Disclaimer: I do not own Pokémon, or any other property in this work that I did not make myself.
Pokémon: Sinnoh no Isekai
Chapter Three-hundred and four: Kitakami Conniption, part four
Before Carmine was able to take her ego out and put it on full display, Dawn and Trip had defeated the wild Milotic that had shown up. After the wild Milotic retreated back into the depths of the Crystal Pool when it was defeated, Carmine said, "Sheesh, that surprised me! Now that I think about it, Pokémon like that one do show up here from time to time..." As the group walked up to where the Milotic was, Carmine went on, "You know, you guys are all are pretty handy to have around in a battle, aren't you?"
"And you're handy to have around when there's a little brother in need of being abused," Mina snarked dryly.
Carmine turned to face Mina to snap at her, but stopped short when Dawn called out, "What the hell is this?" Everyone turned to see Dawn walk over to some rocks where she saw some glittering. Dawn bent over and picked up the glittering item, which turned out to be a chunk of crystal. As she held the chunk of crystal, Dawn said, "You all think this here is the Crystal Cluster we're here looking to get a hold of?"
"Ooh, lemme see," Carmine said as she made a swiping, reaching grab towards Dawn, only to miss when Dawn pulled her hand back as she saw Carmine's grab coming in time. A call from Dawn had Tsukune who was still out grab Carmine, her arms pinned to her sides, and hold her as if she were a toy doll. "Hey! Put me down!" Carmine screamed.
"If you wanted to see it, you should have asked politely to see it rather than just try to swipe it from me," Dawn said firmly, "What, you think you're entitled to swipe whatever you want?"
"It always works when I want something Kieran has!" Carmine scowled, "Now have your big brute here put me down!"
"...Fine, but I'm only going to warn you of this once," Dawn snarled as she gestured for her named Palkia to put Carmine down, "If you ever again try to pull on me any of the shit you get away with pulling on your younger brother, you will BE MADE to regret the folly. Do I make myself clear, you damned bitch?"
Carmine was about to snap back, but stopped short when Briar walked onto the scene. "The energy coming from those crystals at the bottom of the pool... I knew it!"
"Ms. Briar?" Carmine said, surprised.
"Hi Carmine, hi Dawn Berlitz and friends," Briar greeted, "I thought that you were paired up with other students. Did you decide to switch things up?"
"Uh... I'm sorry, Ms. Briar, but this place is actually pretty special," Carmine began, "I'm not a bit fan of outsiders just wandering around up here."
"I'm aware that this is sacred ground, yes," Briar replied, "I did get permission from the caretaker, though. Was that not sufficient?"
"Why is it that you came here?" Dawn asked, settling down from scolding Carmine.
Turning to look at Dawn, Briar said, "Oh, just doing a bit of field research. I was interested in the properties of the water here." Turning to look at the pool, Briar went on, "And, well... my hunch was right on the money!" Everyone turned to look at the pool. "You see," Briar began to explain, "The Crystal Pool's waters emit energy of the same wavelength as Terastal energy. Though I have no idea why that is..."
"Oh yeah, the special magic mojo available in Paldea," Kenny spoke up.
Turning to look at the reborn trainers and Carmine, Briar said, "Once I figure that out, I might be able to stabilize the Terastal phenomenon in regions other than Paldea!"
Folding his arms over his chest, Trip said, "You ought to be careful about doing that. If the wealthy elite big wigs who essentially own Paldea hear that their region's native battle gimmick might end up being shared with other regions, they're bound to throw a fit. Those spoiled pompous brats strike me as the kind of people allergic to sharing."
"I kind of have to agree," Carmine said, "I don't trust those walking talking pocketbooks who want to buy Kitakami and turn it into a tourist trap they can straight up poop all over. Anyway, the kids here and I have got somewhere to be, so..." The reborn trainers called out their dragons they had called back (Dawn kept Tsukune out the entire time) and took off back for the house where Carmine and her family lived (Tsukune carried Carmine like she was a sack of potatoes again).
Back at the residence of Carmine's family, the dragons landed with Tsukune straight up dropping Carmine, making her land on the ground with a flump. Luckily the ground was soft so Carmine was only mildly hurt. "Hey Grandpa," Carmine said as she picked herself up, "We got the Crystal Cluster that you asked for! Ow..."
