Previously on Oranges to Grapes: The Tree of Masks...
Chairwoman Geeta and Director Clavell meet up with Ko in his dorm room to discuss the incident he caused before the field trip... but ultimately decide to let him off the hook for that and mandate a video class for something else he did during Season 1...
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But enough about him, we'll just skip to the main reason for the story.
The land of Kitakami, a beautiful land of crystal-clear waters, lush, green forests... and adherence to tradition. But that's not to say that the populace is opposed to modernity, as the land also has a small town with citizens taking selfies like in the city, and a bus stop on a road further south. A gray charter bus pulled up to said bus stop, and when the air brakes hissed and the doors opened...
"Alright, lucky winners," Briar said as she was the first to step outside, "everybody off the bus now. We have arrived here on Kitakami Road!"
"Coming, Ms. Briar!" Balto called out as he was next. He then turned around and asked, "So, Camilla, how does it feel to be back in your old homeland after so long?"
"Like nothing has changed, but everything has," Camilla answered as she disembarked next.
"I still can't believe Blueberry Academy's students didn't even get to participate in the drawing," Pico grumped as he got off the bus next. "'Inter-Academy,' my jagged scales."
And last but not least, Garibosh (or Gari, as he preferred to be called) had to juggle his crutches to get down the stairs, but eventually, all four students were at the bus-stop bench with Briar, waiting to hear her instructions.
"Okay, everyone," Briar began, "first of all, sorry that no one from Blueberry Academy besides myself will be joining us on this trip. There had been... extenuating circumstances that prevented the drawing from happening there... but let's not dwell on the past. Welcome to the land of Kitakami! In a few minutes, we'll be going further up the road to Mossui Town, where we'll settle down before the reason we've come here begins tomorrow... though I've been told that one of our lucky winners is originally from here!"
"That would be I," Camilla admitted.
"Interesting to know!" Briar cheered. "So, without further ado, let's start the walk into town!"
With that, the Blueberry Academy teacher led the class up the road to Mossui Town. Taking advantage of the lapse in conversation, Gari hobbled on his crutches closer to Camilla to ask, "So, uh... what can we expect to see here, former Kitakamite?"
"ACTUALLY," Pico interjected, "I'm hoping to wait until tomorrow to find out, por favor."
"Pico, don't be rude," Camilla chided.
"I'm with Pico on this," Balto added. "Besides, why should we tell this guy? We've hardly known him for more than 7 hours."
"Because look at me," Gari said. "I'm obviously not supposed to be here. How is a guy on crutches supposed to explore a new region? The only reason I'm here is because a plan with the Academy fell through."
"Plan!?" all three Pomegranetes questioned.
"And here we are!" Briar said, stopping the conversation. The group found themselves at the center of Mossui Town in front of the community center, where a bald, old man in a purple jinbei stood before the entrance. "Ah, hello there!" the man said. "I've been expecting you all. Welcome to the land of Kitakami, more specifically, the community center of Mossui Town. You can call me the caretaker, and you must be the winners of the annual Inter-Academy Field Trip Drawing!"
"Only the ones from the Foremost World-Renowned Pokemon Academy of Paldea," Pico pointed out. "Blueberry Academy didn't get to participate this year."
"Don't ask Ms. Briar why," Balto added, "she won't say."
"Oh, I'm well aware of Blueberry Academy's absence," the caretaker said. "Ms. Briar and I discussed it the day before... and she has my condolences. But listen to me babble on! Come in, come in, make yourselves at home!"
"Not so fast," a male voice said from behind the crowd. Everyone did a double-take, and closer to the entrance of town stood another white rabbit like Camilla, but this one had shorter, brown hair, wore a black jacket over a white shirt, blue jeans, gray shoes... and was obviously a guy.
"Ay, basura," Pico sighed in exasperation, taking out his Poke Ball. "Listen, whoever you are, if you're ragging so bad for a battle, don't expect us to go easy on you!"
