Chapter 87
As we make our way back to the Ghost Manor, we decide to stop by Peachy's store to pick up some items. However, amidst the usual assortment of goods, we spot a dusty old decoration that seems out of place, emitting an incredibly sweet scent.
"For some reason... I think there is something fishy with this..." I voice my suspicion, eyeing the peculiar decoration with caution.
"It's just a giant Pecha Berry doll, I don't think there's the need to be worried about," Lillie reassures me, her tone soothing.
"If you say so..." I respond skeptically, but my doubts are amplified when I notice the doll shift slightly.
"Wait, did this thing just move on its own?" I inquire, my voice tinged with alarm.
"Huh?" Serena's brows furrow in confusion. "Maybe it's just your imagination?"
Just as tension begins to mount, we're startled by the sudden ringing of a phone. I answer the call, only to hear Arven's cheerful voice on the other end.
"Ash! Yo! Arven here!" he greets us enthusiastically over the phone. "I heard the news. You've been having all kinds of big adventures, huh little buddy? School trips, studying abroad... What luck!"
"You have no idea..." I murmur, contemplating whether to mention our encounter with his parents at the Crystal Pool. However, I ultimately decide against it, not wanting to stir up potentially painful memories for him.
"It's been quite fun," Serena interjects on my behalf, her voice masking any underlying complexities.
"I see Serena's here too! Man, I'm jealous to hear that. I wish I could've gone along too! Now that I think about it, it's been one crazy thing after another since you came to our school. I guess you've still been real busy lately, but are things starting to settle down? I was thinking that if you have time - and only if you want, 'course - maybe... I could come visit you at your house?"
"You mean the house in Paldea? We're just planning to go back to Paldea tomorrow. Of course you can come," I agree readily, sensing his eagerness.
"Seriously? It's such a relief to hear you say that! And without even the tiniest hesitation!" Arven exclaims happily. "So I guess I'll come over! Your house is in Cabo Poco, right? I'll meet you out front! See you there!"
After the call ends, I relay the change of plans to the group. "Looks like we're going to spend the night on the plane."
"Of course..." Alice responds with a resigned sigh. Before we depart, I cast a glance around the store, only to realize that the giant Pecha berry doll has vanished without a trace, leaving behind an eerie sense of unease.
As we step into our Dark Manor in the Paldea Region, we're met with an unexpected sight: Nemona and Penny are already there, waiting for us. Nemona's voice rings out, filled with excitement. "There they are! Oyeee! Ash! Serena! Alice! Lillie!"
"Wait, you two are here as well?" I ask, taken aback by their sudden appearance.
"Heh heh. Figured I'd tag along!" Nemona responds nonchalantly, her mischievous grin in full display.
"Hey there," Penny greets with a friendly smile.
"Ash, I... This is all my fault! Sorry! You know when I called you and said I wanted to come hang? Well, these two overheard, and -" Arven begins, his expression tinged with guilt.
"Well, we aren't just going to let you hog the chance to visit Ash," Penny interjects, her tone playful yet firm.
"It's way more fun to roll together!" Nemona chimes in, her enthusiasm undeterred.
"You say that, but who wants a buncha uninvited guests?! That's just rude!" Arven admonishes them, frustration evident in his voice.
"Don't worry about it, I'm sure my Mom likes to meet all of you again," I reassure him, offering a smile of understanding.
"I guess... if you're fine with it, Ash, then I can't really complain, either..." Arven concedes with a resigned sigh. "OK, listen up, you two! We're not allowed to cause any trouble for Ash and his parents like we did in Area Zero! Got it?! We're gonna be perfect guests today!"
"You bet!" Nemona declares confidently.
"I don't know who you think you're educating here, but sure. Whatever," Penny replies with a smirk, her demeanor relaxed yet subtly defiant.
Inside the house, we're greeted by the familiar faces of Golly, Insey, Minami, Mark, and Trenor, who are taking a well-deserved break and resting up. Given their previous encounters with Nemona, Arven, and Penny, Golly and Insey take it upon themselves to introduce them to the others. My mom, knowing the trio from our adventures in Area Zero, welcomes them warmly and even offers to cook for them.