Kieran's Grandpa let out a troubled sigh. "...Kenny, Kenny's friends, Carmine... I'm so sorry..."
"What happened?" Mina asked.
Looking at everyone, Kieran's Grandpa said, "Kieran, he... He ran off with the mask."
"What?" Carmine said, looking surprised, "Why would Kieran do that?" Turning to look at the reborn trainers, Carmine asked, "Did any of you tell him about the Ogre or something?"
"I didn't, despite how much I wanted to because I feel keeping Kieran in the dark about it is one of the biggest dick moves I've ever borne witness to," Kenny said.
"None of us said a word to Kieran on the matter," Dawn replied, the voice in her head telling her that Kieran must have overheard things looking like it was being proven more and more right as things here continued.
To the heroes and Carmine, Kieran's Grandpa said, "Kieran seemed to be headed to Loyalty Plaza with the mask. I think... it would be best for the lot of you to go after him."
The reborn trainers called out their dragons to ride again, but Carmine said, "Ah ba ba ba, I am NOT going to be luggage carried by a dragon one of you is riding!"
Without missing a beat, Trip called out his named Miraidon Villetta, which flew in place before Carmine. "Ah, here we go," Carmine said as she approached the legendary Paradox Pokémon, "I get a dragon to ri-"
"Villetta, carry her," Trip said while pointing to Carmine, cutting her off in the process. Villetta then reached forward towards Carmine, grabbed her, and then picked her up to tuck under its right arm to carry her as if she were a sack of potatoes.
"This isn't what I meant at all!" Carmine practically screamed as she and the reborn trainers took off for Loyalty Plaza.
When the reborn trainers and Carmine reached Loyalty Plaza, they stopped right in front of the gate leading into it. After the reborn trainers recalled their dragons, Carmine who was unceremoniously dumped on the ground by Trip's named Miraidon dusted herself off as she said, "You guys need to be more considerate of me!"
"You need to be more considerate of others especially your little brother," Kenny shot back before he and the others made their way into Loyalty Plaza. There was hardly anyone there, a woman was sitting on the bench located near the entrance to Loyalty Plaza, but that was it. The group made their way in and eventually spotted Kieran in front of the shrine to the Loyal Three. Kenny stepped forward and said, "Ahem," to get Kieran's attention.
"...Kenny..." Kieran began.
"Kieran!" Carmine said shrilly, "What in blazes do you think you're doing?!"
Kieran turned around to face the group. "...You all knew, didn't you?" Looking at everyone, Kieran went on, "You all knew that the Ogre wasn't the real bad guy in the stories..."
"I had a hunch he overheard the story told to us," Dawn muttered under her breath.
Turning back to face the shrine to the Loyal Three, Kieran said, "The Loyal Three were the real bad guys, but the Ogre is the one that gets treated like an outcast!" Turning back around, Kieran said, "And you all did the same thing to me! You all had treated ME like an outcast when you went and met with the Ogre!"
"I wanted to tell you but Carmine bitched at the lads and I until we agreed to keep word of it from you," Kenny said, trying to diffuse the situation.
Slumping over slightly, Kieran said, "You all are no different than those villagers back then... You all knew how much I love the Ogre! You all had acted like you didn't know anything, but you were all laughing at me behind my back all along!"
"Okay, Kieran," Carmine began, clearly trying to be firm and relying on her usual tactics to deal with Kieran, "You need to settle back down and-"
"SHUT UP YOU BITCH!" Kieran screamed, "YOU'RE A DAMN FUCKING LIAR!"
Everyone in the group, even Carmine, was shocked into silence by Kieran's outburst. Settling back down, Kieran turned to look right at Kenny. "...Kenny, battle me. If you win, I'll give back the mask. So c'mon... battle me already!"
Kenny, not entirely sure if this was the right way to do things here, agreed nonetheless. The two boys took positions in the area in front of the shrine to the Loyal Three, and then the battle began. "Go, Yanmega!" Kieran said as he sent out his Yanmega. It was clear to the reborn trainers that it had evolved from the Yanma that Kieran was previously seen using.