"I wasn't," the male rabbit said as he took out his own Poke Ball, "but niether will I." He then threw his ball to start the sudden battle... and when the flash of white light faded, there stood... an Ariados.
"Apple! Use Torch Song and shut this rando out!" Pico ordered, and when the aforementioned Skeledirge came out, the firebird was already launched and scorched its opponent... even leaving a burn so its Focus Sash couldn't save it from fainting!
"So, that's how it is," the male rabbit said. "Mightyena! Use Crunch!" As he sent out the canine Pokemon, its bared fangs were already glowing and CHOMPED Apple on the snout, even taking a bite of the firebird as well!
While it did deal super-effective damage, Apple managed to tough out the attack so Pico wouldn't feel sad. "Apple, return!" Pico said, and the Skeledirge was sent back to its Poke Ball which was swapped out for another. "Go, Vespiquen!"
"Mightyena, use Snarl!" the male rabbit said, but when the black shockwaves were emmited, they couldn't even touch the queen bee Pokemon because she was too nimble.
"Vespiquen, use Attack Order!" Pico shouted! "!Vaya con dios, puto!"
Vespiquen aimed her gown-like abdomen at Mightyena, and swarms of Combee came pouring out, covering the black-furred dog all over its body and stinging it where they landed!
"Mightyena, retu- AGH!" The male rabbit tried to call back his Pokemon, but one of the swarm's Combee broke free and got him in the paw! "OW! Time out! TIME OUT!"
"Game over!" Pico asserted as the swarm maintained its onslaught. "I told you I wouldn't go easy on you, and once you're out of the way, everyone here will know that the Foremost World-Renowned Pokemon Academy of Paldea raises no pushovers!"
"STOOOOOOOOOOOOOPPPPP!!!"
The battle was halted instantly when the outburst rang out, and everyone saw Camilla red-faced with tears streaming down her face. Vespiquen was called back, the swarm was called off, and Mightyena was laid out on the ground covered in bumps.
The male rabbit took the chance and called back his Pokemon with the ball in his other paw, then cheesed it out of there as fast as he could.
"Well, that happened," the caretaker said. "As I was saying, come in and make yourselves at home."
"Good idea," Balto said as he and Gari hurried into the community center.
"Otore and Hatsuki, a moment," Briar said. "Now."
Pico and Camilla were worried about the tone in their chaperone's voice, and came closer to her. "Yes, Ms. Briar?" they both asked.
"Now, I don't know what happened back in Paldea to start this commotion," Briar said firmly, "but I am about this close to calling the whole excursion off and getting us back with no experience gained from it. Do you want that to happen?"
"No, Ms. Briar," the bunny and lizard said.
"Then is it too much to ask for you to put your feelings aside and let the rest of this field trip go off without a hitch?"
"No, Ms. Briar," the bunny and lizard repeated.
"Then go inside, listen to the caretaker, and do not cause another problem," Briar stipulated.
"Yes, Ms. Briar," both students said, and that was the end of the discussion.
Inside the community center, Balto and Gari were patiently waiting for the rest of the group along with the caretaker, and when the others turned up... "Ah, the gang's all here," the caretaker said. "Did everything get sorted out?"
"As much as possible," Briar said simply.
"Well, that's good," the caretaker said. "So, welcome to the community center officially! We've got plenty of space for you all in the guest rooms in the back, and here in the common area is the TV, the public restrooms, the conference room, and the help desk. Oh, and feel free to take one of our fliers and brochures if any of them catch your interest! But I'd imagine that you're all rather tired now from the long trip over here, so I'll just leave you to making yourselves comfortable until tomorrow!"
"Thank you, caretaker!" everyone said together.
Deciding that resting for tomorrow was the right idea, the group retreated to the back of the building where the quarters were, eager to forget the rocky start the field trip took...
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Back outside, four pairs of sinister eyes were watching from the branches of a tree, taking note of the visitors in the community center. Satisfied with what they saw, they blinked out of sight, and four shadowy figures quickly shot out of the tree and scattered around Kitakami...
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To be continued.
