Curiously, Munkidori’s attack was not very effective, giving Ogerpon little more than a black eye that would heal in a day or two. Why would a Psychic-type be using physical moves in the first place? It was very odd.

“Pon doesn’t wear goggles… but Pon does wear masks.” The vindictive ogress reached into her leafy robes, producing a Teal Mask that she promptly put on her face for protection. “And you should stop running away like a coward!”

The thick, creaking roots of a Frenzy Plant erupted from the ground, rising towards the tree branches in an attempt to ensnare the elusive monkey or force it out of its hiding spot.

howard slayte //mission thread

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Hijacking a Rotomdex was one way to communicate with humans. “Wow, legendary Pokémon sure are sharp, aren’t they?” Andrea jovially mused. “Congrats on your promotion, by the way! We’d love to help you find those effigies, right Pon?”

Ogerpon responded with a resolute cry of “Pon!”

The draconic cosplayer took a gander at their rural surroundings, stroking her chin. “Hmm, there can’t be that many places to hide some statues in such a small town. Problem is--if I remember correctly--the statues are pretty small themselves, so having Meatloaf look for them from the air wouldn’t really work.”

Salamence were known for their strength, but not necessarily for their eyesight. A Talonflame or a Braviary would have been more suited for the task, of which she possessed none.

“Any other ideas?” The trainer of dragons asked Hideo and Uxie.

Hideo Kino

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“Come again? Did you say you live in the wilderness right now? Are you a hobo?” Asked Andrea in a concerned tone, while coming back from the kitchen with a glass of ice tea and some cookies, which she served to her itinerant friend. “Here you go.”

At the end of the day, she couldn’t judge her. That arrangement clearly worked for Cass and made her happy. “You know, that reminds me… I once met a man who lived in Meteor Falls. Survival might have been tough for him due to all the dragons living there. but that only made him stronger. He had more muscles than a Machamp!” The older girl mused.

Wistfully, she wondered what Draco Prowler might be doing these days. She hadn’t seen him in quite some time. Hopefully he was alright.

“I’ve thought of going to live in the wilderness too someday. If I wanna be more like a Pokémon, I gotta get accustomed to living in nature, after all.” The eccentric cosplayer continued. “Last time I tried that, though… It didn’t end well.”

Cassandra Kubrick //mission thread

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Andrea stared back at the older woman in a mixture of bewilderment and disbelief. “Not your worst?! What could possibly be worse than that?!” She blurted out.

Still, the information that Lulu had apparently been incarcerated before was new. Getting to know each other through chit-chat was part of the feminine bonding ritual, so clearly they were doing this right.

Taking another sip of tequila, the eccentric trainer contemplated Lulu’s words. “Not all of them are in pieces… The never-rot survived, and so did Cyllora.” She pointed out with a frown.

Lulu Flint

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“Equal and opposite, huh?” The young woman parroted, pondering what the opposite of a noble Calyrex would be. For some reason, she pictured an evil Calyrex wearing a leather jacket and smoking a cigarette.

Things took a turn for the less humorous when the Elite Four Member disclosed the League’s true intentions, eliciting an equally tired glance from the Minor Gym Leader. “Why am I not surprised? It’s like everything is allowed for you as long as it helps you win.” She sneered in bitter indignation.

“Was letting Team Rocket take Petalburg also part of the plan?” Andrea continued, clenching her fist. “Who decided that Sootopolis and Mossdeep were more worthy? Who decided that Chomper should--” She choked on her words, drowning out a sob, while Jalapeño looked down with a saddened expression.

Navy //mission thread

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Zacian, Calyrex. Two Pokémon with an apparent connection to ancient Galar, which held a special place in the sheriff’s heart. Long after he had said his goodbyes, it kept coming back to haunt him, or to bless him.

The account of Kyogre going berserk was eerily reminiscent of another legendary-related incident earlier this year, which had cost the Champion’s life.

“First Groudon, and now Kyogre. Why are the super-ancient Pokémon turning against us?” Andrea mused, horrified after hearing what had transpired in the crater city. “What about Lord Rayquaza? Why couldn’t he stop Kyogre before it reached Sootopolis?”