Nemona's eyes light up with excitement as she spots my Dark-type Pokémon, particularly Absol and Greninja. Lillie kindly offers to battle her on my behalf while I show Arven and Penny around the house. Penny's attention is quickly drawn to my collection of game consoles, and she eagerly suggests a game of cart racing, to which I happily agree.
"How's everybody doing? Anyone want dessert? I was thinking of bringing up some sweets..." my Mom offers graciously.
"Sweets? Yes!" Penny cheers enthusiastically.
"N-n-no way! We couldn't possibly ask you for more food! We don't mean to be a hassle!" Arven protests nervously. "Hassle, I mean! We don't want to be a hassle!"
"Hehe! Oh sweetie, no need to stand on ceremony here!" my Mom chuckles affectionately. "Just make yourselves at home and relax! That reminds me, Ash. A letter came for you, it's from your friend Kieran."
"A letter from Kieran? It sure has been a while since our adventures in Area Zero..." I remark, intrigued as I accept the letter from my mom's outstretched hand.
"I'll bring those sweets up in just a few. I hope you'll all enjoy them!" My mom heads off to the kitchen, and Insey and Nemona volunteer to help, followed closely by Penny and Trenor, eager to sample the treats.
"Your mom sure is nice, Ash... You're real lucky..." Arven comments, his tone sincere. "Oh, but what about that letter? Aren't you gonna at least open it up?"
"Right," I acknowledge, realizing I hadn't yet opened Kieran's letter. Breaking the seal, I unfold the paper and begin to read.
'Dear Ash, Serena, Lillie, and Alice,
How are you doing lately? I took a leave from school, so I'm back in Mossui Town for a while. My sis came back with me, too. I know we didn't get much chance to talk after everything that happened in the underdepths. I'd really like to catch up. Think you could swing a visit to Kitakami? Carmine would love to see you, I'm sure - maybe you could bring your friends from Paldea, too. I included plenty of tickets."
"Is he serious right now... we just took a long plane flight from Kitakami to Paldea..." Serena sighs in exasperation.
"Who's this Kieran guy? Some new... friend or something?" Mark inquires, curious about the sender of the letter.
"Yeah, he's a nice friend that we met in Kitakami and then in the Blueberry School," I explain with a smile, fondly recalling our previous encounters.
"Guys! You are not gonna BELIEVE how good this stuff looks!" Nemona's voice echoes from the kitchen. "There's too much to carry upstairs! C'mon down here and eat!"
"Sheesh, that Nemona... Hasn't she ever heard of an inside voice?" Arven sighs, shaking his head in amusement.
"I guess we'd better go, or she'll just keep on shouting!" Golly remarks, echoing the sentiment as we make our way to join the others for a meal.
As everyone savors the last remnants of the sweets, Penny can't help but express her discomfort. "Oooh, my poor gut... I feel like I'll burst if I eat another bite..."
"I think what you're trying to say is 'Thank you so much for feeding us. It was all really delicious!' Right?!" Arven chides Penny gently, nudging her towards gratitude.
Nemona, ever eager to be helpful, offers, "I'll help with the dishes and stuff!"
"That is nice of you, but I don't think you need to do that," Minami interjects kindly. "We already have our auto washing machines provided by Macro Cosmos and the Aether Foundation. Considering that we have 16 siblings."
"15 siblings? That's a lot..." Nemona gasps in astonishment.
"Yeah, we originally have 9 and 7 are adopted," Trenor explains with a hint of weariness in his voice.
"Say, Ash, about that letter... What was that place your new pal mentioned? Kitakami or something? You really gonna go there to meet this Kieran guy again?" Penny inquires, her curiosity piqued.
"Why not? How about we all go together?" I suggest, envisioning a reunion with Kieran and the possibility of new adventures.
"Wait, what? You're going somewhere, brother?" Trenor asks, surprise evident in his tone.
"Did we miss something? Something good?! Spill it!" Nemona demands eagerly, leaning in with anticipation.
