notte: Oh, that's kinda his thing. It's just his way of saying "EAT ME!"
Pipple: Pi pi piiii!
Mitsuba: Request DENIED!
Pipple: Pii?!
Mitsuba: You might want us to believe you're a vegetable, but how am I supposed to fact-check that?
Mitsuba: If I don't know where something comes from, I won't put it in front of my customers. Period.
Pipple: Piyaaaa?!
Kleimann: There is no reason to fear the unknown. One should investigate it—embrace it! Even taste it, I daresay!
Kleimann: Does studying new ingredients not fall within a culinarian's purview?
Mitsuba: Well, sure, but...
Pipple: Piya, Pipple! Piya!
Mitsuba: You're not wrong that Pipple'd certainly make an impact if we served him in the contest, but still...
Kleimann: Well, if you aren't going to investigate this, then I will! To my lab, little fellow!
Notte: Hold it, bucko! I'm not about to let you do one of your crazy-dangerous experiments on poor Pipple!
Kleimann: Then how do you propose we discern his true nature?
Notte: We...could observe him and write down all our findings! Y'know, like a Pipple Diary!
Mitsuba & Kleimann: A...Pipple Diary?
Notte: Yeah! We could take turns.
Notte: Genius, right? Tell me that's not genius!
Mitsuba: I'm on board. Let's do it!
Kleimann: Surely there are more...efficient...means of study, but very well.
Notte: Okay, gang! Operation Pipple Diary is a go!
Pipple: Piiii! ♪

Notte: Day 3. The subject has yet to move.
Euden: What are you doing, Notte?
Notte: Shh! I'm observing Pipple. He's right over there, see?
Pipple: Pip pii...
Euden: Sunbathing in his usual spot, huh?
Notte: Yeah. He hasn't moved from that spot for THREE DAYS now. No eating. No trips to the Little Pipple's Room. Nothing.
Euden: Seriously?
Notte: Yuuup. I mean, I know he's prone to "vegging out," but this is ridiculous!
Notte: Still, no matter how funky the little guy is, don'tcha think we should try to get to know him better?
Notte: We're supposed to be his friends!
Euden: You're right. He deserves that.
Notte: Then you should help out with our Pipple Diary! C'mon, please!
Euden: I'd be happy to help. Just tell me what to do.
Notte: You're a lifesav—oh! He just moved! After him!
Euden: S-sure...

Mitsuba: Right! Time for me to make some stock!
Mitsuba: Hmm... I think I'm craving veggies today. First, I'll fill the pot with water—
Pipple: Pii! ♪
Mitsuba: ...Huh?
Pipple: Piiiiya!
Mitsuba: Pipple! In this house, we do NOT bring ourselves to a boil over low heat!
Pipple: Pi.
Mitsuba: Stop trying to get me to cook you. My cookware is for non-sentient ingredients only!
Pipple: Puu puu?
Mitsuba: Have we not been over this several times?
Valerio: Hey, you two. Why all the commotion?
Mitsuba: Oh, just the usual—Pipple clamoring for death's steamy, bubbling-hot embrace.
Valerio: Stop causing trouble for people, Pipple. I grow tired of repeating this to you.
Pipple: Puu! Puppuppu!
Valerio: What? Are you angry now?
Pipple: Pipple!
Valerio: Where did he go?

Pipple: Piye... Piye...
Valerio: Er, why is he bringing us a bunch of vegetables?
Mitsuba: Maybe he decided to cool it after you got mad at him, so now he's trying to help out instead?
Mitsuba: Well, no complaints here! I was just thinking that I'd like to perfect my vegetable stock recipe today.
Mitsuba: Thanks, little guy! I'll make good use of your gift! Hand them here.
Pipple: Puu puu!
Mitsuba: Huh? You're NOT giving them to us? Then why're you hoarding so many?
Valerio: This does not bode well.
Mitsuba: I don't think I follow.
Valerio: He didn't bring those vegetables over to help us.
Valerio: He's taken them hostage—and he won't give them back unless we eat him.
Pipple: Pi! Piya!

