A Suspicious Gift

And now, the polar plunge shall begin!

Let's swim in this icy ocean and wish peace and health to the people and Pokémon of Pasio!

S-sooo COLD!

This is way too cold! It's not like we're Ice-type Pokémon!

Hmm... I suppose this IS a bit tough for an average Trainer...

Why don't we fuel you up with some...

Strong...mochi...

Oh! You brought us something? Perfect timing!

Look at that tasty-looking mochi! Let's dig in!

I'll have one too.

Mmm... It's delicious!

This mochi's incredible! The more I eat, the more I'm energized!

Huh?!

Mochi MOCHI!!!

A strange video's been circulating online, so I decided to look into it.

Is this...what I think it is?

Hahaha! Sawyer and everyone look like they're having a blast!

Having a blast?! What do you mean?

What's everyone so hyped about?

Yeah, loop us in!

Good timing, you two! Take a look at this video.

What is it?

Mochi! Mochi! MOCHI! MOCHI!!!

Huh?!

Th-this can't be...

Pecharunt must be behind this, right?

You mean that menace might be here on this island?

Not a day goes by that I don't think about how it humiliated me!

Back in the Land of Kitakami, Pecharunt went around controlling everyone by feeding them strange mochi...

If it created that much panic even in the countryside of Kitakami...

then imagine the commotion it'd cause with all the people it could control on Pasio...

I'll finally get to teach it a lesson!

Hey, wait! Don't go alone! What if it controls you again?!

Yeah, you'd fall right into its trap!

Then what am I supposed to do?!

...We should probably come up with a plan.

Yeah, if we all storm in together and attack without thinking...

we could get controlled by that mochi again. No, thanks!

This is no different from a Pokémon battle! Let's come up with a game plan!

Ugh! Fine!

Then let's put our heads together and figure out a way to teach it a lesson for good!

First, we need to get Pecharunt by itself.

Yeah. If it's with someone who's under its control, it'll hide behind them.

Use a grunt as a shield, huh. That sly little...

How dare it use mochi for evil!

Hm? Mochi?

It's OK, Akari. You don't have to be so angry.

Hey, you two.

What's going on?

We were having a Pokémon battle as part of our training.

Just when we decided to take a break, we heard about this delicious mochi.

Then we learned it has a strange effect!

I was really looking forward to tasting it!

Save your anger for the one causing all this!

A Pokémon called Pecharunt is the one making that mochi!

What?! A Pokémon is behind this?

If it's a Pokémon, maybe we could calm it by catching or battling it.

If only it were that easy...

It uses people under its control as a shield. Plus, if we get too close, it could control us too. It's impossible...

That's why we're coming up with a plan to stop Pecharunt.

If we could at least do something about the people under its control...

Is there a way to calm them down?

Calm them down, huh...

What? Did you think of something?

Yes! Maybe a balm could work!

A balm?

What's that?

It's an item that calms frenzied Pokémon! Professor Laventon of the Hisui region came up with it.

If we stuff the balm with things that make humans calm or sleepy, rather than Pokémon...

we might be able to calm the people around Pecharunt!

And we'd just have to throw it at them, so we wouldn't have to get too close!

Huh?! I had no idea such a thing existed!

Seems like a good idea, but will it really work?

It should. I'll ask everyone on Pasio for advice on using it safely...

so that we can craft a balm that works on humans!

You can make something like that? That's so cool!

I'm an expert at crafting, after all!

Seems we can finally do something about those people being controlled!

I want to be as safe as possible when we battle Pecharunt...

so I'll collect all the info I can from my research buddies and professors!

Awesome! This plan could actually work!

Should we get ready to march in together?!

No. It's too risky if we all go.

Yeah. There's a chance not all will go according to plan.

We should have a separate team on standby just in case.

Then Akari, Lucas, and I will go in first!

That cool with you?

Yeah, we've got your back!

All right! From here on out, we'll be the Pecharunt Calming Crew!

Akari and Lucas! I'll make you two subleaders!

Sis is so full of energy.

This reminds me of our adventures in Kitakami!

First, let's have Carmine's team take on Pecharunt.

Then, while that's happening, the rest of us can get everyone away from it.

I guess I'll tell everyone to cover their mouth so they're not force-fed mochi...

Good idea! I'll leave that to you!

But if we fall victim, you'll have to take care of things!

O-OK!

Yup, we've got you covered!

OK, everyone! Let's get this operation started!

As long as we help each other and have our dream team, we can do it!

Later on...

I knew you'd be here, Pecharunt!

This time, I'll punish you with my own hands!

Brace yourself!

You guys know what to do, right?

First, let's calm everyone around it!

You got it!

Let's show them the Calming Crew's teamwork!

Yah!

Perfect shot!

Mochi...mo...chi...?

It's working! Keep throwing!

Thanks to the balms, those being controlled returned to normal one by one.

Gwah...

Now we just have YOU to take down!

Hmph! Go ahead, cry all you want! It's not gonna work on us!

Pecharunt! It's time for me to get my revenge...

and get even!

Take that!

Phew! Revenge is sweet...

Carmine seems pleased.

I've been under that weird mochi's control, too!

By the way, how does someone control people and Pokémon with mochi?

According to my research, the mochi Pecharunt makes is called Binding Mochi.

When someone eats it, it binds them with a toxic chain and controls them.

A toxic chain?! Nasty!

Hm? What's going on?

Oh, good! You're back to your usual selves!

This case is closed!

Wh-wha, ?! What's this Pokémon?!

This must be what was controlling us!

Heh, looks like you've run out of minions to protect you!

People and Pokémon can form strong bonds...

But that's different from binding someone to your will by force.

... ... ...

So...I know what it is you're looking for.

But the way you're going about it, it'll never be truly yours.

I guess you never had anyone around to teach you that.

*sigh*

I was gonna crush you and make you pay.

But if you've learned your lesson, I guess I'll let you become one of my grunts.

Now, choose.

You can come with me, or you can back out. The choice is yours.

A few days later...

Hey, Carmine! Seems you're doing well!

Well, this was all a piece of cake for me!

I'll be sure to keep Pecharunt in check so it doesn't get into any more trouble!

I know we can always count on you!

Hey, Carmine!

To celebrate us resolving this whole thing, I made a bunch of safe, tasty potato mochi!

Please, have some!

Mochi, huh...

Mochi? Are you serious?

Oh, not a fan?

I've... I've had enough of mochi!