Pokémon: Starting From Zero as a Legendary Pokémon Chapter 12 12: First Meeting with Ogerpon

Sora Kenji led Lilligant along the narrow ridges near the bus station. From ti to ti, he looked up to confirm Victini's direction, and before long, he arrived in a secluded stretch of dense forest.

"V!"

"Bini!!"

Sora Kenji caught the little Pokémon as she dove into his arms. He stroked her head, about to offer words of comfort—only to notice the eager, expectant look on her face, practically begging for praise.

"Huh?"

He paused, then asked,

"Don't tell … you actually found Ogerpon?"

"Bini bini!"

The little one nodded vigorously, puffing out her chest with pride.

"Seriously?"

Things had gone so smoothly that it genuinely surprised him.

Still, he didn't dwell on it.

He had traveled thousands of miles to reach Kitakami—so what if luck was finally on his side?

"You're amazing, V!"

"Haha!"

Sora Kenji didn't hold back his praise. He showered Victini with hugs, kisses, and lifts into the air until she grew a little embarrassed.

"Bini!"

Victini flew out of his arms, then waved for him to follow.

Sora Kenji didn't hesitate. He imdiately set off after her.

Ogerpon was afraid of Mossui Town and dared not step into it.

Even after following Victini here, she still hid within the shadowy forest, unwilling to have even the slightest contact with the people of Kitakami.

"Rustle… rustle…"

The bushes trembled softly.

Ogerpon crouched inside, peering through the gaps as she secretly observed the man Victini had brought.

A human.

So… he's Sora Kenji?

She tightened her grip on the mask covering her face, hesitating several tis as if about to step out—only to retreat again.

"Are you in there, Ogerpon?"

Sora Kenji understood her personality well.

He didn't approach recklessly. Instead, he crouched beside the bushes and spoke gently.

"I'm Victini's trainer. My na is Sora Kenji."

"Don't worry. I won't hurt you."

"Would you co out and et ?"

"Poné?"

Ogerpon couldn't rember the last ti soone had spoken to her with such warmth.

Just like Victini had said—he looked kind.

He really won't bully Ponpon… right?

Still cautious, she finally parted the branches and revealed herself.

"That's a beautiful mask."

This was Sora Kenji's first ti seeing the real Ogerpon in person.

Even with the Teal Mask covering her face, her legs gave away her emotions—the subtle swaying motion clearly showed her nervousness.

"Oh, right."

"Since this is our first eting, I brought so energy cubes. Would you like to try one?"

Sora Kenji took a small box from his backpack. When he opened it, an assortnt of colorful energy cubes appeared inside.

In the Pokémon world, energy cubes were sothing like instant noodles in human society—convenient, widely loved, and incredibly tempting to Pokémon.

That didn't an they were junk food.

Quite the opposite.

They were packed with nutrients and could quickly restore stamina.

But what truly set them apart from ordinary food was their intense flavor experience.

For Pokémon living in the wild, the taste of an energy cube could only be described as dreamlike.

"Poné?"

Ogerpon had never encountered energy cubes before.

She glanced at Victini in the air, who had already grabbed one and was munching happily like a hamster.

"Take the green one. That flavor suits Grass-type Pokémon best."

"Poné!"

Obediently, Ogerpon reached out and picked up the green cube.

She examined the gem-like treat carefully, then lifted her mask slightly and placed it into her mouth.

"Poné!!!"

In the next instant, the starry eyes hidden behind her mask lit up with dazzling brightness.

Delicious.

So delicious.

This thing called an energy cube felt like soone had opened the door to an entirely new world.

Since the day she was born, she had never tasted anything this wonderful.

"Poné! Ponéao~~"

Overjoyed, Ogerpon bounced up and down repeatedly.

Her guard toward Sora Kenji dropped imdiately.

This man really was just like Victini had said.

He gave Ponpon such tasty food.

And his voice was gentle.

Ponpon wants to be friends with Sora Kenji!

She fiddled with her hands, swaying from side to side in delight at gaining a human friend.

"See? I told you—Sora Kenji is a good person."

"Mhm!"

Ogerpon wholeheartedly agreed with Victini and felt grateful she had followed her here.

After that, Sora Kenji brought out more foods that Pokémon loved.

Little by little, as their relationship grew closer, Ogerpon finally removed the Teal Mask, revealing her adorable face.

"Ponpon, could you help with sothing?"

Seeing that the timing felt right, Sora Kenji shifted the conversation toward his camping plans.

"Poné?"

"The people in Kitakami are pretty unfriendly. Staying there is expensive, and the attitude isn't great."

He spoke honestly.

The locals really were difficult to deal with.

"So I'm planning to camp sowhere in the wild. Do you know a good place?"

"Poné! Ponéun!"

Such a simple request.

Ogerpon imdiately patted her chest, signaling that she would handle it.

Sora Kenji's requirents weren't complicated:

far from crowds

access to water

no dangerous wild Pokémon nearby

Having lived in Kitakami for centuries, Ogerpon knew the surrounding terrain better than anyone.

Soon, she led him halfway up a mountain to a natural cave.

She didn't bring him to the Oni's Den.

In the ga, reaching that location only took a few minutes.

In reality, however, it lay deep within Kitakami—requiring steep climbs and dangerous cliff paths.

Traveling there during the day was manageable.

Attempting it at night would be gambling with one's life.

"This place is great."

Sora Kenji noticed that the cave interior was dry and spacious.

Nearby, there was even a small pond that could serve as a water source.

"Thank you so much, Ponpon."

"Poné..."

Ogerpon grew shy under the praise.

After thinking for a mont, she suddenly dashed into the nearby forest.

When she returned, her arms were filled with all kinds of berries.

"These are for us, right?"

"Poné!"

Since she had eaten Sora Kenji's food, Ponpon felt she needed to give sothing in return.

Otherwise, it would be impolite.