"Okay, Azhdaha," Kenny said as he sent out his named Iron Boulder, "Let's make it cringe!" Gesturing forward, Kenny ordered, "Azhdaha, use Mighty Cleave!"
"Yanmega, use Quick Attack!" Kieran commanded. Yanmega was able to zoom in and ram into the named Iron Boulder with a full body strike, but it didn't do much to Kieran's surprise. Azhdaha then conjured a blade of light energy from the horns on its head (the blade grew from the horns), and then struck Yanmega with it, making it cry out in great pain before it fell to the ground, defeated.
"Yanmega return!" Kieran said, "Go, Cramorant!" To the surprise of the reborn trainers, Kieran now had a Cramorant. "Use Thrash!" Kieran called out.
"Azhdaha, use Mighty Cleave again!" Kenny ordered. The same song and dance from the fight between Yanmega and Azhdaha was repeated, only this time Azhdaha's opponent wasn't able to land a hit before going down to Mighty Cleave.
Kieran called his fainted Cramorant back before sending out his Poliwrath. "Poliwrath, use Brick Break!" Kieran commanded.
"Azhdaha, use Psycho Cut!" Kenny called out. As Poliwrath got closer to strike with Brick Break, Azhdaha conjured a blade of psychic energy and cast it to strike Poliwrath when it got close, and as such Poliwrath was knocked out by the named Paradox Pokémon.
Kieran called his fainted Poliwrath back and sent out his Gligar. "Gligar, use Dual Wingbeat!" Kieran ordered.
"Azhdaha, use Psycho Cut again!" Kenny called out.
Again, the named Iron Boulder conjured and cast a psychic blade that struck its foe and took it out of the battle before said foe was even able to get close. Kieran called his fainted Gligar back and sent out his Dipplin. "Dipplin, use Dragon Pulse!" Kieran commanded.
"Azhdaha, use Sacred Sword!" Kenny said.
Azhdaha conjured a dark brown colored energy blade this time and charged at Dipplin as it was charging up its Dragon Pulse attack. Azhdaha when it was close enough struck Dipplin with Sacred Sword, knocking it out before it even had a chance to attack. Seeing his last Pokémon defeated in battle, Kieran looked stunned, but relented and looked upset. "Why... why can't I be as good as you..." Kieran muttered under his breath, his head hung.
Carmine tried approaching Kieran, and Dawn noted that Carmine looked confident only now that Kieran was defeated. However, Kieran let out a frustrated scream that surprised everyone present, even Carmine, before he turned around and punched part of the railing around the shrine to the Loyal Three. After a moment, Kieran pulled his hand back and rubbed it, letting out a weak, "Ow," of complaint as he rubbed his hand he used.
"Kieran," Carmine began, her tone and expression both firm, "Give the mask back right this instant. We got you beat."
Turning to look at Carmine, Mina said, "Dude, your little brother is obviously upset, probably hurt as well, and yet all you can think of is pushing him around? You really are a shi-"
"Here. I promised."
Mina was cut off when Kieran spoke up and handed the Teal Mask to Kenny. "Say hi to to Ogre for me," Kieran continued.
"Kieran, you need to apologize for being such a brat," Carmine said firmly, "I'm not letting you leave until I hear that apology that you owe!"
"...Go fuck yourself, Sis," Kieran snarled, clearly pissed at Carmine, before turning around and running off before he could be stopped.
After he was gone, Carmine said, "Ooh, when I next get a hold of Kieran, I'm going to-"
"-Tell him that he has a point on how you've been a complete and utter turd of a person and older sister towards him," Kenny interrupted. When Carmine turned to look at him, Kenny said, "Seriously, Carmine! How in the name of Artemis can you be so damn oblivious to the fact that the way you've been treating your little brother, lording over him and being so mean, is playing a big role in how the dude is acting right now? Ever stop to think that, maybe, you having been a jerk to Kieran so much has started to make him act jerk-like in turn now?"
"I have to keep Kieran under my control by any means necessary!" Carmine snapped at Kenny, "It's for his own safety and protection!"
