Chapter 20: New Revelations

The following morning, I was myself again. All I hoped was that the Prophecy was never mentioned again. I could just leave Alola, but I couldn't bring myself to abandon my friends.

Once in the PMC's lobby, Hau pointed to a sign posted on the wall. "We need to go to that guys."

The sign read, "Come down to Route 8 on Akala Island and experience the past in the present. Come to: Fossil Paradise!"

Hau was bouncing up and down. "Can we go!? Please!?"

I laughed. "Why not? It's on the way to the next trial site, right Rotom?"

Rotom saluted me. "Righty-O!"

Alex was tapping her chin. "I don't think we should go."

We all looked at her. "Why?"

She raised an eyebrow. "Have you guys not seen Jurassic Pokémon?"

We continued looking at her, confusion written on our faces.

Alex rubbed her temples. "Never mind. I'll go, but if I get eaten by a fossil, I'm killing all of you. Except for Lillie, she's innocent."

Timeskip

We walked past Wela Volcano Park and I saw the aftermath of the destruction. Mostly the Volcano itself was affected, but parts of the surrounding forest were a bit scorched. There were a couple holes in the Volcano and smoke poured out of some of them.

We eventually came to a tunnel and ignoring the creepiness inside, we reached Route 8 on the other side.

Robert was busy talking to Rotom about some Pokémon while Hau and Lillie were chatting with Nebby inconspicuously following behind them. I felt something tap my shoulder and I turned around to see Alex. She motioned for me to follow her.

"Can I talk with you for a second?" She asked when we were out of earshot from our friends.

I shrugged. "Sure."

"What did Volcarona say to you?" She asked. "And don't tell me to drop it. I won't take that for an answer."

I turned my head away. "It doesn't matter."

She gripped my shoulders. "Yes it does Zeno."

I whipped my head to face hers, my patience waning. "When I tell you to drop it, you drop it!"

Alex smirked. "Now we're getting somewhere."

Maybe it was her smirk, or maybe it's what she said, but whatever it was, it sent me over the edge. "You want to know then!? Fine! She told me that the future holds darkness and trials that I may not survive! How do you think I would feel about that, huh!? Heck, even the Prophecy says I'll die!"

Alex looked startled. "That's not what it-"

I cut her off. "And through parting of life shall the darkness cease. The Prophecy is about me! The supposed Hero Born of Darkness! But you know what!? I don't want to be a hero! I want nothing to do with the Prophecy! I came to Alola to be free from the darkness of my past, not to live more of it. You have no idea what it's like to grow up in so much darkness only to experience more of it once you think you've finally gotten away from it!"

I turned away from Alex and started walking away, then I heard, "You're wrong."

"Excuse me!?" I said, turning around.

She stuck her face close to mine and she looked furious. "You're not the only one who grew up with darkness! My whole family is a bunch of good for nothing drunks! They steal and they kill! You still think you're the only one with a terrible past!? I almost died three times trying to get to Alola, twice from my own family!"

I was speechless. I had no idea what to respond with. Alex looked on the verge of tears.

"Do you know w-what it's l-like to see your o-own family try to kill you!?" She sobbed.

"Yes," I said quietly. "I do."

She cried and hugged me, sobbing uncontrollably. I hugged her back, tears sliding down my cheeks. We stayed like that for a couple minutes before we dried our faces and went to find our friends.

Once we caught up to our friends who didn't notice our absence, we were back to normal. Though Alex wouldn't look at me. Hearing part of her life made me think about mine. Sure I lived in darkness for the longest time, but maybe now I could be free from it.

I looked at Alex. From what I heard about her past, it was almost as dark as mine. I found that we could relate. Maybe we could help each other.

With a PMC in sight, my friends stopped and I did as well. To our left was a sign pointing into the forest.

It read: "Fossil Paradise this way."

Robert grabbed the pokeball. "Might as well let my new Pokémon hang out with us."

