Chapter Text
Long, long ago in a certain forest, lived a lonely Pokémon called Pecharunt. Now you would think Pecharunt would want for nothing, it lived in a grove filled with sweet, delicious Pecha Berries and a river nearby. But there was always something Pecharunt thought was missing...
One day, as Pecharunt was gathering Pecha Berries for the day, it heard a strange sound coming from downstream. Upon peering around the rocky outcrop where the grove met the river, Pecharunt saw an old woman doing her daily washing and humming to herself.
In its surprise at seeing another, Pecharunt dropped a Pecha Berry into the river. The berry floated towards the old woman, "Oh! What a sweet looking Pecha Berry we have here." The old woman said when she noticed the Pecha Berry. She plucked the berry out of the river, took a bite, and said, “My, how delicious, I wonder if there are any more nearby?"
The old woman called out in a manner that seemed strange to Pecharunt, "Hey! Delicious Pecha Berries come this way! Bitter Pecha Berries go away!"
It was then that Pecharunt got an idea, maybe this is what it had been missing. Pecharunt decided to float itself down the river and see what happened next.
The old woman, upon seeing Pecharunt float down the river towards her remarked, " My oh my! What a humongous Pecha Berry! I think I'll bring it home to eat!" Hmmm...that's not quite what Pecharunt had in mind. But Pecharunt decided not to reveal itself just yet.
It wasn't until it felt the sharp sting of a knife point that Pecharunt showed itself to the old woman and old man who was with her. Pecharunt did not want to be eaten, not at all.
"Oh!" The old woman exclaimed, "what a cute little Pokémon! Let's raise it as our own!"
"Indeed!" The old man said with a nod, "We shall name it Momowaro!"
With that, the old couple let Pecharunt into their lives. And Pecharunt was satisfied. For a time. Love, companionship, a family, that's what it had been missing. But something niggled at the back of Pecharunt's mind. How long would this last? Would the old couple tire of Pecharunt? Would they send it back to its lonely Pecha Berry grove?
No, Pecharunt decided, it would not let that come to pass. Now, Pecharunt had a certain power: to create a special kind of mochi to chain someone to Pecharunt's will. Just a precaution, you see, so the old couple would love Pecharunt forever.
But a strange thing seemed to happen the longer the old couple ate Pecharunt's mochi, a greed overtook them. They began to ask Pecharunt for things. Little tokens of Pecharunt's affection for the old couple.
Little tokens that soon became bigger and bigger. Until one day the old man said, "I hear in the land of Kitakami there are a set of masks that are a sight to behold."
With a sigh and a wistful look in her eyes, the old woman said, "I wish we could see such magnificent masks. Momowaro, would you be so kind as to bring them to us?"
And just like that, Pecharunt set off on a journey to retrieve the masks for the old couple. But Kitakami was a long way away, over mountains, through valleys, across the sea and Pecharunt knew it couldn’t manage alone.
First, Pecharunt came across Okidogi. Powerful and brutal, Pecharunt knew Okidogi's strength would be an asset on its journey. With an offering of mochi, Okidogi became Pecharunt's friend.
Second, Pecharunt and Okidogi came across Munkidori. Clever and cunning, Pecharunt knew Munkidori's power of foresight would be able to forewarn them of any dangers that might present themselves. With an offering of mochi, Munkidori became Pecharunt's friend.
Third, and finally, Pecharunt, Okidogi, and Munkidori came across Fezandipiti. Beautiful and beguiling, Pecharunt knew Fezandipiti's pheromones would distract anyone who might object to Pecharunt taking the masks. With an offering of mochi, Fezandipiti became Pecharunt's friend.
Pecharunt and its friends journeyed over the mountains, through the valleys, and across the sea. They finally reached the land of Kitakami. The masks were within their grasp.
A local festival was going on the night they arrived. Many were wearing masks, but Pecharunt saw right away that the masks a tall human and a short Pokémon (Ogerpon, Pecharunt heard the heard the human call it) were different than the others. Even from the edge of the festival where Pecharunt was observing, it could feel the power emanating from the masks.
This was it, Pecharunt's quarry was in sight. Pecharunt had Munkidori use its psychic power to learn where the human and Pokémon pair lived. And a time when they would both be away.
Pecharunt then sent in Okidogi and Fezandipiti to fetch the masks. But something went wrong. Pecharunt's friends returned with only three of the masks.
Suddenly, Ogerpon was upon them a terrifying aura of rage radiating off her. It seemed she wouldn't let the masks go without a fight. No matter, Pecharunt would have the masks, and it's happiness along with them.
However, it was to no avail. Not Okidogi's strength, nor Munkidori's foresight, nor Fezandipiti's pheromones. Nothing seemed to work. Ogerpon's rage would not be quelled, and Pecharunt's friends lay in a defeated heap.
Ogerpon next turned her cudgel on Pecharunt. As Ogerpon's cudgel hurdled towards Pecharunt, it could sense its fate. The masks, Pecharunt's friends, and happiness, it all would be lost.
As Ogerpon's attack struck, Pecharunt used the last of its power to seal itself away in its shell. Pecharunt rolled into the forest, away from the fearsome Ogerpon, away from the Loyal Three, away from the masks and Pecharunt's hope for happiness.
This would not stand. All Pecharunt wanted was the masks. How dare Ogerpon steal Pecharunt's happiness. Pecharunt seethed with the injustice of it all.
But now was not the time. Pecharunt needed to gather it strength. In time, Ogerpon will pay and Pecharunt will have those masks. Pecharunt will be happy.
Alone again, Pecharunt's anger grew. All in good time though; revenge, after all, is patient.