The reborn trainers all looked at Carmine in confusion. "For Kieran's own safety and protection?" Trip repeated in a confused tone, his expression matching it, "The hell are you on abo-"
*click* *clack clack clack clack*
The reborn trainers and Carmine all stopped short when they heard some noises clicking and clacking, also the ground rumbled enough to catch their attention. "What the hell was that?" began Carmine, sounding to Dawn that she was at least partly glad for the change of subject, "Is there something coming from the Loyal Three Monument?"
Turning to face the Loyal Three Monument, the group saw it as the monument shook, the figures within shaking in place, as a dome of pinkish energy expanded outwards. Suddenly, a bursting pillar of energy exploded out and upwards, going into the skies above. The reborn trainers and Carmine all covered covered their faces with their arms as they flinched back from the surprise eruption of power from the Loyal Three Monument.
"What's going on?" Carmine said as she and the others lowered their arms when the flashing light of energy faded. They looked ahead and saw that the Loyal Three Monument was wrecked and there was a cloud of dust in its place. The silhouettes of three beings could be seen through the cloud of dust, and when the dust cloud parted, the reborn trainers and Carmine saw a trio of Pokémon there where the memorial had been.
One was a monkey like Pokémon that was blue and black, had a purple chain like thing around its head, and it gave off a smart look. The one in the middle was a dog like Pokémon that was green and black, had a purple chain like thing coming off from its neck like a scarf, and it gave off an air of being the big strong beefy guy of the group.
The last was a bird like Pokémon that had brownish feathers from its black wings, a white neck and lower part of its head, a black and purple body, purple chain like lengths coming off from its body like lengths of cloth from a kimono, and the bird like Pokémon gave off an air of being man pretty and the charmer of its group.
The three Pokémon approached Carmine and the reborn trainers, with the dog like one giving a boastful laugh, denoting a degree of confidence in itself and its allies. "Wh-What in the world?!" said Carmine as she was shocked by the appearance of the Pokémon from the monument. "What do you guys want?" Carmine said, sounding freaked out. Given that they were talking to Pokémon who had just come out from a memorial after a big flash of energy from said memorial, the reborn trainers were not going to blame Carmine for freaking out.
The three Pokémon had a group huddle, then broke from the huddle and ran off. "Who in blazes were those three?!" Carmine exclaimed.
"I'm thinking that those may have been the Loyal Three," Dawn said, "Somehow returned to life. Given that they had busted out from the memorial after that big flash of energy and power, it'd be a safe bet to make."
Carmine turned to face Dawn and the others. "Hey, you're right," Carmine said, "There was three of them, and they all looked sinister! That's gotta be them! The story did say that they were laid to rest under the statues. But what brought them back to life?"
"That big flashing pillar of energy must have had something to do with it," Mina said, "But where that mojo came from is a story in and of itself, no doubt."
"Wait, they ran off towards Kitakami Hall," Carmine said, "That can't be good! Let's go after them! Come on, everyone!" The reborn trainers got their dragon Pokémon out again, and Carmine was for a second time carried under the arm of Trip's named Miraidon Villetta like the girl was a sack of potatoes, before everyone took up and took off for Kitakami Hall.
After a short flight, the reborn trainers and Carmine arrived at Kitakami Hall, where once again Carmine was unceremoniously dumped on the ground by Villetta. As for the reborn trainers, they all got off and ran up to the shrine at Kitakami Hall before Carmine picked herself up and made her way to catch up to them. When the heroes arrived, the caretaker of the shrine turned to face all of them, a look of surprised amusement on his face.
"Ah, if it isn't Carmine with Dawn Berlitz's group," the caretaker said, "If only you'd here a few minutes earlier!"
"Oi, oi, oi," Carmine said when she caught up, "Were those lousy three Pokémon here earlier?"
"They're called the LOYAL Three, Carmine," said the caretaker, then said to the group as a whole, "But yes. You all had missed out on quite the treat. The Loyal Three were just visiting our humble little hall! It seemed that they wished to gather the masks we've kept secured here at Kitakami Hall... so it was only natural that we who represent the hall were all too happy to give the masks back to them with all due haste!"
"You gave them the masks?!" Carmine exclaimed.
