Victory and Waterheart Peaches

The instant Power Whip struck Torterra, it caught the oak tree on its back and yanked its heavy body sideways. Torterra slammed to the ground with a tremor that made the mountain seem to shake.

Cliff, who had just thought this wouldn't take long, stared at the masked Ogerpon in disbelief.

"What's with that little thing's strength?"

Even Ogerpon looked surprised by her own strength, but the mask hid her expression. To everyone else, she showed only a terrifying ogre face.

"Mm..."

Was it my imagination? I didn't have those other masks, but I still got stronger. How strange... Wait, I did have a mask, didn't I?

The Ogre Mask might not have glittering gems on it, but it was still a mask! Oni Mountain was where Kitakami's Terastal energy was most concentrated. When Ogerpon's desire to fight alongside her companions surged, particles of that energy gathered on the mask.

Masks held memories, turning joy and sorrow into strength. The mask reflected the heart behind it. That was Ogerpon's power!

"Don't let it get up! Wood Hammer!"

Mingyou shouted and waved his arm. Without hesitation, Ogerpon sprang up and smashed Ivy Cudgel against the rock on Torterra's back. The blow was tremendous, but the Shadow Pokémon felt no pain...

Despite the damage, Torterra righted itself a moment later. Its dark flames seemed to betray its rage—and perhaps its suffering, too.

"Grr!"

Torterra roared, conjuring a silver ring around its body. Then it hurled its massive weight forward with Heavy Slam, charging like a runaway truck.

But it was too slow. Ogerpon dodged with an easy hop. Mingyou, though, was too close to get out of the way. Just like getting sent to another world by a truck in his previous life—a weapon designed to take him out!

Cliff folded his arms and smiled when Mingyou didn't move. "Still not dodging? Torterra can't stop now."

"Mm!"

Ogerpon landed on Torterra's back, tossed Ivy Cudgel aside, and gripped the oak tree with both hands. By sheer strength, she forced it to a halt and flipped it over once again.

Mingyou caught the Ivy Cudgel she had thrown him and smiled. "Do I look like I need to dodge? You have to have faith in your kid!"

"..."

Cliff watched, certain now that there was something unusual about Ogerpon. A possibility occurred to him.

This Pokémon might make an even better subject for their Shadow Pokémon experiments than Latias. They needed Pokémon that cared about humans and could readily understand them!

I have to take her.

Cliff made up his mind. Capturing Latias now would be difficult, but he could still catch this little one!

He pulled out another Poké Ball. Shadow Pokémon were powerful but uncontrollable, so he would have to fight with a normal Pokémon.

Before he could act, an explosion sounded in the distance and drew his gaze.

Wrapped in dark flames, Electivire was blasted into the sky by a point-blank Draco Meteor. Latias had pushed through her pain to launch it.

Cliff had almost forgotten about that fight. All he could do was hope Electivire held on.

"Latias, follow my lead from here!"

Mingyou could tell Latias wasn't used to battle. She had been taking hits and striking back haphazardly. Draco Meteor was powerful, but it took a heavy toll, and the brief weakness afterward left her open.

Cliff couldn't help laughing. "What are you thinking, kid? Right now, she's—"

Before he could finish, Latias, who had only just taken flight again, answered.

"Woo!"

She flew straight toward Mingyou. Cliff stared in disbelief. "What?! That's... impossible! What did you do?"

Team Rocket had gone to tremendous lengths to catch Latias, yet one word from this kid was enough to make her listen? That was the sort of treatment a webnovel protagonist got!

Mingyou handed Ivy Cudgel back to Ogerpon and looked up. "Pokémon aren't pets or tools for you to use. They're living beings with feelings, sharing this world with us. Treat them with genuine kindness, and they'll answer you!"

"Hmph!"

Cliff snorted. "Pokémon equal to humans? What a joke. Those money-making things think they're my equals?"

The thought insulted him. Veins bulged on his forehead as Torterra, back on its feet again, and Electivire, now on the ground, charged together.

Dark flames surged skyward. Pain and anguish became power as the two Pokémon bore down on them!

Mingyou waved his hand. "Mist Ball!"

Latias shook her feathers, releasing mist. Instead of gathering it into a ball and firing, she let it fall, shrouding Mingyou and Ogerpon from view.

With their targets gone, Electivire and Torterra stopped. Cliff instantly realized what was happening and reached to throw his last Poké Ball, but Ogerpon suddenly emerged from the mist.

Look at me~

She took off her mask, revealing her adorable face. Follow Me caught Cliff's attention at once, and Ogerpon seized the chance to swing Ivy Cudgel like a baseball bat, knocking the Poké Ball away.

"What..."

"My Ogerpon's cute, isn't she~"

Mingyou's voice rang out. A Dragon Pulse tore through the mist, struck Electivire and Torterra, and exploded in front of them!

The blast knocked Cliff off his feet. Mingyou emerged at last, grabbed Ivy Cudgel alongside Ogerpon, and brought it down on Cliff without giving him a chance to recover...

"It's over!"

"You..."

Cliff tried to withstand the blow with his powerful physique, but all his training couldn't make him a match for them!

Their perfectly timed combination sent him flying into a small mound in the distance. He sank into it and lost consciousness.

"We won!"

"Mm~"

Mingyou hugged Ogerpon and jumped for joy. They had really beaten Team Rocket.

"Woo~"

Latias hovered nearby, smiling now that she had finally taught those bad people a lesson.

She had thought there was no escaping today. Instead, she had been rescued and helped thrash the bad guys. When she saw her brother again, she would tell him all about it. He would see how strong his little sister was!

The explosion had also knocked out both Shadow Pokémon. Most of the other Team Rocket members were unconscious, and the helicopter had been destroyed. The chaos was finally over.

Mingyou dusted himself and Ogerpon off, then looked up at Latias with a smile. "We worked well together~"

"Woo~"

Latias smiled and nodded. She could sense that he meant her no harm. If not for him, she would have been in danger today.

Just then, blue motes of light drifted from her Terastallized body and formed a spinning card before Mingyou...

[Latias (Lv. 2): Use on a peach tree to turn it into a Waterheart Peach tree, which produces Waterheart Peaches that enhance mental power.]

"Peaches?"

Mingyou paused. It looked like he would need to clear more room in the orchard for other fruits. He would surely get plenty more in the future.

He accepted the card representing her affection, looked up, and smiled. "Thanks~"

"Woo?"

Latias looked puzzled. Why was he thanking her? She was the one who ought to thank him. What a strange human.

"Ha ha."