"Sis…sis….sister!" Mark muttered in his sleep as he awoke.
"Let me guess…another nightmare about your sister?" Jexi said as most of the group was forced awake.
"How many times does this make that Mark's been having Esther nightmares now?" Catra asked.
"I dunno but he needs to let go." Sunset said.
"It's not an easy thing to do." Mark said.
"No. I mean you literally need to let go. You're crushing a Wooper that wandered into the room." Sunset said.
Mark looked down as he saw said Johtonian Wooper in his grip as it struggled to get loose. "Oh shoot, sorry." he apologized, letting the Wooper go as it ran to the window. It then shot a Water Gun at Mark before running back into the wild.
"Look, it's gonna be fine. We can handle searching for Esther while you relax. There's an orienteering project for the students. Join that." Twilight said.
Mark sighed. "You're right. Flux isn't stupid or cruel enough to hurt her. Even if he was, Techno would never let that slide." he rationalized. "Okay. I'll give this project a try. Just…let me know if anything comes up, please?"
"Of course. We'll contact you immediately."
"I'm actually kinda curious about this orienteering project. It could be fun!" Frosta said.
"So am I. Mark, would you mind if some of us joined you on this orienteering?" Lysithea asked.
"Sure." Mark said.
"Yeah. You guys have your fun." Mahiru said.
"Wait, where are you going?" Theo asked.
"Nature photography in the Timeless Forest." Mahiru said.
"Ooh, how fun! I'll go with you." Perfuma said.
"No! Can't I just do something solo without everyone begging to join?" Mahiru asked.
"Mahiru is right. This is kind of her thing." David said.
"I agree with you, David. Mahiru, you go and do your thing by yourself." Hope said.
"Thanks, Hope. Sorry for snapping, Perfuma." Mahiru said.
"It's alright. Just go and have fun." Perfuma smiled.
"And while all of us are out doing our tasks in Kitakami, we can do some catching of the local Pokémon." Titanica said. "We're here looking for Esther, but that's no reason we can't go out and have some fun while we look."
"Okay, I know I agreed with taking it easy, but you don't have to sound that biased about it!" Mark said.
"I…wasn't." Titanica said. "I think I've been spending too much time with Hope." she said, heading out on her own.
"Maybe we should all just head out." Jexi said. "Besides, didn't you say your mom would be here today?"
"Yeah. She should show up soon." Mark nodded. "I'll explain the situation to her. Don't talk like you're playing down the situation, or she might shoot you in the foot. She's that kind of parent."
"Duly noted." Bardock nodded.
"Yeah… don't screw around with Panty. Or Stocking." Cure Starlight sweatdropped.
After the students had gotten up, ready, and had breakfast, they and the group gathered outside of the community center, as they were faced with Briar, the village elder, Carmine, and Kieran.
"Morning, everyone! Did you sleep well?" Briar asked, getting affirmative responses from the students. "Starting today, you'll be joined by our two students from Blueberry Academy. Go on, kids! Time to introduce yourselves."
"Hi! I'm Carmine!" the older sister introduced herself. "It's nice to meet all you outsiders - I mean, visitors from Paldea!" she added with a giggle.
"And, uh….I-I'm Kieran." her younger brother added shyly, only loud enough to be barely heard by the others.
"Now…you all have an assignment. A sort of orienteering project. There are three signposts across Kitakami that tell the land's history. Each of you will take a partner and take a picture at each sight." Briar said.
"Partners, huh?" Mark said.
"Um…Mr…cool guy?" asked Kieran as he stood nearby. "Um…"
"My brother hasn't stopped talking about you since yesterday's battle. So he's wondering if he can partner with you." Carmine said.
"Seems you have a fan, Mark." Simon smirked.
"S-Sis! Don't tell him that, dummy!" Kieran said.
"Hey! Watch who you call 'dummy'!" Carmine snapped at her sibling.
"Cool it, kid." Mark said sternly to Carmine. "If he wants to partner with me, he can. Can't promise I can be a good one, though I'll certainly try."
"See, Kiki? Nothing to it!" Carmine said to her brother before addressing Mark again. "My brother's no good at talking to people. If it's a problem, you can call him out on it."
"That won't be necessary." Mark shook his head. "For either of us."
"She kinda reminds me of Tzitzi when she's mad." Nuna whispered.
And so the orienteering began for the students. As Kieran led Mark up the hill to a large plaza.
"Okay…our first stop is at the Loyalty Plaza. Right there." Kieran said, leading him to an altar with 3 different jars. One shaped like a dog, one shaped like a monkey, and another shaped like a pheasant.
"Loyalty Plaza, huh?" Mark asked as he looked around the area. "Any reason it has such a regal sounding name?"