"We also fed them from platters of our special Kitakami Mochi, packed full of our best herbs," said the caretaker, "The Loyal Three gobbled it all up in a flash!"
Gently face palming, Dawn muttered under her breath, "Odin above in Valhalla help me..."
One of the people at the shrine with the caretaker said, "Kitakami Mochi are full of nutrition! The Loyal Three are bigger and stronger now, I'm sure!"
This time, it was Mina who face palmed and muttered under her breath. "Oh fuck me."
"Those lousy three are the real bad guys," Carmine said to the reborn trainers, "The masks belong to Ogrepon! Ugh, I really wish that I could tell them everything..."
"Can you tell us where the Loyal Three went off to?" Trip asked the people at the shrine.
"Oh, they went at once to ascend Oni Mountain," said the caretaker, "Perhaps they have it in mind to finish off the terrible Ogre that lurks in the Dreaded Den." Some of the others at the shrine had then proceeded to heap words of praise upon the 'noble actions' of the Loyal Three.
Turning to look at the reborn trainers, Carmine said, "This isn't the time to be laughing! If the story that we heard is true, then those three must've gone to get revenge on Ogrepon. They say that the Ogre fought using the power of its masks. But Ogrepon doesn't have any of its masks right now. It won't stand a chance!"
"Then let's bring Ogrepon its mask we have," Kenny said.
"Yeah, we're on the same page!" Carmine remarked, "But first we should split up! You all head to the Dreaded Den to help Ogrepon! I'll head back home to get the mask fixed up! Give me the mask and the crystal!" Given the urgency of the situation, Kenny handed the Teal Mask and the Crystal Cluster over to Carmine. "I'll head your way once the mask is fixed," Carmine said, "Make sure that Ogrepon will be safe!"
After that, Carmine dashed off back for home. "...I bet she just wanted to avoid being carried like she was a sack of potatoes by Villetta again," Trip said dryly. The reborn trainers actually never called their dragons back after landing at Kitakami Hall, so after Trip recalled Villetta, the reborn trainers all got back onto their dragons and flew up to head straight to the Dreaded Den to go see if they can protect Ogrepon.
...
Thanks to the flight, the reborn trainers arrived in record time, getting there in time to see the Loyal Three ganging up on Ogrepon who was laying on the ground at their mercy. "Oi, the hell do you jerkwads think you're doing to Ogrepon?!" Kenny snapped as he dashed forward towards where the Loyal Three were very clearly bullying Ogrepon.
Hearing Kenny cry out made the Loyal Three turn to face hi. Seeing the heroes, the Loyal Three had a group huddle before they broke away, and the monkey like one went in to confront Kenny. "So you want a challenge, do you?" Kenny said, "Very well! Black! You're already out so let's spank this damn monkey to teach it a lesson!"
The named Giratina gave a boastful cry as it flew in and landed in front of Kenny to battle the monkey member of the Loyal Three. The monkey member of the Loyal Three, along with both the dog and bird members, were surprised that so large and very clearly powerful of a Pokémon had been sent out against one of their own. But they could tell that they won't be able to get out of this mess without a fight, so fight the monkey member of the Loyal Three decided to do.
"Black, use Shadow Force!" Kenny called out, making Black instantly disappear into the shadows. The Loyal Three, especially the monkey member, all looked around in confusion as to where did the named Giratina go. But in a few seconds, Black burst out from the shadows and slammed hard into the monkey member of the Loyal Three, sending it flying back until it slammed into the side of the mountain near the entrance to the Dreaded Den. The monkey was clearly bested.
The other two members of the Loyal Three were able to pick their monkey member back up, and the three of them rushed forward to confront the reborn trainers.
"Oh knock it off, the lot of you!" Carmine scowled as she ran in, with Kieran following her, "It looks like you're aiming to go for a three on one against Kenny! I figured that it's too much to expect bad guys like you to fight fair!"
"Oh," Kenny said to the Loyal Three, "So ALL of you want a challenge, do you?" The Loyal Three looked to talk amongst themselves for a bit before they broke the group huddle and took off, clearly not intending to fight.
Scoffing, Carmine said, "Those vile villains all fled. No doubt because they could tell full well I would be too much for them to handle. Speaking of handling, there's something that has to be handled first." Turning to look at Kieran, Carmine said in a firm tone, "Do it, Kieran. Now."