With Nemona's enthusiastic declaration, we launch into the story of our relationship with Kieran, recounting everything from our initial meeting to our adventures together and the bond that formed over battles and challenges. Nemona's excitement only grows as she learns more, her eagerness to meet Kieran palpable.
"Are you serious?! We're DEFINITELY going with you! This Kieran kid was Champion of a super elite battle academy, right?! I've got to meet him!" Nemona exclaims, her determination clear.
"More like 'I've got to BATTLE him'..." Alice sighs, foreseeing the inevitable clash of competitive spirits.
"Was it that obvious?" Nemona asks, a hint of sheepishness creeping into her tone, to which those who know her well all nod in unison.
"I feel kinda bad, though. Like we just invited ourselves along on your trip without asking..." Arven expresses a hint of guilt, concerned about imposing on our plans.
"The guy said to bring friends, and WE'RE those friends! He even sent tickets for us!" Nemona counters, her enthusiasm undiminished.
"Yup. 'Friends' equals us. Ergo, we get the tickets," Penny chimes in, her logic unassailable. "This'll be my first time going on a trip with friends... It's kind of... scary and exciting at the same time."
"Yeah, now that you mention it, I don't think I've ever taken a trip with a friend either," Arven admits, reflecting on the novelty of the experience.
"You're kidding! Well, this is gonna be AMAZING, so get excited!" Nemona declares, her enthusiasm infectious as always. "Guess I better at least tell the housekeeper over at my place I'll be away for a while. Why don't we break for now, do whatever prep we gotta do, and meet up again later?"
"Sounds good! Let's say... we meet up again in front of Mesagoza's southern gate!" Minami suggests, setting a meeting point for later.
"Right, see you there!" After the trio departs, I turn to my siblings. "So you're coming?"
"Of course we are, since when did we have the time to travel together again?" Mark responds eagerly.
"Maybe the girls here do have traveled with you recently, but we didn't," Trenor adds with a chuckle.
"Okay, good thing he brings us more tickets," I remark, relieved that our group will be able to embark on this journey together. With our plans set, we inform our mom of our upcoming reunion with Kieran before preparing to leave our house.
As we gather at our designated meeting spot, we find Penny engaged in a spirited phone conversation with her father, Peony. Her frustrated exclamations punctuate the air as she tries to explain her plans.
"Oh my GOSH, Dad, would you just drop it?! I told you - friends! I'm going with friends! No, you DON'T need to be worried about it! We are perfectly capable of taking care of ourselves! Ughhh, no, it's not gonna be an 'Adven-tour' - no one says that! Honestly. I'm hanging up now!" Penny's voice crackles with exasperation as she finally ends the call.
"Same old Peony..." Alice chuckles, recognizing the typical concerns of Penny's father.
"I know..." I agree, understanding Penny's frustration.
"Haah. Suddenly I'm too tired for any of this..." Penny sighs, exhaustion evident in her voice.
"Did you get your old man's OK to go?" Arven inquires, concerned about Penny's ability to join us.
"Yeah... in the end. But I had to put up with his ultra-mega-annoying dad talk to do it," Penny admits with a weary sigh, recalling the ordeal of convincing her father.
"He just ultra-mega-cares, little bud!" Arven reassures her, attempting to lighten the mood. However, the mention of Arven's father brings a somber mood, and Penny quickly responds, "Oh! Oh... yeah, maybe you're right..."
With the tension eased, we collectively decide to proceed with our journey to Kitakami, though we acknowledge the need to obtain permission from Director Cyrano for our absence from school during the week. Boarding the plane, we set off towards our next adventure.
As we step off the bus and take in the sights and scents of Mossui Town, Nemona is quick to notice the difference in atmosphere compared to Paldea.
"Oooh, so this is Mossui Town? You all smell that, right? It kinda smells different than Paldea!" she observes with curiosity.
"Urrgggh... My head's still spinning too fast to see anything... Are we there yet?" Penny complains, still feeling the effects of the bus ride.
"That's what you get when you continue to stare at your phone during the whole bus ride," Insey chides Penny with a shake of her head.
