–+–
“Ugh, this is so frustrating!”
Carmine paced back and forth in her room, gritting her teeth in anger.
The truth she had just learned echoed in her mind, and being as hot-headed as she was, it was becoming increasingly hard to keep her cool.
But, as her grandfather had said, she wasn’t a child anymore.
Carmine knew this wasn’t something she could just throw a tantrum over; if she let her temper get the better of her, things would only spiral out of control.
Worst-case scenario?
They would end up just like their ancestors—outcasts, shunned by the entire village.
Reflecting on the potential consequences, Carmine forced herself to calm down with a speed that even she found surprising.
Though the fire of indignation still burned deep within, she chose to sit in her chair, bouncing her leg as she plotted her next move.
She wasn’t ready to give up.
Admittedly…
she knew she couldn’t just walk out and reveal the truth to the villagers, but surely, there had to be something she could do, right?
For instance, she could visit Ogerpon again.
Carmine wanted to make it clear that she meant no harm and that she now knew the truth about their history.
If possible, she wanted to help the Pokémon from this point on.
“Alright!
That’s the plan!”
With that thought, she bolted up from her seat, sending her chair skidding backward.
In the next room, Kieran heard his sister acting wild and let out a heavy sigh.
“She’s such a handful…”
–+–
Early the next morning.
Oni Mountain, Dreaded Den.
Ogerpon was still fast asleep, clutching a handmade doll of a girl, a thin trail of drool glistening at the corner of her mouth.
Suddenly, she sensed footsteps.
“Po…
Pon?!”
Startled, Ogerpon’s first instinct was to stuff the doll into her arms, look around frantically, and reach for her mask.
While the Dreaded Den was filled with many treasures she held dear, her subconscious urge to flee made her want to grab the most important things first.
Moments later, her fingers brushed against the mask, and she finally snapped back to reality.
Why am I running away?
In the past, Ogerpon had adamantly resisted contact with any human or Pokémon.
She feared being looked at, wanting nothing more than to escape to a corner where no one would notice her and live out her days in solitude.
But now, she had someone she could lean on.
Ogerpon pulled the doll back out from her embrace.
The white-haired girl on the doll wore a gentle smile; just looking at it made Ogerpon feel a surge of strength coursing through her.
She is with me! The source of this chapter is g.com.
Renewing her resolve, Ogerpon didn’t hesitate.
She placed the Teal Mask on her face and stepped out of the cave.
Outside.
Carmine was taking deep breaths, her heart hammering in her chest.
“It’s okay…
Ogerpon is a pitiful, kind-hearted Pokémon…
Ogerpon is a pitiful, kind-hearted Pokémon…”
Even though the history her grandfather told her echoed in her mind, the stories and legends she had grown up with didn’t fade so easily.
When she heard the crisp, woody sound of Ogerpon’s footsteps on the ground, Carmine flinched, then mustered every ounce of courage she had and looked toward the cave entrance.
The ogre emerged, wearing the teal mask and dragging its club of vines behind it.
Gulp.
Carmine clearly heard the sound of her own swallowing.
No matter how I look at it, this is still terrifying!!!
Across from her, Ogerpon was staring just as intently at Carmine.
The clothes she’s wearing…
she’s from the village down the mountain…
Having occasionally wandered near the village, Ogerpon noticed this and couldn’t help but tremble as she tightened her grip on her club.
No, I can’t be scared!
Ogerpon squeezed the club even harder.
Yesterday, her companion had touched her heart, telling her never to shrink back and to face her fears with courage.
If Sera only knew how her heartfelt message had been interpreted, she would surely have complicated feelings.
But for now, Ogerpon managed to find her courage once more, keeping her eyes locked on Carmine.
“U-um…”
Carmine felt the chill creeping up her spine.
Somewhere along the way, she felt the atmosphere around them shift into something deeply unsettling.
“…Good morning?”
After struggling for a long moment, that was the only greeting Carmine could manage.
“…”
Ogerpon said nothing, completely unable to grasp what this human wanted.
After pondering for a bit, she remembered that her companion might be back soon.
If she was still being bothered by then, their time together would be wasted!
“Pon!”
Ogerpon raised her club.
Seeing the ogre prepare to attack, Carmine scrambled in a panic, grumbling under her breath.
“Ah, I knew it!
I knew this would happen!”
She should have known that neither the legends nor her grandfather’s history lessons were reliable!
Ogerpon wasn’t the monster from the fairy tales, but she wasn’t some pushover who would just let people bully her, either.
Having lived alone for so many years, it was clear she was fed up and wasn’t going to listen to reason!
“Vulpix!”
When Vulpix landed in front of Ogerpon, it began to shiver at the sight of the ogre.
The memory of being struck by that club was still fresh, and Vulpix looked at Carmine with pleading eyes—but its trainer was currently busy diving for cover herself.
“Dodge it!”
With no other choice, Vulpix tried its best to evade.
But just as it jumped, a heavy swing smashed into the spot where it had been standing a split second before.
CRACK!
Stone shards flew everywhere!
Carmine’s nerves were shredded.
She knew Ogerpon would follow up with a lightning-fast second strike.
Vulpix wouldn’t be fast enough to dodge again, so…
“Vulpix, use Spite!”
“Vulpix!”
The trust built from years of working together made Vulpix understand immediately.
It let out a cry, its tails swaying as its eyes glowed faintly.
The move, Spite!
A wave of energy surged forward to forcibly hinder the opponent’s ability to use the same move repeatedly, and Ogerpon stiffened.
Carmine felt a glimmer of hope.
It wasn’t what she intended, but if she couldn’t calm Ogerpon down, they would never be able to talk.
However, her joy was short-lived.
She watched as the ogre moved once more.
With the mask hiding any expression, it looked as if the ogre were sneering at Carmine’s futile attempt.
It took a step, shrugged off the effect, and thorns began to emerge and condense into sharp points on its hands.
This move is…
Carmine’s face paled as she realized what was coming.
Before she could even shout, Ogerpon lunged forward.
Moving at a speed impossible to react to, Ogerpon slammed the Horn Leech into Vulpix.
Even though it was a Grass-type move, the impact sent Vulpix reeling with a pained yelp.
It stumbled back, not quite unconscious, but with almost no strength left to fight.
Another failure.
Carmine gripped her Poké Ball tightly, a heavy sense of frustration weighing on her.
She hesitated, wondering if she should continue the battle.
Just then, a voice called out from behind her.
“…Sister!”
Carmine turned, stunned, to see Kieran panting heavily, his eyes fixed on Ogerpon.
“Th-that Pokémon…”
The boy couldn’t catch his breath, but he couldn’t take his eyes off her either.
“…Is it a ghost?”
–+–