Kieran was about to speak up, but was cut off by Kenny saying, "What, are you going to make Kieran apologize for acting up due to a mix of us excluding him and you being a grade-A bona fide bitch towards him? And also the part of us excluding him was entirely your idea? Kieran has to apologize to us because YOU Carmine are a shitty older sister and said shitty influence made him develop a certain way?" Folding his arms over his chest, Kenny said, "Before Kieran apologizes, YOU have to apologize to him for what all you've done, and swear off being shitty towards him ever again."
Carmine, and Kieran to a lesser extent, looked shocked into stunned silence, but the silence was broken by Ogrepon crying out, "Pon Pon Pon!" The heroes all turned to see Ogrepon was now up and looking right at them. "W-Wowzers," Kieran said, "It's the real Ogre. I never thought that I'd get to see the Ogre from the stories."
"Whichever between you guys ought to give the mask back to Ogrepon," Dawn said to Carmine and Kieran. It ended up being Carmine, who Kieran said wrested the Teal Mask from him. Ogrepon, however, was instantly distrustful of Carmine, growling a bit while shying away.
"I... don't think that Ogrepon will take the mask from Carmine," Dawn noted, "It doesn't look to be all that trusting of her."
"Can you blame Ogrepon for not trusting that bitch?" Mina asked.
Looking to the reborn trainers, Kieran said, "I... I think that Kenny should be the one to try giving back the mask to Ogrepon. That is assuming of course my older sister can for one moment put aside her ego that's the size of Oni Mountain."
"Are you talking back against me, Kieran?!" Carmine snapped, "That's not how little brothers are supposed to act towards their older sisters, you damn brat!"
Another growl from Ogrepon was levied at Carmine. "...Yeah, Ogrepon clearly doesn't like Carmine all that much," Trip said dryly. Seeing that she was being outnumbered here, Carmine had no choice but to hand the Teal Mask over to Kenny and let him give it to Ogrepon, who happily accepted the Teal Mask from him.
Ogrepon happily put the Teal Mask on immediately, then gave a happy cry of, "Pon! Pon-yo!"
"Now that is just sweet," Carmine said, "Ogrepon seems really comfortable around you, Kenny!" Not that she or the reborn trainers saw it, but Kieran looked upset to hear that Ogrepon looked to like the company of another person.
Turning to look at Carmine, Kenny said, "A lot more so than Ogrepon is around you at least, Carmine." The other reborn trainers, as well as Kieran and even Ogrepon to an extent even though Carmine didn't see those two do it, laughed at Carmine's expense.
Wanting to change the subject, Carmine said, "I say that it'd be nice if we can return to Ogrepon its other masks."
"Did those..." Kieran began, "...Did those three Pokémon take the masks that were kept in Kitakami Hall?"
"Because the people there are ignorant idiots who just handed the goods over, yeah," Trip remarked.
Carmine tried to walk up to Ogrepon, but a growl from it made Carmine step back. Instead, Carmine merely hung back and looked at Ogrepon. "Those masks that those idiots let the Lousy Three take actually rightfully belong to Ogrepon here! I wouldn't put it past that terrible trio of villains to plot a second ambush. We need to keep Ogrepon safe while dealing with them!"
Arching a wry eyebrow at Carmine, Dawn said, "I can only assume that you have a plan, Carmine."
Nodding in the affirmative, Carmine said, "Totally! The lot of us will form a team, which I'm dubbing the Mask Retrieval Squad! But first we'll have to go gather info down in Mossui Town. We're going to get those masks back! We can do this!" The group all gave cheers to show that they were ready to take on the mission to stop the shenanigans that the Loyal Three were up to, and as such they all left to go to Mossui Town.
Down in town later, the group approached a bridge that led into Mossui Town, but stopped when Ogrepon stopped due to looking like it didn't want to go into town. "What's wrong with Ogrepon?" asked Carmine.
"My guess is that it doesn't wanna go into the village," Kieran said, "I mean, the villagers did do a pretty good job at chasing it out last time..."
