Chapter 33
The next day dawns, and we discover Carmine standing at our doorstep. As we swing the door open, she grumbles, "There you are, guys! Just because we didn't agree to meet doesn't mean you get to keep me waiting!"
I roll my eyes in response, saying, "You didn't tell us that you were going to be here."
Carmine hesitates for a moment before blurting out, "So, uh, y'see...I wanted to talk to you a bit. You haven't told anybody about the, y'know...the thing that happened yesterday? Right?!"
Serena chimes in, assuring her, "We haven't said anything."
Carmine's tone grows more intense as she warns, "You better not be lying! If I find out you blabbed, I'm gonna make you swallow a Koffing whole!" Of course, none of us can swallow a Koffing whole, but that's beside the point. She continues, "You still have that thing we picked up on the stairs, right? My grandpa knows a lot about the village's history. We should go talk to him about what happened yesterday!"
With a determined nod, she prepares to leave, instructing us, "You know where my house is, right? See you there. Don't keep me waiting. Let's show Grandpa the...y'know...the thing we found."
As we arrive at Kieran's house, we discover both his grandfather and Kieran himself waiting for us. Kieran greets us with a friendly smile, "Hey, guys! G'morning! Wanna go see the last signboard?"
Before we can respond, Carmine cuts in, her tone determined, "Kiki, go find someplace else to be! They've got business with me!"
Kieran's cheerful expression suddenly turns into a frown, and he grumbles, "Seriously? They're spending all their time with you... That's so unfair! You can be such a jerk..."
Carmine, never one to back down, fires back at him, "What'd you just call me?!" However, Kieran just huffs and rushes off with an indignant "Hmph."
Carmine, still seething, mutters, "What's his deal? Kiki should know better than to talk back to me like that."
But her grandfather intervenes, sternly scolding her, "That's enough, Carmine! Be kind to your younger brother!"
"I WAS being kind! It's not like I hit him or anything!" Carmine retorts, her frustration evident. She quickly changes the subject, though, her tone more composed, "Anyway, we've got more important things to discuss, right, guys? C'mon! You gotta show Grandpa that thing you have!"
We nod in agreement, and I carefully retrieve the Teal Mask. As her grandfather sets eyes on it, he gasps, "Could this be...? This mask - it belongs to that poor ogre! Where did you find this?!"
"We bumped into it! The ogre, I mean! Yesterday, at the Festival of Masks!" Carmine exclaims.
"Yeah, though the Ogre isn't that scary after all. We tried talking to it all nice and everything, but it dropped that mask and ran off... I assume it fled back to its place in the Dreaded Den..." I explain.
"I never would have thought that the ogre would still be gracing our festival with its presence..." The grandfather says, his expression marked with a frown.
"Now hold on a second... according to the legend, the ogre was a scoundrel that attacked the village..." Luke interjects.
Alice adds, "And what do you mean 'still'? And the ogre is so nice to be the one attacking the village..."
The grandfather sighs, deep in thought before revealing, "I suppose it's time I told you... You see, the truth of what happened with that ogre... is the other way around."
"The other way around? What do you mean?!" we all chorus, eager to hear the surprising twist in the tale.
"You guys should hear this. You met the poor ogre... Or Ogerpon, as it's rightly named. Let me tell you the true story, as passed down through our family for generations..." Carmine's grandfather sighs. "This is going to be a long story to tell, are you okay with this?"
"It's fine. We want to know everything," Golly replies.
"This story has been passed down in our family by word of mouth. I learned it from my father," he continues. We all gather around, finding comfortable spots to sit. "It's a story of truths... A story that must never be told to the rest of the village. You must never speak of it to others."
"Okay," we nod in solemn agreement as he begins his tale, our curiosity piqued and our hearts ready to absorb the hidden secrets of our village's history.
A long, long time ago, a man and an ogre came to Kitakami from a foreign land. The people of the village feared the man and the ogre, who looked so different from them… And so they refuse to let the travelers come anywhere near the village. The men and the ogre were saddened that the villagers did not welcome them… But they were happy just to have each other. They settled quietly in a cave on the mountain.
There was only one villager who pitied the two travelers: the village mask maker. He made several masks for the man and the ogre. The masks were brilliant works, adorned with gems the man brought from somewhere far away. By wearing these masks, the travelers could hide their true faces and mingle with the villagers. The man and the ogre were overjoyed. They thanked the mask maker for his kindness.
Wearing the masks, the man and the ogre started secretly joining the village festival. The mysterious pair soon became the talk of the village because of their brilliant masks. In fact, rumors about them quickly spread far and wide, even to distant lands.
But rumors of exquisite, shining masks attract more than just innocent curiosity… a group of greedy Pokémon soon made their way to the land of Kitakami. These Pokémons sneaked into the Cave in which the men and the ogre lived… and tried to make off with the masks, which were carefully stored away. The man happened to be there. He managed to hold on to one of the masks… but he was not strong enough to protect them all. The Pokémon stole the other three masks.
