Chapter 185: Who’s to Blame?

"Dylan, who's this little one?"

Ilene's curious voice chimed as she noticed Dylan returning with a Pokémon that resembled a small child.

Spotting Ilene, the timid Ogerpon instinctively hid behind Dylan, peeking out shyly from behind its verdant mask.

"This is Ogerpon. I'm showing it around," Dylan explained with a smile, gently patting Ogerpon's head.

"So, this is Ogerpon?"

Ilene froze for a moment, her gaze softening as she took in the sight of the bashful Pokémon.

Having heard Dylan recount Ogerpon's tale, Ilene already had a strong fondness for it.

"This little one's been through centuries of solitude, so it's a bit afraid of people. But I think it'll get better with time," Dylan said softly.

Ever since its human companion passed away, Ogerpon had been living alone in this place. Tragically, the ignorant villagers, fearful of the "terrifying ghost," had driven it away, leading to its conflicted feelings—longing for human connection yet fearing rejection.

"Hello, Ogerpon. I'm Ilene," Ilene said gently, crouching slightly to greet Ogerpon with the softest tone she could muster.

Ogerpon hesitated, unsure whether to respond.

"No need to be afraid. Ilene likes you very much too," Dylan reassured.

"Oge~"

Ogerpon's large eyes squinted with delight as it let out a cheerful chirp.

Dylan's innate Viridian Force made him naturally approachable to Pokémon, but beyond that, Ogerpon could sense the genuine kindness emanating from him.

"You're so cute!" Ilene exclaimed, charmed by Ogerpon's lively cry. Unfortunately, its verdant mask hid its face from view.

Ogerpon's humanoid form featured two black legs, a green torso, plant-like arms, and a green leaf sprouting from its head. Its face was obscured by the menacing verdant mask adorned with a sparkling crystal, adding an air of mystery.

Before long, Lillie emerged, tucking her newly purchased kimonos into her bag.

"Big brother, Ilene, have you been waiting long? Oh? What Pokémon is this?"

Her eyes lit up with curiosity as she noticed Ogerpon, which was equally intrigued by her.

"Oge~!" Ogerpon chirped, this time not hiding behind Dylan.

"This is Ogerpon. We just met, and we hit it off," Dylan explained with a smile.

"Wow, Ogerpon, huh? Hello, Ogerpon! I'm Lillie. Do you like berries?" Lillie asked eagerly.

"Oge~"

Shyly lifting the edge of its verdant mask, Ogerpon reached out and accepted the berry from Lillie's hand, happily munching on it.

Ilene and Lillie both leaned closer, curious about Ogerpon's face beneath the mask. They caught a glimpse of its orange cheeks, small sharp fangs, and golden eyes sparkling like stars—utterly adorable.

The group wandered the night market, with Ogerpon clinging to Dylan's clothes. Finding it cumbersome, Dylan eventually picked it up.

Ogerpon beamed with joy, gazing excitedly at the bustling crowd. It had been centuries since it experienced such vibrant energy.

However, after half an hour, Dylan set Ogerpon down. Despite its pleading eyes asking for more cuddles, Dylan admitted he was too tired to carry it any longer—Ogerpon was about 1.2 meters tall and weighed nearly 80 pounds!

After two hours exploring the market, the group arrived at a shrine.

"Wait here for a bit," Dylan instructed, leaving Ilene and Lillie with Ogerpon while he entered the shrine.

Releasing Darkrai from its Poké Ball, Dylan whispered a few words to it. Nodding, Darkrai vanished into the shadows.

It wasn't long before Darkrai returned, carrying three masks.

"Oge!!"

Ogerpon's eyes lit up as it stared at the masks in Darkrai's hands.

"Excited?" Dylan teased, holding the masks out toward Ogerpon.

"Oge Oge!!"

Ogerpon hopped around joyfully, circling Dylan to express its delight. These were the masks it had lost centuries ago!

The three masks represented water, fire, and rock types. Ogerpon eagerly tried each one on, its happiness palpable.

When it was time to leave, Ogerpon hesitated, visibly disheartened.

"Oge…"

It expressed its reluctance to part ways.

"How about staying with us at the inn tonight? I'll give you a surprise tomorrow," Dylan offered gently.

"Oge?"

"It's okay. With you around, I'll feel much safer. Right?"

"Oge!!"

Ogerpon nodded firmly.

That night, at the inn, Ogerpon sat on the bed, engrossed in examining its masks. Dylan chuckled at its enthusiasm.

"Time to sleep, Ogy."

"Oge~!"

But Ogerpon, still brimming with excitement, wasn't sleepy.

"How about watching a show? This one's about a hero fighting a three-headed dragon—it's pretty popular," Dylan suggested, handing it a phone.

Curious, Ogerpon quickly became absorbed in the drama, its golden eyes wide with tension as the dragon kidnapped a princess.

By morning, Dylan awoke to find Ogerpon still watching the show, completely captivated.