"But I didn't know if we'd get signal here... I had to load up on internet goodness while I could..." Penny defends herself.
"Arven could actually call me when I was here," I mention, reflecting on the limitations of modern technology.
The caretaker approaches us, offering a warm greeting. "Why, hello there!"
"Nice to see you again, caretaker," I respond, exchanging pleasantries. As he provides us with information about accommodations, we decide to let our friends stay at the Ghost Manor, despite the potential pranks from the mischievous Ghost Type Pokémon residing there.
"So what about that Kieran guy? Have you heard from him at all?" Trenor inquires, eager to learn more about our friend.
"Well, I don't know, considering that he doesn't have a phone-" Serena begins, only to be interrupted by Penny's incredulous interjection. "EXCUSE me? He doesn't have a smartphone?! How is this kid even alive?"
"He must not want any distractions from training! Think he's at his house? Should we go meet him?" Nemona suggests, already eager to reunite with Kieran.
We all agree, nodding in unison as we set off towards Kieran's house, eager to begin our reunion with our friend.
As Kieran greets us with his signature Blueberry Academy hairstyle, Alice wastes no time in announcing our arrival.
"Kieran, we're here!" she calls out cheerfully.
"Ash! Serena! Lillie! Alice! Oh man, it's been a long time!" Kieran exclaims, his excitement evident. "Oh, Minami, Golly, and Insey are here as well, and you two..."
"They are our siblings Mark and Trenor," I interject, introducing my brothers to Kieran.
"Thanks so much for coming!" Kieran expresses his gratitude with a warm smile. "Sorry that I couldn't meet you at the bus stop. Things have been crazy at home..."
Just then, Arven, Nemona, and Penny arrive, and Nemona wastes no time in making her presence known. She rushes forward, practically brimming with enthusiasm.
"Hey, nice to meet you! I'm Nemona! You're Kieran, right? Ash and Serena told us all about you! Like how you're great at Pokémon battles! Right?!" she exclaims excitedly.
Kieran is a little taken aback by her exuberance as he stammers, "W-well, I don't know about that, but..."
"Dial it back a notch or nine. You're scaring him," Penny advises, stepping in with her characteristic calm demeanor. "I'm Penny. Unlike a certain someone, I'm fine with taking friendships nice and slow."
"And I'm Arven. Ash and Serena's absolute BEST friend," Arven announces proudly, claiming his place in the group dynamic.
"Staking your claim right from the get-go, huh?" Penny remarks, amused by Arven's assertiveness.
"Well, I'm Kieran. I met Ash and Serena when they came here for that school trip," Kieran begins, his tone thoughtful as he recounts our initial meeting. "That's when we became friends. Um... what else...? Oh, I'm a student at Blueberry Academy like Alice and Insey." He pauses, correcting himself, "Er, I mean, I WAS a student there - I'm on a break right now."
"Whoa, really? I know how that goes. Same thing happened to me!" Penny gasps, empathizing with Kieran's situation.
"Penny! Don't go sympathizing with the enemy!" Arven interjects, a hint of jest in his tone. "I thought I could count on you at least to keep this interloper at arm's length..."
"Eh. I just get the feeling we're pretty alike," Penny replies, shrugging off Arven's concerns.
"Wow, your friends seem like a quirky group. Kinda like you, huh?" Kieran remarks, observing our dynamic with amusement.
"Believe me, we have all kinds of friends..." I sigh, recalling the various personalities we've encountered on our journeys.
"Anyway, a friend of Ash's is a friend of mine!" Kieran declares warmly. "I hope you all have a good time staying in Kitakami!"
"Thanks! Now let's battle!" Nemona chimes in eagerly, seizing Kieran's hand and pulling him along.
"I, uh, what?" Kieran is caught off guard by Nemona's sudden enthusiasm.
"That space in front of the community center looked like a good battle spot!" Nemona explains as she drags him away.
Arven sighs, his initial skepticism waning. "Oh no. I... I think I might have made a terrible mistake. This Kieran kid might actually be a good guy!"