"Well…it's kinda a burial site for the three Pokémon that once protected the village long ago." Kieran said as he pointed out the sign as he prepared to read it. "Long long ago, a fearsome ogre lived in the land of Kitakami. The ogre made its home in the mountain behind the village, frightening all who ventured forth there. One day, the ogre came down from the mountain in a terrible rage, causing great fear for the villagers. By some stroke of luck, Okidogi, Munkidori, and Fezandipiti all happened to be there as well. The three Pokémon laid down their lives to fend off the ogre and send it back to the mountain. In admiration, the village bestowed onto the brave trio, a name befitting for them. The Loyal Three. Their remains were given a proper burial, and statues were erected above the site." he read.
"Huh." Mark nodded. "That kinda reminds me of a fairy tale I've heard about, Momotaro. Never read it myself, of course, but it's similar to the parts I know."
"Really? That's interesting." Kieran said before he got nervous. "Hey, um…this is probably a dumb question, but…don't you think the ogre in that folktale sounds kinda…cool?"
"Cool? Well…I guess, from a certain point of view, yeah." Mark said. "Why? Is that what you think about it?"
"C'mon, it was all alone, and it still held its own against three Pokémon at once! It had to have been so amazingly strong." Kieran said. "I tried to find it once, but I never could."
"Did you now?" Mark asked. "Wanted to see the legend yourself, huh?"
"Yeah! I just don't see what's so scary about it." Kieran said. "The only thing scary was the grown-ups givin' me an earful about me heading off in the night on my own."
"Well…they were in their rights." Mark said. "You've got potential, Kieran, but I recommend building up that strength until they see you're ready. You'll be strong enough one day."
"Y-You think so? T-Thanks." Kieran said shyly. "So, we're supposed to take a picture in front of the signpost, right?"
"Yeah." Mark nodded as he got out his phone as they took a selfie in front of the sign.
"Okay…after this…there's the one up at Kitakami Hall where the festival is being held." Kieran explained.
"The hall up the hill?" Mark asked, pointing upward. "Shouldn't be that hard to get there."
"Yes. Let's get going." Kieran said.
They soon arrived at Kitakami Hall where they saw a number of stalls and decorations being set up with some of the group walking around in awe.
"So what's all this?" Mark asked.
"The Festival of Masks starts tonight. We have it every year." Kieran said.
"The Festival of Masks?" Mark asked. "Something to do with the legend of the ogre?"
"Yeah, exactly!" Kieran nodded as he pointed out the next signpost and then to an altar. "See…the Ogre once had four mysterious and glowing masks. The power of its cudgel would change depending on which mask it was wearing. When it wore a teal mask, it could breathe life back into withered greenery. When it wore the crimson one, it could turn a candle's flame into a raging inferno. It could stop a river's flow with the blue one. And the ashen grey one, it let it break a boulder in two with ease. Before the Loyal Three fell, they took away all but the teal mask. Those masks are still kept in that altar there to this day."
"So, the ogre used masks to empower itself…" Mark noted. "Hmm… does that mean nobody actually knows what the ogre looks like?"
"No, actually. Nobody ever saw the ogre's face." Kieran said. "It was so cool and strong but…I doubt it ever wanted to be shunned. You know the mountain it talks about?" he asked, pointing to the large mountain. "It's called Oni Mountain. That's where the Ogre is supposed to live."
"It lives there?" Mark asked. "No wonder you never found it back then, it's a pretty steep mountain. I doubt adults could get up there without planning and equipment, never mind a kid. Er, no offense."
"N-No, it's fine… you have a point." Kieran admitted. "My sister usually does everything for me, even at school. But…one day, I'll be strong enough to go to that mountain and find out if the ogre really exists. Then…maybe I'll be strong enough…that the ogre will accept me as a friend…"
Kieran braced himself for a mocking, only for Mark to smile. "So that's why you went looking? Alright, I can respect that."
"R-Really?" Kieran asked.
"Yeah. Having the guts to go looking for a monster so you can befriend it…not just anyone could do that." Mark said. "I hope you manage to do that someday."
"Thank you." Kieran said in gratitude.
The two then took a picture in front of the signpost.
"Hmm…you know, we can save the last sign for tomorrow. Let's see about getting ready for tonight." Kieran said.
"Alright, if that's what you want." Mark nodded. "What did you have in mind?"
"Well…some jinbei for one. Also masks." Kieran said.
It wasn't long before everyone regrouped in the village as they started donning outfits for the nightly festival.
"This place is amazing. So much untouched nature." Nuna said.
"Yeah. It's pretty tranquil compared to the places we've been." Izuku said.
"I loved the diverse topography. There were lots of areas for all sorts of Pokémon to live in." Giovanna said.
They soon heard the door opening and closing as Mahiru ran in and breathed heavily.
"Geez, are you alright? You look like death." Sabo asked.
"Uh yeah. Totally fine. Just a fun day of…photography." Mahiru said, slinking into the nearby room.