Nodding once, Carmine said, "Good point, Kieran. We'll have to make Ogrepon wait here while we go on in and gather the info." Turning to look at Ogrepon, Carmine said, "Now pay attention, Ogrepon. We go into village, you stay here. We go in, you wait here. Understood?"
Seeing Ogrepon look at Carmine while it gave off some annoyed growling, Kenny said, "Ogrepon is not an idiot, Carmine. Don't talk to it like it's the same as you."
"Did you just imply that I'm an idiot?" Carmine snapped at Kenny.
Shrugging, Kenny replied, "Well if the shoe fits..."
Pointing an accusing finger at Kenny, Carmine snapped, "Just for that, you have to wait here outside of the village and not go in to do any info hunting!"
"I was going to suggest that someone stay out here anyway to keep Ogrepon company in case something bad pops up," Kenny said, "Granted I was going to recommend Kieran for the role since he seems to care a great deal for Ogrepon, but-"
"Kieran has to go into the village to help with info gathering," Carmine insisted, "He's a native of Kitakami thus the villagers will be more trusting of him!" Seeing that time was of the essence which meant the reborn trainers and Kieran didn't exactly have the luxury of trying to make Carmine swallow her damn pride and ego for once, they all decided to comply and head into Mossui Town to gather info on the whereabouts of the Loyal Three, aside from Kenny who waited outside of the village with Ogrepon.
...
Given that Kieran was too nervous to approach people in the village despite being a resident there, and Carmine hanging back to direct things as she clearly wanted the others to do all of the work for her given she's a lazy and egotistical bitch, it was Dawn, Trip, and Mina who ended up getting all of the info on the whereabouts of the Loyal Three. Surprisingly enough, it wasn't as hard as the three of them thought it would be.
For Dawn, she got it from a young girl that the Loyal Three member identified as Fezandipiti zoomed through the sky over Oni Mountain. Mina learned that the Loyal Three member identified as Munkidori, most likely the monkey-like one Kenny had Black beat up, was laying near a pond in the southwestern area of Kitakami, apparently taking a nap. As for Trip, he got it that the Loyal Three member identified as Ohkidogi was somewhere in the Paradise Barrens.
When all of the info was gathered, the reborn trainers who went into Mossui Town with Carmine and Kieran ran back out to meet with Kenny and Ogrepon. "Alright, let's pool together what all info that the lot of us had gathered," Carmine said.
"You mean to say what all info me, Dawn, Trip, and Kieran had gathered," Mina said, "You hung back the entire time doing nothing but sitting on your duff! You were even asked to at least ask the folks who passed by you for any relevant info but you just checked your nails!"
"...Let's just discuss what all info our group as a whole got," Carmine scowled. After a bit of time to deliberate, the whereabouts of the Loyal Three were discussed. "...So Oni Mountain, Wistful Fields, and Paradise Barrens," Carmine said, "Sounds like a lot of places to cover all at once. Our best bet would be to have our whole group go to each location one at a time, and have all of us gang up on the Loyal Three members respectively located at each location."
Looking to the rest of the group, Kenny said, "...Or we can split up. This wouldn't be the first time that the lads and I have had to split up to deal with powerful threatening Pokémon, and all of what past examples we have had been successes. Hell, we can even go gather backup from our crew on our flying ship to help give us greater numbers."
Carmine was about to speak up, but Kieran cut in and said, "Kenny's got a point. We do have the luxury of being able to send multiple people to each location if need be. We don't have to focus on each location one at a time."
"...Fine, time is of the essence," Carmine said, looking annoyed she had been argued against. As such, Carmine proceeded to try to arrange who went in what group and which group went after which member of the Loyal Three.
...The operative phrase here being 'tried to', as Kieran cut in again, saying, "Sis, you ought to let Kenny and his friends work this business out themselves. It's their crew that you're trying to order and move around, and on business that they have more experience in dealing with than you." Scowling in annoyance, Kieran snarled at his older sister, "For once in your damn life, get the hell off of your high horse Pokémon and let someone else call the shots! You don't have to be the boss of everything all the time! Not everyone you meet is someone you can push around as if they're me!"
