Previously on Oranges to Grapes: The Tree of Masks...
The Pomegranetes plan out a better way to handle the next day in Kitakami before they turn in for the night, while Ko is let out of his punishment back in Paldea...
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As the sky turned black and star-speckled with night, Camilla, Pico and Balto (plus Gari, but he's not really important to the story anyway) were all sleeping peacefully in their rooms at the rec center... or so it appeared on the outside.
Inside their subconsious, the bunny, lizard and husky were all inside the teal honeycomb again, and one of the hexagons appeared before the three. "Hello again, Pomegranetes," the shape with eyes said.
"Hello, Terry," Camilla said.
"Any particular chance the three of us are together in the same dream?" Pico asked. "Because I know we're not all in the same bed, thank legendaries."
"I have gathered your minds together so as to remind you of your mission to restore Terastalization in Paldea," Terry explained. "Tell me, where are you three now?"
"On a field trip in the land of Kitakami," Balto explained, "which, fun fact, used to be Camilla's homeland."
"Excellent," Terry praised. "That is where one of the seperate sources of Terastal energy is located. But I also sense that there is an obstacle meaning to obstruct your mission."
"What kind of obstacle?" Pico asked.
"As it was revealed 4 years ago," Terry explained as some of the hexagons around the small hole changed colors to display visual evidence, "a pair of outsiders had entered the land of Kitakami to start a new life there, but were ostracized by the locals at first glance and treated like they didn't belong. One local, however, took pity on the outsiders and gave them a set of handcrafted masks adorned with glittering jewels so they could socialize with the populace and show that they were judged too quickly. But it was not long before word of those masks reached the notice of an elderly couple, whose child they adopted fed them sweet yet poisonous mochi that drew out their inner desires, and they sent their child along with his three retainers to bring them the masks. Upon reaching the land of Kitakami, the child and his retainers found the outsiders and set out to steal the masks, but could only manage to grab three before a fight broke out and took the life of one of the outsiders. The other outsider came to check on her partner, but upon seeing him lifeless on the ground with only one of the masks in his hands, something had snapped. Overtaken by wrath, the last outsider adorned the unclaimed mask... and set out to wreak her vengance on the child and retainers. One by one, each of the retainers were destroyed by the outsider's emotions, unable to stand against her anger, her fury, her rage... Finally, the child was left, but as his begs for mercy fell on deaf ears, and his bitter tears of regret went unnoticed by firey eyes... his own body was rendered immobile for years. The locals gathered to see what the commotion was all about, but upon seeing the bodies laying motionless on the ground and the outsider panting from exhaustion... their ignorance of the situation made them believe they had her pegged the first time. The retainers were given a burial, the outsider was banished from the public, and the child was never seen or heard from again... until 4 years ago, that is."
As the visuals faded from the hexagons and left the three awestruck, Terry waited until they could speak, and Pico asked, "Is that true?"
"It is," Terry confirmed, "but, as you all say nowadays, 'here is the kicker.' The child in this story was the mythical Pokemon, Pecharunt, its retainers were Okidogi, Munkidori, and Fezandipiti, otherwise known as The Loyal Three, or Lousy Three, depending on your understanding. And the surviving outsider... was Ogerpon. All of their backstories were rectified, and they went into the care of a Champion-Rank Trainer, but that's not to say that the truth did not have any effect that still stands to this day."
"But what does any of this have to do with our mission?" Camilla asked.
"Because I sense that there are still inhabitants of Kitakami that refuse to accept the truth," Terry answered gravely, "and they may pose a threat. But correct these heretics, and you may be successful in your mission."
"Ay, papi, that's a lot to unpack there," Pico said.
"But before I dismiss you to your actual dreams, I must ask one final question," Terry said. "Did you bring the Terastal Tambourine with you?"
"I did," Balto piped up.
"Very well done," Terry praised. "As I said before, once you are close to the land's source of Terastal energy, the tambourine will chime to let you know. And here is a hint to help you along: there must be something in the water."
"Okay, to summarize, a local legend was misinterpreted, then updated, but there are some future-proofers who won't get with the program, and the source of energy here is in the water. Got it," Pico said.
"Correct," Terry said before he sunk back into the honeycomb. "Now... fare thee well..."
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After a brief, groggy moment of opening their eyes, the Pomegranetes tried to go back to sleep, and after a few seconds... they did.
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To be continued.