Euden: This is quite the pickle... Er, maybe that was a poor choice of words.
Elisanne: He has all the castle's vegetables in his clutches—and if we don't meet his demands, he won't give them back.
Ranzal: Here's an idea—let's just go buy more.
Pipple: Puu puu!
Luca: I think that's gonna be a no-go, bud.
Ranzal: Why the heck's that?
Cleo: Even if we could, we had so many vegetables that replacing them all would drain the treasury dry.
Mitsuba: But that means we'd have to eat HIM. Does anyone here have the guts to do it?
Everyone: ......

Mitsuba: Urgh... I need some veggies already! Or at least vegetable STOCK!
Ranzal: Same. Let's just say my guts ain't happy.
Elisanne: I think that's just because you've been eating too much in general.
Luca: You're not wrong that we're all missing veggies in our diets, though.
Euden: We really need to do something... But is eating Pipple our only option?
Mitsuba: Wait, I have a plan! Leave this to me!
Euden: Please don't tell me you're going to—

Pipple: Pii?!
Mitsuba: Glad you could make it, Pipple! It's time to grant your wish. Hop in my pot!
Pipple: PIYE?!
Mitsuba: Heh. Did I get your hopes up? I actually just want to extract some of your nutrients for my stock.
Pipple: Pipple?
Mitsuba: I know that's not exactly what you want, but we'd still be "eating" you, in a sense. Is that a fair compromise?
Pipple: Puuu...
Mitsuba: I'm sorry. I know you're disappointed.
Mitsuba: But believe me when I say we're not trying to upset you or disregard your feelings.
Mitsuba: No matter who or what you are, you're our irreplaceable friend.
Pipple: Piye...?
Mitsuba: Can't we meet halfway and make up? Please?
Pipple: Pi pi piiiiiii!
Euden: He's in the pot!
Mitsuba: Does that mean you'll forgive me, Pipple?
Pipple: Pipple!
Mitsuba: Excellent. Then let's get this Pipple stock percolating!
Pipple: Pipple-luu! ♪

Pipple: Puwaaa...
Euden: He looks like he enjoyed that.
Pipple: Pii pii! ♪
Mitsuba: I boiled the water niiice and slow, keeping an eye on the temperature.
Pipple: Pi?
Mitsuba: Don't worry. I haven't forgotten my promise.
Mitsuba: Let the taste test...begin!
Mitsuba: ......
Valerio: H-how is it?
Mitsuba: Holy smokes! It's actually REALLY GOOD!
Valerio: ...Mmm. You're right. It has a mild, herbaceous flavor. Very mellow.
Pipple: Pi! Pipple pi!

Pipple: PIIYEEEEEEE!
Mitsuba: Oh, c'mon, Pipple! Don't cry!
Valerio: Why's he so upset?
Notte: Just another day of him violently flinging himself at any piece of cookware in sight.
Euden: I...see.
Notte: I wish we could learn something about him beyond "small, cute, wants to be eaten." Even our Pipple Diary isn't revealing much.
Pipple: Pipple?
Euden: Well, Pipple? Can you help us get to know you better?
Pipple: Pi pi... Pipple!
Mitsuba: Uh, where's he going?
Pipple: Pii!
Notte: I think he wants us to follow him.
Euden: Then follow him we shall.

Euden: That was quite the trek. ...Aha. I know where we are.
Valerio: This is where we first met Pipple. I'd never forget.
Notte: Oh yeah! You met him while you were out gathering ingredients for the cooking contest, right?
Valerio: You could say that. In reality, he just started following me.
Pipple: Chu!
Euden: Sounds like he's trying to get our attention.
Mitsuba: Oh! Look down at his feet!
Notte: Holy guacamole! There're loads of veggies that look just like Pipple! The heck?!
Valerio: I've never seen anything like it.
Mitsuba: Me neither. Neither here nor in Hinomoto.
Pipple: Pipple!
Notte: You think these are his buds or something? But wait: He's alive. Like, ALIVE alive. They're...not. What's up with that?
Sophie: I believe the answer lies in the mana suffusing this forest.