"You're off the team, Kieran!" Carmine snapped, "I won't stand for that kind of back talk out of you, you damned ungrateful brat! Get lost and think about what you've just done, and come back only when you've realized how badly you've acted towards me and are ready to apologize to me and beg me to forgive you!"
"Fine, I got things to do anyway!" Kieran snapped back, right before turning around and running off.
After Kieran was gone, Carmine turned to face the reborn trainers, putting on a nice face. "I am so sorry about how my little brother has been acting so bratty as of late," Carmine said, "He usually never acts up so much. I have no idea what's gotten into him."
"...If it weren't for the fact we're pressed for time right now due to the Loyal Three acting up," Kenny began as he looked right at Carmine, "I'd sic one of my Pokémon on you here and now."
"Excuse you?!" Carmine said, "Do you wanna be off the team too?!"
"If you boot any of us off from the team to deal with the Loyal Three," Dawn began firmly, "Then ALL of us will leave, which will leave you and you alone to deal with ALL THREE of the Loyal Three. Do you think that you can handle all of that work on your own?" The rest of the reborn trainers all nodded in unity with Dawn.
Looking like she was stuck between a rock and a hard place, Carmine said, "Y-You guys can't just all leave me to do all of the work by myself! My whole team would get wiped by just ONE of the Loyal Three, and before I can do any damage!"
"Then swallow your damn pride, put your ego aside, and be a team player," Dawn snarled, "I have no idea how it was that you've been allowed to act as my friends and I have seen you act ever since we all got to Kitakami, nor do I know how long you've been allowed to slash able to get away with it, but that behavior of yours has GOT to stop! Seriously, are you aware how much damage that you acting the way that you have been acting might have caused?!"
"My behavior is perfect and flawless!" Carmine snapped back, looking a bit freaked that she might be forced to give something up, "It's kept Kieran dependent on me and from trying to be on his own ever since our parents were killed over half a decade ago!"
The reborn trainers gave Carmine a surprised look of curious concern, but had to put that off to the side for the time being. For now, they went back into Mossui Town and gathered members of the crew of The Jelly-Filled Donut to back them up as they went after the Loyal Three. The groups ended up being Dawn, Leona, and Omiyo going after Fezandipiti, Trip, Rhyanna, and Carmine going after Ohkidogi, and Kenny, Mina, and Sho going after Munkidori.
With the teams set, the heroes went after the Loyal Three to deal with them.
END, CHAPTER THREE-HUNDRED AND FOUR
Author's notes;
This chapter deals with the heroes getting the Teal Mask fixed, but they first have to get it back from Kieran who did end up hearing what they were told. Then the Loyal Three resurrect and go about causing trouble, getting the masks kept at Kitakami Hall and then going to bully Ogrepon who is saved by Kenny. The heroes decide to help Ogrepon.
They have to go gather information on the whereabouts of the Loyal Three members, but Carmine essentially does none of the info gathering work in Mossui Town. She then boots Kieran from the team to help Ogrepon, and is in turn threatened by the reborn trainers into behaving. In the process, Carmine lets slip an exclamation that hints as to why she acts as she does here.
Anyway, the next chapter will see the reborn trainers, some of the members of the crew of The Jelly-Filled Donut, and Carmine work to deal with the Loyal Three so as to get back the masks that they took from Kitakami Hall and give all of said masks back to Ogrepon. How things will go will be seen later. Until then, take care.
Dawn's Pokémon: (on hand) Chi-Chi (female Infernape), Tsukune (Palkia), Diablo (Iron Valiant), Yae (Slither Wing), Miyabi (Iron Moth), Veldora (Koraidon)
Kenny's Pokémon: (on hand) Roshi (male Torterra), Black (Giratina), Mechazilla (Iron Thorns), Manny (Great Tusk), Hizashi (Scream Tail), Azhdaha (Iron Boulder)
Trip's Pokémon: (on hand) Myde (male Empoleon), Deelia (Dialga), URL (Iron Jugulis), Donbot (Iron Hands), Robot Santa (Iron Bundle), Villetta (Miraidon)
Mina's Pokémon: (on hand) Scar (male Eevee; scared over one eye), Dragonite (male), Lucario (female), Umbreon (male; shiny), Espeon (male; shiny), Jolteon (male; shiny)