"She must've seen something interesting." Yuri said.
"I don't think interesting is the right word." Hope said as he approached with some of the group. "Hey, Mahiru, are you…" he said before he and certain group members were pulled in.
"Hey, what's going on here, Mahiru? You're not usually like this." Natyal said.
"Yeah. This is pretty erratic even for you." Mermista said.
"I'm sorry but…this afternoon…when I was taking pictures. I saw…something." Mahiru said.
"What happened?"
"Well…I caught a pic of something ferocious and it tried to attack after the flash went off so…" Mahiru said, showing a picture of a large bear-like creature. A creature that looked familiar to Hope and some of the Rebellion.
"Is that…an Ursaluna?" Hope said.
"A Hisuian Pokémon still exists in this timeline?" Zi-O remarked in surprise.
"It's not surprising. While we were helping Ginhana Sky look for new members to prepare for the raid on Onigashima, we found a Kleavor hibernating." Legolia said. "Of course, we… accidentally woke it up and had to calm it down before it joined them."
"Something about this Ursaluna is different though, look at that large red circle on its head." Mari said.
"I think that's its moon mark. But…it's usually supposed to be yellow like the full moon, isn't it?" Hope said.
"This one resembles a blood moon it seems." Natyal said.
"Then…it must be some new form of Ursaluna." Hope said. "And this was in the same forest you took pics in?"
"Yes. That's right." Mahiru said.
"A Bloodmoon Ursaluna." Mari said.
"Anyone up for a little investigation?" Geiz asked.
"Yes, best we be prepared." Natyal said.
On a viewpoint, overlooking the festival, a masked figure looked down at the proceedings, steeling themselves.
"(Alright…I'll just go down to get some human food for the little one.)" the figure said to themselves. "(As long as I keep my mask on, I should be fine. They shouldn't be able to tell…right?)"
The figure shook their head. "(Calm down…it's for the little one…you can do it. Just act natural…)" they said as they slowly headed down.
Unbeknownst to them, however, they were being watched, through a pair of macrobinoculars.
"Bingo." Boba said as he lowered the macrobinoculars, Twice and Spinel at his sides. "We've got 'em."
"That's the ogre? Looks…smaller than I thought." Spinel said.
"Do you really think it could eat a person?" Twice asked.
"We won't know until we get it." Boba said as he stood up. "Don't want to draw attention to ourselves. We go on my mark."
As soon as the group arrived to the Festival, a lot of them wearing festive Jinbei, they were all in awe of how much stuff there was. Stalls selling fried noodles, shaved ice and candied apples, and vendors selling masks depicting the Ogre and Loyal Three.
"Wow…so many amazing masks." Nuna said, marveling at the masks on display.
"Whoa… Check this out." David said as he and a few others saw a stand for a game. "Ogre Oustin'? What's that?"
"Why, it's a fun game. Collect the right amount of berries before the hungry Pokémon devour them all. We got lots of prizes for success. We even offer Pokémon for you to ride." the villager overseeing the game explained.
"No worries. I got my own." David said as Miraidon came out of his Pokéball. "What is it, Miraidon? You want to go a couple of rounds?"
"(Are you kidding? I haven't revved my engines in forever. Let's play!)" Miraidon roared.
"Oh, so you wanna do a round of Ogre Oustin'?" Carmine asked as she came up with Kieran. "I just went. Think the second fiddle can beat my score?"
"Oh, you done it now." David smirked.
"Good luck. My score's 6,390." Carmine said.
"Challenge accepted." David said as he and Miraidon took to the course, cruising right through all three rounds in record time.
"8,324! A new record!" the game runner said.
"No…no way!" Carmine said.
"Whew… Piece of cake." David said.
"That's Ishihara for you. No one can outrun him on a motorcycle. Especially on something as advanced as Miraidon." Cheetah said.
"Aw, you flatter me. It wasn't that hard, really." David said.
"Well yeah…he took the easy course." Captain Cold said.
"Guess I'll just have to work my way up then." David said before he saw a strange figure on the stairs. "Huh? What's that?"
The figure was moving across the festival ground as it was gathering up any unattended food before it went and bumped into Mark as he stood with Panty, Brief, Stocking, Garterbelt and the Three Galarian Starters.
"Huh? Whoa…that's an impressive mask there." Mark said.
The figure said nothing as they took a step back.
"Hm? Is there a problem?" Mark asked. "So you need help with-?"
Mark's question was interrupted as he noticed an Ultra Ball sailing towards the figure. Getting in the way, he smacked it away. "What was…?"
"Damn it, of all the luck…" Boba seethed as he saw Mark bat the Ultra Ball away, holding a rocket launcher-like device. "And now we've drawn attention."
"Should we bolt?" Twice asked.