Euden: What brings you here, Sophie?
Sophie: I could ask all of you the same question.
Sophie: I'm here to observe the forest's mana, as I often do.
Euden: Is there something special about this area? We're quite a ways from the Halidom.
Sophie: You came all this way without knowing? It's a "forest of life," if you will.
Mitsuba: What does that mean, exactly?
Sophie: The mana in this area is peculiar, you see. It all seems to flow to this forest.
Sophie: It is as if the mana itself desires to coalesce here, beckoning wind and water.
Euden: I wasn't aware mana ever behaved in that way.
Sophie: This is only conjecture, but I think wandering mana comes here in order to create new life.
Sophie: As you know, the souls of the dead become mana. I theorize that the same mana then comes here to find new vessels and grant them life's blessing.
Sophie: Assuming my theory is sound, is it not plausible that mana could give life to vegetables, too?
Valerio: What a imaginative tale.
Sophie: Hee hee. It's a nice thought, isn't it?
Valerio: Heh. Someone's blessed you with quite the gift, Pipple.
Pipple: Pii pii! ♪
Euden: So a vegetable growing in the forest was miraculously given life by powerful mana.
Euden: How lucky for us to have been in the right place at the right time to meet him.
Notte: Talk about one miracle after another!
Pipple: Pii pii!

Euden: This is the place. Are you two ready?
Valerio: Sure are. Let's show them what we're made of!
Mitsuba & Pipple: Right! Piye!

Cleo: Valerio! Mitsuba! I need your help. We have a culinary crisis on our hands.
Mitsuba: Whoa. What's got you looking so grim?
Euden: I think it would be better if I explained.
Euden: You see, we went out to check the welfare of a town situated south of the forest.
Euden: We'd heard the soil wasn't good for growing crops, so we brought the residents some fresh vegetables. But...
Valerio: What happened?
Euden: Well, the adults were happy, but the children...not so much.
Euden: If I had to guess, it's probably because they're so used to poor-quality crops that they think all vegetables taste bad.
Euden: Cleo tried putting together a vegetable- heavy meal for them, but they showed zero interest.
Cleo: In all of my years of cooking for others, I've never experienced anything half as humiliating.
Mitsuba: It sounds like it's going to be tough turning these kids into veggie believers.
Pipple: Puu! Puppu!
Valerio: You said it, Pipple. They don't know what they're missing.
Pipple: Pipple!
Mitsuba: Based on what you just told us, you want us to go to that town and spread the veggie gospel, right?
Cleo: Please! Don't let my humiliation be in vain!
Pipple: Piyeh. Pi...
Valerio: Hey, chill out. It's gonna be okay.
Pipple: Pi piii...
Euden: Oh, there they are!
Boy: Ew, not more vegetables! We don't want 'em!
Girl: Bring us candy or something!
Valerio: Well, this looks like a worthwhile project.
Boy: Oh, what's that? Some kinda doll?
Pipple: Pipple?
Girl: It can talk?!
Valerio: This is Pipple. He's a vegetable.
Boy: Nuh-uh! Vegetables can't talk or move!
Notte: That's because he's a SPECIAL veggie! So be nice to him, kiddo!
Boy: R-really? Then... Ooh, I know! Let's go play, Pipple!
Pipple: Pipple! Pi pi piii!
Valerio: That should keep them busy. Let's roll up our sleeves and start cooking while they're occupied.
Mitsuba: After tasting what we whip up, they're gonna be full-blown veg-a-holics!

Girl: So, are you REALLY a vegetable?
Pipple: Pii!
Boy: Huh. Well, then you're the only good one, because I HATE vegetables!
Girl: Me too! They're always so bitter and dry.
Girl: But then we get yelled at if we don't eat them, and that just makes us hate them even more!
Pipple: Piye...
Girl: Oh no! I'm sorry. Please don't cry.
Boy: If there really IS such a thing as a tasty vegetable, I'd love to try it, but...
Girl: Same. Maybe then I'd actually learn to like them.
Pipple: Pipple... Pipple.
Boy: What's this? Is it for me?
Boy: A...seed?
Pipple: Chuuu!
Girl: Wait! Pipple! Come baaack!

Valerio: All the ingredients are simmering nicely. If I just leave it all to boil...
Euden: Pipple?!
Pipple: Pi pi piiii!
Valerio: He just jumped into the pot! Not this again!
Mitsuba: Pipple. NO. BAD PIPPLE! Quick, open the lid, or he's gonna—
Notte: Pippllleeee!