"Oge~ Oge..."

Ogerpon was seated on a chair, clutching a tissue in one hand and incessantly wiping away its tears, faint sobs escaping from time to time.

Dylan leaned over to check and couldn't help but twitch his lips. The cause of Ogerpon's emotional outburst? The scene on the phone screen depicted the three-headed dragon demon lord incinerating the princess with a single fiery breath, leaving the prince utterly heartbroken.

Hmm, it seemed Ogerpon had a rather strong sense of empathy.

"Ogy, did you watch this all night?"

"Oge? Oge~ Oge Oge~"

Startled, Ogerpon turned around and, upon seeing Dylan, immediately burst into tears and leapt into his arms.

"Alright, alright, it's okay. None of it is real. It's just a TV show. Don't worry, the princess and the prince are just fine," Dylan said soothingly, gently patting the little one's back until it finally calmed down.

But... it seemed this little one had developed a liking for dramas.

Later, as they ate breakfast, Dylan watched Ogerpon still glued to its phone, utterly engrossed in its show, and couldn't help but fall into contemplation.

A foodie Mew and a drama-obsessed Ogerpon—where exactly did things go wrong?

After breakfast, under Ogerpon's plaintive gaze, Dylan dragged it out into the street. Stopping at Momozawa's shop, he spent some money to buy a peach-shaped ornament.

Ogerpon stared at the peach-shaped ornament, deep in thought. It felt an inexplicable sense of familiarity.

Dylan and his group then arrived at Treasure Plaza.

"Necrozma, awaken them," Dylan commanded as he placed the large purple peach ornament on the ground and released Necrozma from its Poké Ball.

In the game, the Loyal Three revived abruptly. As for Pecharunt, players could trigger a side quest after obtaining the item Phantom Peach Fruit.

Dylan didn't have a Phantom Peach Fruit, but that didn't matter—he had other methods.

"Lunaa~"

Necrozma appeared in its normal form before Dylan, its colored parts glowing blue.

A powerful psychic energy enveloped the large peach, stimulating the consciousness within, while the psychic waves radiated across Treasure Plaza.

Before long, the surface of the peach began to glow a deep purple and floated into the air.

"What is that?" Ilene and Lillie exclaimed in surprise.

Ogerpon stared blankly at the floating 'giant peach.'

"Pecha~ruunt!"

A low, raspy voice suddenly echoed as the purple peach split open from the middle, revealing a violet figure within.

The mythical Pokémon Pecharunt had awakened!

Boom!

With a thunderous explosion, the altar at the front of Treasure Plaza shattered, filling the air with dust and debris.

Three distinctly shaped Pokémon emerged slowly from the cloud of dust—Okidogi, Munkidori, and Fezandipiti.

The legendary Loyal Three had been resurrected!

"Oge..."

Ogerpon murmured softly, gazing at the four familiar figures ahead.

"All the past events are etched in your heart, aren't they? I believe you haven't entirely forgiven them. If that's the case, why not go ahead and teach them another lesson?"

Dylan gently rubbed Ogerpon's head, speaking to it in a warm tone.

Ogerpon raised its face to look at Dylan, its eyes shimmering with moving light, and then it nodded firmly.

"Oge!"

In an instant, Ogerpon leapt forward to confront Pecharunt and the three Loyal Three, letting out a fierce cry.

"Pecha~ruunt?"

Pecharunt, still confused after its abrupt revival, saw Ogerpon and was flooded with memories of the past.

The old couple… the mask… the demon…

The old couple… the mask the old couple wanted!

"Pecha~ruunt!!" Pecharunt let out a piercing screech, its white eyes glaring furiously at Ogerpon.

It was this creature! If not for it, Pecharunt would have long since returned the mask to the old couple, fulfilling their wish. They could have loved it more deeply!

Pecharunt's enraged cry was shrill and piercing. Two dark purple chains shot out from within the split peach shell, hurtling toward Ogerpon on the ground.

Pecharunt's signature move—Poison-type Malignant Chain!

"Oge!!"

Ogerpon donned its Verdant Mask, its sharp and intense gaze locking onto the airborne Pecharunt.

It brought the past into its heart. The memories of bygone days would transform into its strength!

A dazzling light suddenly erupted from Ogerpon, enveloping it in crystalline brilliance.

Crackle!

The sound of shattering crystal echoed.

Pecharunt's Malignant Chain struck but were blocked by a massive, radiant mask shimmering with crystalline light.

"Oge~!!"

Now gleaming with brilliance, Ogerpon moved the crystalline Verdant Mask aside and growled deeply at Pecharunt.

The glow of memories reflected!

Important memories would never fade; they would become its strength. This was Ogerpon!

Ogerpon glanced at Pecharunt and then at the three Loyal Three that had rushed over.

It thought: "Perhaps it had gone too easy on them centuries ago. Since they're bouncing around again now, I'll have to hit them harder this time."

(Chapter End)