"Wait, look!" Spinel said, the figure running towards the stairs tripping and dropping its mask in the process. "They're leaving."
"Damn it. It's running back to its lair." Boba said. "Don't lose track of it!" he said, going after the figure from the air as his two teammates chased after it on the ground.
"What the hell…?" Mark wondered as he ran towards the stairs stopping as he saw the mask on the ground. "Hey you…dropped your…!" he said as he and his group saw the face of the creature. A cute yellow one with piercing yellow eyes that looked frightened as it ran off back towards the mountain.
"Mark, you okay? What was that all about?" David asked as he catched up, Carmine and his group close behind. "And… What's with the mask?"
"Uh…I think…I just met the ogre." Mark said.
"Wait, are you serious? Hmm… From a distance, it didn't seem intent on hurting you…" David said.
"No…it didn't. I think it was actually scared." Mark said. "And why was it taking all that food?" he wondered, before a thought entered his mind as he grew pale. "Wait…what if…no, they wouldn't be that dumb…but if…"
"Mark?" Stocking asked.
"...What if…the villains don't have Esther anymore?" Mark asked.
"Hmm… It may be more than likely. But we can't say for sure. If that's the case, they'll spare no expense in going after it." David said. "First things first…what even is…it?"
"I know someone who might know." Carmine said.
"Alright. But no matter what… We can't bring this up with Kieran. If he finds out someone met the ogre before him, it would devastate him." David said.
Meanwhile, with the figure…
"(Oh…I was in such a panic to leave, I dropped my mask.)" the figure said as they ran through the pass. "(I'll have to go back to look for it later. It's the only thing left of my old friend.)"
"Hey, there it is!" the figure heard a voice call out as they saw clones of Boba and Spinel being led by Twice going at them.
"(Oh no! I can't let them follow me home!)" the figure said as they avoided the clones by jumping off the pass to the forest below.
"It jumped off the mountain!" Twice said through a comm.
"I see it." Boba answered, taking aim with his new weapon, and launching another Ultra Ball at the figure.
They managed to twist themselves in the air to avoid the Pokéball, before they landed in the tree, letting them get onto the forest floor and run. "(I have to get them off my trail, but how?)" the figure wondered, taking a look around before they realized something. "(Wait…this is the forest they live in, isn't it? They won't be happy to be disturbed…but I'll have to make it up to them later.)" they decided as they headed in a certain direction.
The three villains regrouped in the forest floor.
"Any sign of them?" Boba asked.
"Hard to tell. This fog rolling in is pretty thick." Twice said.
"Hm." Boba said, activating his thermal vision as he scanned the area before he spotted a patch of body heat. "There, follow me. Quietly." he said, advancing with his teammates. The three villains entered a clearing, seeing the heat source in the middle of it. "Alright…easy." they said, taking aim with their Pokéball launcher before they fired, hitting the source of heat with it.
"Alright! We got 'em!" Spinel cheered as the three entered the clearing, as the Ultra Ball shook.
"We did great, didn't we?" Twice said. "We were awesome!"
"Yeah…too great." Boba remarked before the three heard a sound and turned, seeing the fleeing back of the figure running away.
"That little…wait…if that's the ogre…then what did we catch?" Twice asked.
The question was answered when the Pokéball broke open after two shakes, allowing its target to stand up straight, dwarfing the three villains in height.
"Uh…that's a…" Spinel said seeing the figure before them was a large bear. "Bear!"
"Run for it!" Twice said.
"Damn it." Boba said, not intimidated as the Bloodmoon Ursaluna roared in anger. "I'm really losing my edge." he remarked as he drew his blaster as the giant bear moved to attack.
The figure returned to the mountain as it entered its cave as little Esther was cared for by some of the Pokémon of Kitakami.
"(Thank you all for watching the little one.)" it said.
"(It was our pleasure. Those humans…)" A Leavanny said.
"(Shook them. I lead them into the forest Ursaluna calls home. They won't be after me for a while.)" the figure said.
"(That's a relief. We'll leave the baby in your care once more.)" a female Indeedee said as the Pokémon departed leaving Esther alone with the ogre.
"(Sorry it took so long, little one.)" the figure said as they presented some of the food they got from the festival. "(I managed to get some human food for you. Do…you like it?)"
Esther took a candied apple and started teething it, smiling at the figure as she did so.
"(Glad you like it. You know, there's a Pokémon that looks like that. I'll have to show you sometime.)" the figure said with a smile.
Esther giggled as the figure walked up to them and enveloped them in a hug.
"(Those humans…they're probably looking for you.)" the figure said, a hint of sadness in their voice. " (They must be worried sick. But…they don't strike me as nice. So…I'll protect you until I can meet nice humans who will raise you. Because…)" it said as it stood tall. "(No need to fret, no need to worry. Cause Ogerpon will come in a hurry!)" it declared as Esther laughed at this.