Several hours later, when the ogre returned to The Cave… it found its beloved home in ruin. All that was left were the signs of a struggle and a teal mask. The ogre donned that mask and went down to the village, perhaps to search for its friend. It found the greedy Pokémon there, gloating over their stolen masks, and defeated them.
The villagers, of course, had no idea what was happening or why. All they saw was the raging ogre. And they felt great fear. The villagers thought the three Pokémon had fallen trying to protect the village from the ogre. To honor their sacrifice, the villagers named them the Loyal Three and interred them with care. Wounded and weak, the ogre returned to its cave - alone and with great sadness.
As we sit there, emotions swirling within us, a mixture of sympathy for Ogerpon and anger for the Loyal Three washes over our hearts. The revelation about the story's true nature resonates with me, reminding me of my own experiences in the Ultra Dimensions, where I was unjustly framed for the supposed death of my mother.
Carmine, her voice charged with anger, exclaims, "That's terrible... Ogerpon didn't deserve that! And the Loyal Three—they're the worst! The story everyone's been told is the complete opposite of the truth! They gotta hear about this!"
Her grandfather, however, intervenes firmly, "Calm yourself, Carmine! I told you already to keep it to yourself!"
"But, Grandpa—" Carmine begins to argue, but he cuts her off with a stern frown, "The villagers believe their own version of history. They revere the Loyal Three - so how would they react to being told that they've got it all wrong?"
Serena chimes in, "They would be angry, right?"
"Exactly," he confirms. "Back when this all first occurred, the mask maker - that is to say, our ancestor - tried desperately to tell the truth of the matter. But nobody would take him seriously. In fact, it's said he was persecuted as a heretic."
The weight of the past, the struggle for truth, and the consequences of defying established beliefs hang heavily in the air as we absorb this newfound knowledge.
"Oooh, that REALLY gets my blood boiling!" Carmine exclaims in frustration.
"In the end, the mask maker chose to protect his descendants - us - by keeping his mouth shut. However, he kept the truth alive - passed down from generation to generation as a family secret," the grandfather explains.
"I see... Kieran doesn't know the whole story yet, does he?" Alice asks.
"He shouldn't, no - I've certainly never spoken to him about it. Why do you ask?" the grandfather inquires.
Carmine chimes in, "I dunno. He just really seems to like the ogre... He's practically obsessed. And he's been trying to one-up me—as if he knows more about the Ogerpon than I do."
"Well, I can't say what's going on with the boy... but he always was a sensitive child. It wouldn't surprise me if he's somehow intuited the truth," the grandfather muses. "I promise to tell Kieran the whole story when the time is right. Until then, take care not to breathe a word of the truth to anybody!"
"OK, Grandpa... Now I REALLY can't tell Kiki we met the ogre..." Carmine sighs, her disappointment evident as she contemplates the complexity of their village's history and the secrets we now bear.
"About that mask you showed me... I noticed the jewel on its forehead was chipped," the grandfather mentions. "I might be able to fix it. Would you mind leaving the mask with me for a little while?"
"Sure," I agree, intrigued by the possibility of restoring the mask to its former glory. "But how did it get chipped?"
Bryce suggests, "Maybe it got chipped when it fell down the stairs?"
"Since Grandpa's offering, let's get it all nice and fixed up before we give it back to Ogerpon!" Carmine eagerly suggests. "I wanna see Ogerpon again, but getting its mask fixed will have to come first. For now, we should carry on with the orienteering before Kiki gets suspicious. I bet we'll find Kiki just killing time somewhere in town!"
As we prepare to leave, excitement building for our continued adventure, I can't shake the feeling that someone might be listening in on our conversation from behind the walls. I dismiss it as my imagination, though, and focus on the tasks ahead.
After separating from Carmine, Golly, Luke, Bryce, and Carmine's grandfather, Alice, Serena, and I locate Kieran in front of a shop. He stammers nervously, "Oh, uh... H-hey, Ash, Serena, and Alice. So, I...I was gonna ask. What were you and my sis just, uh...talkin' about?"
Serena, quick on her feet, replies smoothly, "Well, we were just talking about the festival yesterday, since your sister seems to be good at the Ogre Ousting, we decided to learn some techniques from her."
Kieran nods, his anxiety seemingly alleviated by Serena's explanation. "Oh, I-I see... S-so! About those signs! The last one's a bit of a hike away. It's in the Paradise Barrens on the other side of Oni Mountain. We'll need to head over the mountain and down toward the northwest... You go on ahead. I'll catch up."
We agree to his plan and begin to walk away, but I can't help but overhear Kieran muttering softly to himself, "Why...why'd you lie to me...?" The words hang in the air, leaving me with a sense of unease as we continue on our journey.
As we make our way to the Paradise Barrens, we're greeted by a surprising sight – Nosepasses inhabiting the area. Their distinctive appearances catch our attention, and it's fascinating to witness them evolve into Probopass upon touching the Thunder Stones scattered around. In addition to the Nosepasses, other Pokémon like Bombirdier, Orthworm, and Tandemaus roam the barren landscape. However, my attention is briefly diverted when I spot some Gligars in the distance, triggering memories of my own Gligar's tendency to fall on top of me during our adventures.
