"Ogerpon, this is for you, and this, and this."
Summer took out the berries from Sunset Forest, sticky rice cakes from Mossui Town, and bread from Spikemuth from his backpack. He handed all the delicious food he considered good to Ogerpon.
Living in the desolate Oni Mountain, it surely couldn't get these kinds of food regularly. It was too pitiful, making Summer want to help it.
"Boni?"
Ogerpon sniffed the sweet aroma. Faced with the delicious food, it didn't eat immediately but looked at Summer, its expression as if asking, "Can I really enjoy these?"
"Of course, no problem. Eat up," Summer said, smiling kindly.
"Bo!"
Ogerpon's eyes lit up, and it carefully tasted the food, savoring each bite as if it were the Festival of Masks, treasuring and enjoying this brief moment of happiness.
Poor child, Summer thought, reaching out to pat Ogerpon's head. Seeing Summer's hand, Ogerpon didn't resist. Instead, it lifted its head towards Summer's hand.
Summer gently patted its head, feeling its smooth, leaf-like texture. Ogerpon enjoyed it even more, feeling a familiar comfort it hadn't felt in a long time.
"The masks... they're in the shrine, right?" Summer looked at the shrine in the distance. He had the urge to retrieve the remaining three masks for Ogerpon but shook his head.
The villagers should return the masks to Ogerpon themselves. They needed to acknowledge their mistakes and understand the legend's truth.
The truth of the legend was a painful past for Ogerpon, so Summer didn't plan to learn it from Ogerpon. The truth had to be found in the village. Hopefully, someone with a conscience would know and share the true legend.
"Well, Ogerpon, we have to say goodbye now," Summer said as Ogerpon finished its food.
"Boni..."
Ogerpon made a reluctant sound. Was it already time to leave?
"Don't worry, we'll come back. And I'll make sure they understand the truth of the legend," Summer said firmly.
Hearing the promise to meet again, Ogerpon jumped joyfully. It wasn't a farewell.
...
"You're early as usual today, Summer."
Kieran quickly approached the community center, greeting Summer. But seeing Summer's serious expression, he paused and asked worriedly:
"Did something happen?"
"Let's find a quiet place, Kieran. I have something to tell you."
Seeing Summer's serious expression, Kieran nodded and said:
"I know a place. Follow me."
On a secluded hillside where not even Pokémon ventured, it was quiet enough.
"This place is quiet enough. I used to come here when I felt unhappy," Kieran said, then looked at Summer. "So, what's the matter? Could it be about the ogre?"
"Yes, it's about the ogre," Summer nodded.
"Really!?" Kieran was surprised. He had just guessed.
"Last night, I saw the ogre."
"Where? When? What did it look like? Was it as cool as the legend says?" Kieran asked a barrage of questions.
"Kieran, the legend is false. The ogre isn't scary. Its name is Ogerpon, and it's a pitiful Pokémon," Summer shook his head.
"What?" Kieran was stunned. The ogre, pitiful? What was the ogre he admired really like?
"It was in Mossui Town. Sorry, Kieran, I went there last night without you because the villagers fear the ogre, and the ogre also fears the villagers. That's why it hides when you're around."
"I see, no wonder I've never seen it..." Kieran looked dejected.
Summer then recounted what happened the previous night. Listening, Kieran clenched his fists. The ogre, no, Ogerpon, was too pitiful.
"So, I want to ask if anyone knows the history of Mossui Town. Maybe someone still knows the truth," Summer said.
"Hmm... Summer, come to my house. My grandfather, he's not only a mask maker but also knows the village's history. He might know something," Kieran suggested, wanting to help Ogerpon.
"Let's go then," Summer said. It turned out to be Kieran's grandfather. Fate works in mysterious ways.
...
In front of Kieran's house, Carmine was talking with Perrin. Yesterday, she became Perrin's new assistant, helping with photographing the Wisteria Pond.
"Kieran, Summer, didn't you go to the Wastelands?" Carmine asked concernedly.
"It's none of your business... You don't know anything..."
"What attitude, Kieran! I'm just worried about you!"
"Hmph..."
"Don't be like that, Kieran. You're acting just like the misunderstanding villagers," Summer advised.
"Ah... you're right. Sorry, Carmine, but we have something urgent. That's why my attitude was bad," Kieran apologized.
"The ogre, right?" Carmine guessed.
"Huh?!"
"Of course. You care most about the ogre."
Perrin put down her camera, curious. "It sounds like big news..."
Suddenly, the wooden door opened, and Kieran's grandfather walked out, scolding Carmine:
"Arguing with your brother again, Carmine? You should be more considerate..."
"Grandpa! Tell me the truth about the ogre!" Kieran shouted.
"Uh..." Grandpa hesitated.
"You know something, don't you? I saw the ogre last night. It's nothing like the legend, and its real name is Ogerpon," Summer said.
"This... sigh, alright. Let's talk inside. This story has been passed down in our family for generations. Don't spread it around, understand?"
Grandpa sat on the wooden chair outside and began to tell the long-buried story.
In a distant era, a man from a foreign land and an ogre got lost in Mossui Town. The villagers, afraid of their different appearances, wouldn't let them near the village.
The man and the ogre didn't mind the villagers' rejection. As long as they were together, they were happy. So, they lived a simple life in a cave on the mountain.
A mask maker, feeling sorry for them, decided to help by making masks adorned with gemstones the man brought from his homeland. The masks were beautiful and elegant.
Wearing the masks to hide their faces, the man and the ogre could join the village festival without being shunned. They were overjoyed and grateful for the mask maker's kindness.
After that, they wore the masks to the village festival secretly. The masks were a big hit, and news of them spread to distant lands.
However, this news attracted three greedy Pokémon. They sneaked into the man and ogre's home, trying to steal the cherished masks.
The man fought to protect one mask but couldn't save the others. The greedy Pokémon took them away.
When the ogre returned, it found signs of a struggle and the green mask. To find the man, it wore the mask and ran down to the village.
There, it saw the three Pokémon celebrating with the stolen masks. Anger surged within it. With the shining mask and its thorn-covered club, it defeated them all.
The villagers, knowing nothing, feared the enraged ogre and mistakenly revered the three greedy Pokémon as village guardians, burying them with honor.
The ogre, after venting its anger, felt only sorrow. It returned to the mountain, back to its simple home with the man.
"Sigh, that's the true story of the ogre. Completely opposite of what the village records say," Grandpa finished, looking at everyone.
Carmine's eyes widened with anger, and the usually cheerful Perrin looked sad. Kieran, head lowered, clenched his fists, clearly upset.
Summer remained surprisingly calm, except for his eyes, which were as cold as an ice cave.
(End of Chapter)