"Of course he is. He's friends with Ash!" Penny reassures him, expressing confidence in Kieran's character. With that, we all join in to support Kieran as he embarks on his unexpected battle with Nemona.
Outside the intense battleground of the community center, the atmosphere is a mix of surprise and admiration. Kieran, normally a formidable opponent, stands defeated before Nemona, an unexpected turn of events that leaves us all questioning her prowess.
"I got completely destroyed... Who the heck IS Nemona, anyway?" Kieran gasps, his disbelief evident in his voice.
"She's a Paldea Champion like us after all..." I sigh, trying to make sense of the situation.
"Ok, yeah, it makes sense if she's so good," Kieran acknowledges, though the defeat clearly weighs heavily on him.
"Kieran, you're so good! That was awesome! No wonder you were the Champion of that fancy-pants school of yours!" Nemona's voice cuts through the tension, her tone cheerful and supportive.
"B-but... I couldn't beat you..." Kieran's words falter, betraying his frustration.
"Does it really matter? Whether you win or lose, Pokemon battles are a blast!" Nemona's perspective is refreshing, emphasizing the joy of the experience rather than just the outcome.
"Yeah, that's true," I interject, relieved to see Kieran beginning to loosen up.
"That's Nemona for you. You get used to it," Arven remarks, a hint of amusement in his voice.
"You OK? Feel like running for the hills yet?" Penny teases, lightening the mood with her playful banter.
"Hey, now!" Nemona's annoyance is palpable, defending Kieran from her friends' jests.
"N-not at all! It was a lot of fun!" Kieran's response is genuine, his spirits lifting as he reflects on the enjoyable battle. "Yeah... I really had a lotta fun!"
"See?" Nemona's grin is contagious, her confidence unwavering even in the face of defeat.
To our surprise, Carmine suddenly materializes before us, her presence unexpected and puzzling. Alice's voice cuts through the confusion, her question mirroring the bewilderment shared by the rest of us. "Carmine?"
"Whoa! Who the heck are you?" Mark's exclamation captures the astonishment that courses through the group at the sudden appearance.
"Sis? Are you okay?" Kieran's concern is palpable, his worry evident in his tone.
But to our greater surprise, Carmine begins to engage in an unexpected display, performing the chicken dance with fervor while chanting, "Mochi MOCHI!"
"Carmine? What's wrong?" Lillie's inquiry is laced with genuine concern, her eyes fixed on Carmine's unusual behavior.
I observe the unsettling glow emanating from Carmine's eyes, a stark departure from her usual demeanor, signaling something decidedly amiss. Nemona's suggestion injects a touch of levity into the perplexing situation, her words hinting at a desire to include Carmine in the battle festivities.
"Is this your big sister, Kieran? Do you think she wants in on the battle fun too?" Nemona's question hangs in the air, though the absurdity of the situation leaves little room for certainty.
"There's no way that's what's going on here..." Minami's skepticism reflects the incredulity shared by the rest of us.
"S-sorry, everybody, but could you help me just, uh... just carry my sis somewhere safe?!" Kieran's plea is tinged with urgency, his request prompting us to spring into action. Together, we attempt to corral Carmine, who continues her eccentric dance, back to Kieran's house, the urgency of the situation pressing upon us as we navigate the bizarre turn of events.
"You sure you don't want to stay with your sister?" Nemona's concern is evident as we hand Carmine over to their grandparents.
"She should be OK... Gramps and Grandma look after her during the day, but they must've taken their eyes off her for just a sec earlier..." Kieran's tone is apologetic, his expression reflecting the weight of the situation. "Sorry for making you all help out with... that."
"Oh, I mean it was no big deal at all. Happy to help out, but..." Arven's reassurance is met with understanding nods from the group.
"Yeah, I gotta ask. Is everything OK with your sister? She seemed pretty, uh, riled up..." Trenor's question echoes the concern that lingers in the air.
"She's not usually like that," Insey observes, her voice tinged with worry.
"I think she was just really excited to get to meet you all," Kieran offers, though his attempt to explain Carmine's behavior falls short of convincing the group.
