Chapter 2
A Big Risk
I stepped outside the next morning, furiously wiping at the tears appearing in my eyes. A group of baby pokemon followed behind me, too young to understand where the professor had gone. Togepi, cleffa, buneary, and petilil kept closely huddled as they all followed after me. Constantly telling me they want to play in the grasslands, which was where I was taking them. I was taking the short cut to the flower grasslands that thrived inside the sanctuary's gigantic dome. I marveled at the professor's accomplishment at creating a place where all pokémon from every region could live in peace. He hadn't done it alone of course; he had help from other professor's from other regions.
Within the next 48 hours, they'd all be here once again for a less joyous occasion. I wiped at my eyes again and tried not to think of the upcoming funeral.
"Are you okay?" A familiar voice asked just before I got to the side door. I turned to see a man my age, but couldn't place a name with the face. I knew if he lived here he probably went to school with me but I'd been so disconnected I barely knew anyone's name.
"You haven't heard?" Dunstan's wife, Molly, whispered so I couldn't hear. I still heard her, though. The woman's light pink hair was tied up into a tight bun and her dark blue eyes showed the sadness she felt.
"What?"
"The professor, he died." A tear slipped down her cheek. Many people were mourning the loss of him. The man looked up at me, said something to his mother and came over to hold the door for me. I was just about to open it, since I'd already swiped my ID card through the scanner so I stiffened my back and just allowed the simple action to occur.
The man followed me to the large flowery area solemnly and didn't even smile at the cute pokémon that bounced past us. I knew he was pitying me at the moment, I could feel it in the air and reading that feeling gave me a sharp pain in the back of my head. A bellossom and oddish popped up from a place in the flowers nearby but disappeared again just as suddenly.
"Are you okay, Zana?" The man asked again. I nodded, hoping it would make him leave. "Can you talk?"
My eyes welled with tears as the memory of the day I met the professor and he asked that very same question filled my mind.
"I'm sorry." The man rushed as he realized something he said upset me. "It's just you never even spoke in school. Not while I was there, at least."
"Why are you here?" I said after I had folded my legs on the grass.
"Well, I thought you might need some company since you lost your father." I was reminded of how the world considered me to be Professor Rowan's daughter, because no one knew the truth.
"I don't even know you." I hoped my bluntness would offend him, since he knew me, and he'd leave me alone with the pokémon. I was used to being alone with pokémon and wanted to keep it like that. Ghetsis had taught me not to trust humans a little too well, he said. I only trusted pokémon, besides those two special people in my life. Though, it was down to one trusted person now.
"I'm Ronin Eventide. I think we sat next to each other in class before I went on my journey." He held out his hand to shake but from the angle I saw him from made me wary. His black hair was spiked in the back, but his bangs cast a dark shadow across his face and the dark blue eyes looked just as dark as the shadow. He was much taller than me, but I wasn't scared. His image made me wary, but not the feeling of pity around him.
Still, I refused to touch his hand so I only nodded. "You're Dunstan's son, then?"
I knew his face seemed more familiar than just a school mate. He took after his father. I assumed he didn't know about Professor Rowan's death because Dunstan still hasn't left the building. Actually, I suspected that he was in the ruins we reconstructed here for dark and ghost pokémon to go to when not in one of the 8 areas based on the eight habitats in the wild.
"Yes, do you remember when I visited the lab? I even came on one of the expeditions with you and the professor to Kanto." How did that slip my mind? Maybe it was all this stress and pain. The professor had made me swear to stay close to Ronin, despite my arguments. I was constantly observing the boy, aware that at any moment he could try something. I knew I took after Jupiter where good looks were concerned and I hated it.
"I remember you now." I bit out. I wanted to be alone.
Do you want us to make him leave? A small voice drifted from behind me, where a sentret sat on its ringed tail. I shook my head to him and he nodded softly.
If you need us, we're all here for you. You did save us after all. My nidoqueen and nidoking thought to me from the place they sat on a little bit away from where the small pokémon played.
"My father called me back the Hearthome City saying there was a problem he needed my help with." The way he said it, he thought it had to do with the professor.
"The dome. The door won't open correctly for the pokémon." I pointed to the door that was stuck halfway open. It was meant to open for pokémon and keep everything else out. We built the dome so that none of the elements could harm the pokémon that were weak to it. Water pokémon didn't mind that rain wasn't allowed in, not with the huge waterfall and large lakes scattered throughout the sanctuary.
"Oh." He eased into a comfortable position. "I was afraid that he wanted me to be the new aide."
"No. I'm the new aide." I snapped. After I finished school, that is, but I didn't say that out loud.
"Are you always this rude?" A brave electrike approached Ronin and sniffed at him.
"Only to most humans." I turned my head away and pulled my knees up to my chest. Why wouldn't he leave? I just wanted to be with pokémon at the moment.