Upon reaching the signboard, Kieran also joins us, breaking the solitude of the area. "These are the Paradise Barrens. Pretty lonely place, huh?" he comments.
"Yeah," I respond, scanning the desolate landscape. "But it sure has a lot of Pokémon."
Kieran adds, "According to the old legends, the ogre used to be seen around here lots."
He then proposes a battle, and I agree, saying, "Again? I mean, sure. I'll battle you."
"This time...I'll win!" With determination, Kieran sends out his Yanmega, ready for another round. I choose my Naclstack as my battling partner, ready to engage in a friendly Pokémon battle.
"I...I wanna win! I wanna win, so...I got this!" Kieran exclaims with determination as we continue our Pokémon battle. Despite his fierce efforts, I manage to defeat his Yanmega, followed by his Furret and Poliwrath.
"Why...why does it have to be like this? Why?" Kieran mumbles in frustration as he sends out his last Pokémon, a Dipplin. Seeing his resolve, I decide to switch to my Lapras and use the Snowscape to create a snowy weather condition.
"You got this, Dipplin! Get 'em all covered in syrup!" Kieran instructs his Pokémon, and Dipplin strikes Lapras with a powerful Syrup Bomb, which proves to be super effective. The sticky syrup also begins to slow down Lapras's speed, making the situation challenging. However, I guide Lapras to unleash a Blizzard attack, ultimately knocking out Dipplin despite the adverse conditions.
"I lost... It's because I'm weak... That's why I..." Kieran trails off, his disappointment evident.
I try to lift his spirits, offering words of encouragement. "That was a great battle, Kieran." I hope he can see the fun and camaraderie in Pokémon battles, regardless of the outcome.
"We should go check out the sign... Come on, let's get this over with," Kieran suggests as we approach the signboard.
If you see a shadowy figure approaching you outside the village at twilight, be wary. Don a mask at once, and hide your face. Do so, and whether the shadow is man or monster, you will pass each other by as fellow mask wearers. If you should meet the shadow when you have no mask in hand, then pray that it is only a man. If it is, you will live to see another day, and you will remember to never forget your mask again. But if it is the ogre, you will meet your end, as do all humans whose faces are seen by it. Once it sees your face, your soul will be forfeit. And you shall never return to the village."
As we read the words, the revelation of Ogerpon's true story stirs a deep sense of anger within us.
"In the old days, everyone carried masks wherever they went. And...the one who made those masks was actually my great-great-great-grandpa's great-great-great-grandpa...or something," Kieran shares.
"That's amazing," Alice remarks, genuinely impressed.
Kieran continues, "I mean, I don't think any of that stuff about the ogre stealing souls is true or anything, but... it is true that our family used to make masks. Our family... has a long line of mask makers. Even my gramps can make 'em. I even heard that the reason we hold the Festival of Masks is 'cause our ancestors came up with the idea."
He then gazes at the sign with a hint of disappointment, "But I don't really like what they wrote on this sign here... Just because the ogre seemed sorta scary, everyone got all afraid of it and drove it away from the village. But I'm pretty sure the ogre must've been lonely on its own. Left all alone like that... Treated like some kind of outcast..."
"I think so as well," I agree with a somber expression, feeling empathy for the misunderstood ogre and reflecting on the consequences of fear and prejudice within their village's history.
"Wanna take that last photo?" Kieran suggests, and we all agree to capture the final image of our assignment. After snapping the last photo, Kieran speaks up, "Well, we're all done with our assignment now. But I've gotta get stronger with my Pokémon... I'm gonna head home."
Without saying goodbye, Kieran departs, leaving us wondering if he's still harboring resentment from the previous day.
"Do you think he's still mad at us since yesterday?" Alice ponders aloud.
"I don't know... I hope not," I respond with a hint of concern. We decide to return to Mossui Town, hoping that time will heal any lingering wounds and that our friendship with Kieran will remain intact.
Here is a new chapter, and in this chapter, the truth has been revealed. The story that everyone knows is a lie, and I hope you like this chapter.
Ash and Serena's Pokemon:
Charizard x2, Pikachu x2, Primeape, Tauros (Paldean) x3, Lapras, Girafarig, Dunsparce, Steelix (Crystal), Sceptile, Gardevoir (Shiny), Garchomp, Lucario, Krookodile, Zoroark, Bisharp, Greninja, Sylveon, Noivern, Lycanroc (Dusk), Mimikyu (Shiny), Corviknight, Indeedee x2, Kleavor, Sneasler, Floragato, Crocalor, Quaxwell, Oinkologne x2 (Male/Female), Spidops, Lokix, Pawmot, Maushold x2 (Family of four/three), Dachsbun, Dolliv, Squawkabilly x4, Naclstack, Armarouge, Ceruledge, Bellibolt, Kilowattrel, Mabosstiff, Grafaiai, Brambleghast, Toedscruel, Klawf, Scovillain, Rabsca, Flittle, Tinkatuff, Wugtrio, Bombirdier, Finizen, Varoom, Cyclizar, Orthworm, Glimmet, Flamigo, Clodsire, Dipplin, Sinistcha