Notte: This can't be happening...
Boy: Hey! You haven't seen Pipple, have you? He just handed us this seed and ran off.
Euden: A seed?
Valerio: He wanted these kids to learn how tasty vegetables could be—starting with him.
Mitsuba: True. Being cooked is what he's always wanted.
Valerio: Rather than mourn his loss, we should respect his resolve and honor his wishes as only we can.
Valerio: We have to cook him into the best dish possible! We have to change the way they see vegetables forever!
Mitsuba: Couldn't have said it better myself!
Girl: Huh? What are you talking about? Where's Pipple?
Notte: He's on a very important mission—to help you kids love veggies once and for all!

Valerio: Here you are: one vegetable stew, loaded with local specialties. Bon appétit.
Girl: Urrrgh... It really IS all veggies. I don't wanna eat this...
Valerio: Just try one bite. If that doesn't win you over, I won't force you to have more.
Girl: Well, all right... *munch*
Girl: N-no way. It's super yummy! Are there really vegetables in here?!
Girl: The ones my mom used to use were never this juicy.
Valerio: Seasoning and technique make all the difference. That, and having a secret ingredient.
Boy: What is it?
Valerio: A vegetable's pride.

Boy: Thank you! Everything was sooo yummy!
Girl: I'll tell Mom to use this recipe, I promise!
Mitsuba: Make sure to eat your greens so you grow up big and strong, all right?
Girl: Okey dokey! Oh, but you never told us where Pipple went.
Euden: He...returned to the forest. The forest of life.
Boy: Aw, maaan! Then what should I do with this seed?
Euden: I think you should try and plant it. Think of it as a memento of the time you spent with Pipple.
Boy: Okay! I'll take really good care of it! Thank you!

Mitsuba: I half expected to see Pipple in the pot when I opened it. I miss him already...
Valerio: Mitsuba! Pipple, he—!
Mitsuba: Hmm? Yes, I know, he's...
Valerio: No, I mean... Just come outside!
Mitsuba: Huh?

Pipple: Pii! Pii! Pii! ♪
Mitsuba: PIPPLE?! How?!
Valerio: I suspect this Pipple came from the seed the former Pipple left to the children.
Mitsuba: Oh! That makes sense. ...Kind of?
Pipple: Pipple!
Mitsuba: Well, whatever the case, it's so good to have you back!
Pipple: Pi pi piii!
Pipple: Pi pi piiiiii!
Pipple: Pi pi piiiiiiii!
Mitsuba: ...Huh? Wait a second. Did I hear an echo or something?
Valerio: Err, take a look over there.
Multitude of Pipples: Pipple!
Multitude of Pipples: Puu puu!
Multitude of Pipples: Chu chu-chu!
Mitsuba: Two, three, four... Just how many Pipples are there?!
Valerio: That seed must have grown into a whole crop of them.
Mitsuba: Can one seed really produce THIS MANY?! It's like there's a whole Pipple army!
Kleimann: Wheeee hee hee hee ha ha hoo!
Cleo: My apologies, but this explanation defies all reason.
Euden: I'm speechless...

Mitsuba: I've sent fifty Pipples to Hinomoto!
Sophie: I've returned a hundred Pipples to the forest.
Ranzal: I lugged about fifty to each village with food shortages!
Valerio: I left 150 Pipples in Picaro's restaurant. I'm sure he'll take care of them.
Kleimann: There are also three of the little scamps in my room! Whee hee hee!
Notte: Just don't do anything funny with 'em. We've got Pipples for days already!
Euden: Phew... I think that's the Pipple problem dealt with. Good work, everyone.
Pipple: Chu!
Mitsuba: You DO realize what a headache you've been, right?
Pipple: Piyeeee.
Euden: Look on the bright side. We learned just how selfless Pipple can be.
Elisanne: The people in all those villages were overjoyed. Many lives will be saved because of his actions.
Kleimann: I wonder if his mana's regenerative functions have other applications. This calls for further testing!
Valerio: None of this was a walk in the park— or the forest of life, as it were— but all's well that ends well.
Pipple: Chu chu-chu!
Euden: I'm glad we learned so much about you, Pipple!
Pipple: Pipple!