"Why?" I didn't bother answering since several pokémon alerted me that Dunstan was coming. There would be none of the excited bouncing from any of the pokémon old enough to know what happened to the professor today, and it felt odd. These pokémon were always happy. A number of the pokémon here were actually mine, since I chose to keep them here instead of having to pull them from the PC so it killed me to see them sad.
"Oh, Ronin, there you are. Your mother told me you'd followed Zana in here. Do you think you could look at the door up there?" Ronin had helped build it with Dunstan but Dunstan had no pokémon who could carry him up to the door like Ronin did. Well, he helped as much a 10 year old kid could.
"Sure." He stood and called out his mandibuzz. I lifted my head to the pokémon that I remembered slightly. It was a determined little vullaby the last time I had seen it though. The professor would've loved to see the evolved form of the dark pokémon.
I stayed where I was for a long time before pulling myself up. I told the little pokémon to take care, and a kangaskhan took over watching the small ones. My legs took me to the boarding rooms for visiting researchers or trainers where the urban pokémon also resided. It was actually part of the main building, but we often referred to it as the urban area.
A meowth and skitty sat on the steps next to one of the small houses batting sadly at a stick. Above, the dragon and flying pokémon flew around either to another area or the cave at the top of the mountain where many of them slept. My flygon flew above me after resting in the rough-terrain area with peaceful, but sad, thoughts. She landed next to the large door I was headed towards.
Are you going to eat? I felt the worry come from her, since I hadn't eaten since before we left for the safari zone.
"No. I just need to think." Before I went inside, I turned to watch the mandibuzz ascend into the air, and then hovering for Ronin to fix the door. Flygon and I could've done that, I thought. The less people here, the better.
I mentally chastised myself. The professor wouldn't have wanted me thinking like that. He was constantly trying to get me to make friends.
I pulled at the end of my loose braid and looked at the light purple hair. I was grateful I hadn't inherited the bright purple hair from Jupiter but the muted characteristic the Ghetsis had added to the purple.
We're going to the tower? I nodded to flygon. The tower had always been my safe zone. I could see if anyone was coming, I could prepare to be around those people by watching them for signs of threats. I had to be cautious.
"He didn't seem in pain, did he?" I noted out loud.
No, not at all. My flygon's kind voice soothed my latest worry.
"Pain or no pain, I have to avenge him, you know. I can't let them go around killing people. It isn't right." It was odd, worrying about the lives of humans, but I brushed it off with a simple excused. Every human is loved by a pokémon, and I wouldn't want any other pokémon to face what bibarel was facing now: the loss of his human.
What if you die in the process? The worry returned to her voice.
"I will go down fighting, flygon. Let's just hope it won't come to that, okay?" I watched her nod before she told me to get on her back and she flew to the top of the tower within seconds.
You're weak from not eating, Zana. Those stairs wouldn't have helped. She responded to my protests when we landed.
"Do you think N is okay?" I looked out the south windows and leaned against a column. My brow furrowed at the thought of my half brother. I hadn't heard from him for a year before Ghetsis even brought me here, hoping Jupiter would convince me to help him.
I don't know. He was a very submissive and trusting child, remember? For all we know, he could've gone back. It would explain why they didn't find you before.
"Is it even safe for us to be here? If they know I'm here and they killed a man as well known as the professor, they might still be nearby? They could be in that house there for all we know." I pointed to the small cottage just inside of town.
Honestly, Zana, I think they've known for a while. There aren't that many people with red eyes. I think they were laying in wait.
"You mean that you think they planned to kill Professor Rowan all along? If they were laying in wait, they'd know that I wasn't there when they demanded that he give me to them." I concluded with a grim tone.
Most likely, Ghetsis planned to kill him even if you were here. He's a possessive creep and you are his key to world domination. Plus, the professor knew about what you could do.
"Dunstan knows too. He was here yesterday, why didn't they kill him with the professor?" I turned to flygon.
I don't know, Zana. Maybe it was to disturb you. Dunstan is close to you, but the professor was closer.
"I wish the professor was here." I sank down to the ground with hard, body-wracking sobs and flygon laid next to me, wrapping her long tail around me in a type of hug. We stayed like that for I don't know how long, until a duskull floated up the stairs with Dunstan following behind it.
He pulled me into a hug, but it wasn't the same as the professor. I was still shaking with tears pouring down my face when he finally released me. He stayed silent while he helped me down the stairs, periodically stopping when the sobs were too great to keep going. Flygon tried to get me to let her fly me down, but I refused vehemently. Duskull simply lead the way into the large dining room where all the workers ate silently, they too mourning the professor.
I managed to compose myself long enough to eat, but I knew I looked like hell. People said their condolences when they passed me but didn't stop to talk. They were used to my silence, though I occasionally discussed academic subjects with a few of them. I held back another round of sobs as I remembered that most of these discussions were encouraged by Professor Rowan.