"I don't think that's the case..." Alice's skepticism is plain to see as she voices the doubt that hangs over the situation. "Who in their right mind will do a chicken dance in front of guests and scream 'mochi mochi'?"
"Alice is right. How long has she been doing that?" Serena's question highlights the urgency of the matter, her concern mirroring our own.
"She's been like that since I sent you that letter, Ash," Kieran reveals, his furrowed brow betraying his unease. "She was already dancing and all by the time I woke up the next day. No explanation. I guess that really isn't normal, is it? Maybe the other folks in town are right... Maybe this really IS a curse..."
"A curse?" Golly's interest is piqued, her reputation as the Ghost Trainer shining through.
"Wow, this trip just took a real sudden dive into horror movie territory..." Penny gasps, her words echoing the unease that now permeates the group.
"I know zilch about curses, but could something like this have happened before? You ever heard any old stories or legends about it?" Nemona's inquiry reflects the group's growing curiosity and concern.
Kieran gazes at my Ogerpon, his expression troubled. "I don't know... Ash and Serena already took care of the whole thing with Ogerpon and the Loyal Three..."
"Sheesh, Ash and Serena. You really just rolled on through this town like a little hurricane, huh?" Arven's observation elicits a mixture of amusement and admiration from the group.
"My sis may have no filter... and be inconsiderate... and push people's buttons... but I'd still rather see her be her old self than whatever this is!" Kieran's frown deepens, his concern for Carmine evident in his words.
"Yeah, for sure..." Lillie's agreement resonates with the group's shared sentiment, and our determination to help Kieran find a common ground.
With a collective decision to offer our assistance and shared disbelief in curses, Kieran is taken aback by our united front, his gratitude evident in his expression. "It's too late to start today, but I'd be grateful if you all could help me out tomorrow! First, we're gonna have a proper welcome party tonight at the community center!"
With newfound resolve, we make our way to the Community Center together, the anticipation of both the welcome party and the challenges ahead weighing heavily on our minds.
I'll end the chapter right here, and we're beginning the Mochi Mayhem. I hope you like this chapter and the next chapter will continue.
Ash and Serena's Pokemon:
Charizard x2, Pikachu x2, Tauros (Paldean) x3, Lapras, Steelix (Crystal), Sceptile, Gardevoir (Shiny), Garchomp, Lucario, Krookodile, Zoroark, Greninja, Sylveon, Noivern, Lycanroc (Dusk), Mimikyu (Shiny), Corviknight, Indeedee x2, Kleavor, Ursaluna (Blood Moon), Sneasler, Meowscarada, Skeledirge, Quaquaval, Oinkologne x2 (Male/Female), Spidops, Lokix, Pawmot, Maushold x2 (Family of four/three), Dachsbun, Arboliva, Squawkabilly x4, Garganacl, Armarouge, Ceruledge, Bellibolt, Kilowattrel, Mabosstiff, Grafaiai, Brambleghast, Toedscruel, Klawf, Scovillain, Rabsca, Espathra, Tinkaton, Wugtrio, Bombirdier, Palafin, Revavroom, Cyclizar, Orthworm, Glimmora, Houndstone, Flamigo, Cetitan, Veluza, Dondozo, Tatsugiri X3, Annihilape, Clodsire, Farigiraf, Dudunsparce x2 (Two, Three segment), Kingambit, Great Tusk, Scream Tail, Brute Bonnet, Flutter Mane, Slither Wing, Sandy Shocks, Iron Treads, Iron Bundle, Iron Hands, Iron Jugulis, Iron Moth, Iron Thorns, Baxcalibur, Gholdengo, Wo-Chien, Chien-Pao, Ting-Lu, Chi-Yu, Roaring Moon, Iron Valiant, Koraidon, Miraidon, Walking Wake, Iron Leaves, Sinistcha, Okidogi, Munkidori, Fezandipiti, Ogerpon, Archaludon, Hydrapple, Gouging Fire, Raging Bolt, Iron Boulder, Iron Crown, Terapagos