At Navy’s request to come in, the girl nodded, opening the window wider so that he could fit through. Did she need to? Couldn’t he just phase through the wall? Oh well.

“So Elise Calcifet’s not the only one with a Calyrex, huh?” The young PokéManiac continued. “I do remember her saying that Charles was just a shard of the real Calyrex. Maybe Team Rocket got their hands on another shard?” She theorized.

Navy //mission thread

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Doug’s tree-felling rage failed to intimidate their target, a derisive cackle echoing through the foliage. The silhouette of the trickster that taunted and jeered at them was indeed recognizable at a glance.

“Munkidori!” The orange-faced ogress bared her fangs. “Friend Doug is not your friend! Friend Doug is Pon’s friend!” She spat in bitter indignation and defiance, letting go of her basket, so that she could arm herself with her signature Ivy Cudgel.

Doug should not have bet on a wildcard. The moment the enemy had been identified as Munkidori, his no-kill rule was completely ignored.

“DIE!!” Roared the enraged Ogerpon, lunging at the simian thief with the explicit intent of bashing his skull, murderously.

howard slayte //mission thread

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“Eep!” The cosplayer yelped in surprise when the illuminated bird perched on her shoulder. Because of the mist obscuring her vision, she hadn’t realized how small it was. Could Skarmory even get that small? She was no professor, so she wouldn’t know.

An ephemeral projection of Navy stepped out of the mist, explaining the situation and how he had gotten that strange power. “So… you’ve become an avatar? Of who?” Andrea put two and two together. To her knowledge, no human could become a wizard overnight without a legendary’s patronage.

“Nice to meet you, Tiny. Are you looking after your papa?” The young woman raised an index finger, giving neck scritches to the Skarmory chick. No wonder he was so friendly towards her; he was just a baby!

What the Elite Four member revealed next caused her to stop spoiling the baby bird, worry suddenly plastered over her countenance. “You got injured?! How? I mean, I read the news, but… What actually happened over there?” The girl inquired.

Navy //mission thread

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“Thank you, Friend Doug~!” The ogress nodded back, overjoyed by the bear’s approval. Holding the basket over her horned head, she followed the Ursaluna through the woods, until the dynamic duo reached another clearing surrounded by emerald greenery.

There, they found some rather damning evidence of the Loyal Three’s hasty retreat. The sight of those footprints caused Ogerpon to hiss yet again. “It’s them! The servants of that rotten peach! They were here!” She snarled in pure disdain.

For once, Pon had a dead serious look on her face. “Listen, Friend Doug. That thieving monkey’s name is Munkidori. He and his ilk have found the secret to immortality. Friend Uxie thinks it has something to do with the statues that look like them. They must be stopped!”

howard slayte //mission thread

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The costumed woman blinked confusedly. “Oh, you moved your Gym from Route 117?” It felt so long ago since she had battled Hideo’s Zeraora under a galaxy of stars.

“Pon really wanted to come here for some reason…” That reason became a bit clearer when Azelf’s sleepy sibling showed up, Ogerpon jovially waving back at them. “I guess she just wanted to see her friend?”

“Pon! Poni! Ponyo!” Through a series of gestures, the ogress pantomimed three distinct animals: A dog, a monkey, and a bird.

Andrea gasped. “Don’t tell me… The Lousy Three are here?! Did Uxie tell you that?”

The vengeful Oni nodded in affirmation, always eager to pass down judgement on those vile fiends wherever they may be.

Hideo Kino

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So the bear had also come from a faraway land, meaning that neither of them belonged in Hoenn. No wonder Ogerpon felt such kinship for this gentle, ursine giant.

Upon seeing the compromised hive, the orange-faced gremlin knew what to do. “If Friend Doug wants that Max Honey, Pon will get it for him!”

The ogress began to stamp her wooden feet, hoping to cause the hive to fall off the tree with a Stomping Tantrum. If successful, she would then weave a makeshift basket of vines to collect the red honeycomb.

howard slayte //mission thread

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