"Zana, I want you to spend the rest of the day with Ronin. The professor wanted you two to be friends, and what better way to honor him? He's my son; doesn't that help you trust him?" Dunstan said when he led me from the room. Flygon had gone to eat with her pokémon friends, and I had planned to go see my pokémon.
"Dunstan, I really don't think—"
"Don't think, Zana. Let it come naturally. He's a good boy. I don't approve on his decision to be a fulltime trainer, but he'll be a good friend. He wanted to be friends even when you two were still kids and now all he wants is to be there for you in your time of need. Let him do that."
I blinked at Dunstan. This was the most he'd spoke to me on the subject of friends ever. "You sound like Professor Rowan." I sniffled.
"Take him out for a tour of the areas. Introduce him to the pokémon. Do something with him. He'll be around a lot anyways." He began walking away, his unique black lab coat trailing behind.
"What do you mean?" I called after him.
"I didn't tell you? He'll be an employee here. Not an aide, but he's going to be doing maintenance and helping the pokémon. He may even escort you to school." I stood stock still. I wouldn't be able to get out of this.
"Why?"
"To make sure you're safe." The way he spoke, it sounded as if he knew that I was planning to go after Ghetsis and Jupiter.
"I don't want a friend. I can still talk to you, and I have the pokémon." I tried to stand my ground, with my chin held high.
"I won't always be here, Zana, and when that day comes, all you'll have is pokémon. Not one human soul alive to talk to, to advise you, to comfort you." His words chipped away at me resolve.
"Pokémon can do all of that, Dunstan. They can talk, advise, comfort and more." I tried to get back on my feet in this argument.
"Zana, they don't know some of the situations we come across. It may be different for you, since you know what they think, and know what they feel, but remember you aren't a pokémon. You will be completely cut off from the human world eventually. What about a family, Zana? Don't you want to ever feel that joy of watching a child-your child-grow up in the world? Don't you ever want to feel love? I've seen you watch me and Molly. Don't you ever want what we have?"
"I'm not telling you to do all this with Ronin, just start with him. Talk with him, bond with him. Just do something." His eyes were filled with sorrow and pleading as he spoke. I had to duck my head and let my bangs hide my eyes as employee began filing out of the dining room. They looked away too, embarrassed that they overheard a bit of the lecture.
"I'll try. I'll try for Professor Rowan." I sucked in a breath to hold back tears. I didn't know Dunstan was worried about me losing touch with humanity. But now, I could feel it. Even if it hurt my head to read his feelings, I let them enter my mind in an attempt to tell myself I could do this, for both the professor and Dunstan.
"That's all I can ask for." He tried to smile at me, but the week's events just didn't allow it to work. No one around here would be smiling for a while.
I turned to a restroom to clean up before I went to find Ronin for my first attempt at friendship. I can't deny I was nervous, but I was true to my word. I wouldn't let Dunstan and the professor down, even if Ronin would eventually stand in my way on my quest to get revenge. I made myself look as decent as one could in the circumstances and headed towards the dome. Any trainer would spend their free time in there.
My rapidash and ponyta ran up to me with nothing but the want to comfort me. I suppose all of my pokémon could feel my nerves on high. The entire walk to the ruins, I would see my pokémon and they'd send comforting and encouraging thoughts my way. Smeargle tried to touch me with the blue tip of its tail and I managed a giggle. He seemed pleased that he had been able to make his human smile, if only for a moment.
"Zana?" Ronin stood from the spot in the ruins where he had been playing with his pokémon.
"Hey." I tugged on the end of my braid.
"Do you need something?" He seemed confused, probably remember all the times I gave him the cold shoulder.
"I wanted to know if you'd like to take a risk." I looked down, but felt a nudge and a little zap from my luxray, pushing me towards Ronin before running back to the grasslands. He was one of the six pokémon I brought everywhere with me, along with flygon, sealeo, frazure, nintails, and breloom. If the protective and proud luxray thought I should do this, then I guessed I really should.
"What risk?" He was on alert now.
"I wanted to know if you wanted to be friends." I couldn't look him in the eyes but with the relief I felt coming towards me mixed with happiness, I already knew the answer.
"What do you want to do first?" He eased back down into the position he was in before I came and his mightyena sniffed at me.
Hello. Who are you? She thought, not expecting an answer.
"Hey. I'm Zana." I kneeled next to the pokémon and pet her head. She seemed surprised that I heard her, but pleased to. "I don't really know what to do with a friend my age. I feel like a little kid again."
"Just come join me in here. We'll just talk." He looked up at me. "If that's okay with you."
"Yeah, it's fine." I straightened my jean shorts and the black vest I had over my white t-shirt before sitting in the window hole. I was very hesitant at first, but by dinner time he had taken my mind off of some of the more stressful things. I didn't relax, though. I had taken my promise seriously and made a move to be friends but I didn't trust Ronin completely. This whole thing really was a risk.