Previously on Oranges to Grapes: The Tree of Masks...
After the Pomegranetes get their field trip assignment, they stay behind to offer Samuel an amends for what happened yesterday, which he accepts...
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"So, you're looking for the signboards, huh?" Samuel asked once the situation was explained to him.
"Yep," Pico confirmed, "same as the Paldean visitors who came last year, and the year before that, et cetera et cetera..."
"Well, then allow me to explain a few things before you do," the male bunny said. "About four years ago, the local legends of the land were proven to be wrong, so the signboards had to be updated... by which I mean removed and replaced with new ones that were treated with wood-preserve stain."
"Understandable," Balto said. "Four years worth of wear and tear can wreak havoc on wood."
"And the legend, don't forget the legend," Camilla reminded the dog.
"Anyway," Samuel interjected, "the first one we'll see will take quite a bit of footpower to get there, but it also comes with a snack stop, so that's okay. Hope you guys like- oop! Almost spoiled the surprise!"
"Let's just go," Pico said, and the group followed Samuel out of Mossui Town to their first stop... Apple Hills.
"Okay, everyone, welcome to the first stop of Sammy-O's Tour of the Land, Apple Hills!" Samuel announced as the air was aglow with the smell of apples ripe for the picking. "It's here where the apples are harvested for candy apples to sell at the Festival of Masks, but we're not against the occasional picking for snacks. Just remember these two simple rules: one, don't gorge on them all, and two, keep an eye out for any Applin. They like to hide in the branches and take Trainers by surprise."
That last rule made Balto's ears perk up. "Applin in the branches, you say? That gives me an idea." He then took out Prince's Poke Ball and scanned the area. As he searched through the apple trees bearing fruit, eventually he saw one apple hanging in the branches... by a worm? "Aha!"
As the apple fell from the tree, a pair of leaf-like eyes popped up from the top, revealing the apple Pokemon the husky was looking for. He then sent out his Quaquaval to hit it with Aqua Step, chipping its energy enough to stun it, then threw a Great Ball. Three wobbles, and...
Thoomp.
"Score!" Balto cheered before he picked up his latest catch. "I caught an Applin!"
"Qua!" Prince cheered as he struck a pose in triumph.
"Great," Samuel praised as the group kept walking. "Moving on, we're about to come to a fork in the path, and once we do, we must take the left."
"Alright," Pico said, "you're the guide." Deciding not to question anything, he and the others then came to the signs at the fork in the path, and turned left into the Wistful Fields.
"Next up is the Wistful Fields," the male bunny explained, "the flowers of which are said to wash away any cares you may have. But mind your step, because the fields also have tall grass where wild Pokemon can hide and take advantage of aimless wanderers."
"Don't worry, boys," Camilla assured, "I've got this." As the group let the soft grass tickle their ankles, she kept her ears perked for any rustling that was out of rhythm. Fortunately, all that approached was a Tandemaus pair that skipped happily, but a swift throw of a Quick Ball added it to Camilla's roster.
"Double score!" Camilla cheered as she held out her latest catch. "I caught a Tandemaus!"
"Good job, cousin," Samuel praised as the group kept walking. "First Balto catches a Poke, now Cammie. Could Pico be thinking of going for the hat trick?"
"I might want to," Pico supposed, "but nothing has to be set in stone."
"Speaking of which," Samuel piped up as they reached another part of the land, "we're coming up on our last stop before the first signboard: Paradise Barrens. This part of the land of Kitakami is a wide expanse of bare dirt and solid rock, making it the ideal gathering place for only the toughest, strongest, and most rugged Pokemon in all of Kitakami."
"We'll see about that."
That sentence was punctuated by Pico deploying the only Pokemon he didn't use against Samuel: his fully-evolved Arboliva. "Shield me from the land and all who inhabit it, por favor."
"Boli," the olive tree Pokemon responded before she walked alongside her Trainer, striking down Pokemon left and right with mere swats of her branches along the way to the signboard. It wasn't until Samuel called out, "Uh! The signboard's that way!" that the onslaught was halted.
"Oh, right," Pico said with a blush. "Lead the way, Samuel, because I have no idea where we're going."
"I was, but okay," the male bunny supposed, and the group finally started back up through the maze of stone walls until lo, there stood a varnished piece of wood engraved with words, adorned with an angle of red over the top. On one side of the words was a silhouette of Ogerpon wielding her cudgel, and the other side depicted Pecharunt and the Lousy Three running away in fright.
"Behold, one of three pieces of the land of Kitakami's local legend, only updated," Samuel said with a flourish. "Before you take a group photo in front of it, allow me to read of the not-so-ancient text." He then approached the signboard... and began to read.
"If you see a shadowy figure outside of the village at twilight, do not fear. Whether it is man or monster, you will pass by each other as fellow residents of this land. But if it is the ogre, all you need do is wave nicely, and it shall wave back. Once it does, you will have made a new friend. And you shall never worry of trouble crossing your path."
"Aw, that's sweet," Balto cooed.
"Yeah, this is very nice," Samuel said, but added with disappointment, "or rather, it would be if Ogerpon wasn't already a part of someone else's team... not to mention... something else."
"What something else?" Pico asked suspiciously.
"First things first," Camilla said, stopping the investigation as her Rotom Phone flew in front of her, and as she tapped her screen, she added, "Everyone get in front of the signboard while I set the timer!"
"And after the photo, I can introduce you to the Flying Taxi cab driver when we head back to Mossui!" Samuel said as he got out of the shot, since he wasn't part of the class assignment.
Pico did a double-take at that, but there was no time to get into the subject as the timer was ticking down, with Camilla counting down on her finger-beans. Finally... "Smile!"
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To be continued.