He released a Pokémon I didn't recognize.

"When did you catch him?" I asked.

Robert looked at me, surprised. "Ten minutes ago about. Where were you?"

I shrugged. "Guess I wasn't paying attention."

He laughed. "You did look distant. Anyway Zeno, meet Stufful, a Normal/Fighting type."

Stufful looked at me and flailed his arms. Robert laughed and rubbed Stufful's head.

Hau pointed into the woods. "Are we going or what?"

We all nodded and when we set foot in the forest, Lillie screeched, "NEBBY! GET IN THE BAG!"

...

After a minute of walking, we entered a zoo of sorts. There were tons of different buildings, each probably housing one type of fossil Pokémon. People and Pokémon alike were milling around the place, ooohing at Fossil Pokémon or buying plushies of them.

Hau abandoned us and began rushing between buildings, looking at all the Pokémon. We all sweat dropped.

Nebby then broke free from her prison and raced away.

"Nebby!" Lillie cried out and ran after her.

Alex laughed. "I'll get them."

She ran after them, leaving just me and Robert together. We wandered soonest aimlessly throughout Fossil Pokémon, not really saying much.

Finally, Robert turned to me. "What'd you and Alex talk about?"

I looked at him, surprised.

He laughed. "Yeah, I knew you two disappeared. So, what's up between you two?"

He gave me a look and I scowled. "Nothing like that."

He laughed. "Okay, fine. What happened though?"

I debated telling him to stay off the topic, but I didn't want a repeat from earlier.

I shrugged. "She wanted to know more of what Volcarona said to me."

Robert nodded. "And?"

I smiled sadly, knowing the truth needed to be told. "Volcarona said more darkness was coming deadly trials in my journey that could kill me. She also mentioned about the great battle to come."

Robert slowly nodded. "Pokémon battle?"

I shook my head. "Battle of the minds, whatever that means."

Robert grasped my shoulder. "Don't worry about it too much, eh. I'm certain you'll survive. I've seen the way you battle. I've also seen what you're like. You're kind and protective of your friends. Quite honestly, I don't see how the darkness part in Hero Born of Darkness fits into your character."

I stared at the ground. "That's because you don't know my past. Of who I was before I came to Alola."

Robert raised his hands. "I won't pry, but if you ever need a man-to-man talk, I'm here for you buddy."

He returned Stufful to his pokeball. "Besides, you also got your Pokémon. I can tell they love you and that they think highly of you."

I looked at him. "How would you know?"

He grinned. "I'm observant."

Robert jerked a thumb over his shoulder. "Let's get some more sight seeing done shall we."

Timeskip

After a bit, Robert and I ended up near a Kabuto pond. They were swimming around lazily with the mother Kabutops sitting on a rock, observing them. A little Kabuto swam close to me and flipped onto its back, staring at me. I smiled and with a nod from Mother Kabutops, I rubbed Kabuto's belly. Kabuto made a gurgling noise and squirted water at me. I laughed and Robert and I moved on.

Robert looked at me as we walked. "See?"

"See what?" I asked, confused.

Robert looked amused. "Just by seeing you, that Kabuto liked you. Some say Pokémon have a sense of who someone is just by seeing them and they judge you by that. If it's true, that shows your a good person at heart and nothing can change that.

I smiled. "If only that were true."

Things were looking up. Of course, that's when everything began to go wrong.

The roof to the Aerodactyl cage exploded as dozens of Aerodactyls were set loose. Another building exploded as a stampede of Bastiodons charged out. More explosions occurred and I saw people running in terror from the freed fossil Pokémon.

Alex and Lillie ran up to us and Alex said, "I knew it. I just knew the fossils were going to get free."

"How'd they break free?" Asked a scared Lillie.

My eyes searched and finally I spotted the familiar S blings. "They didn't. Team Skull did."

They were running about, looting gift shops, grabbing abandoned wallets, and catching fossil Pokémon in nets.

"Good for nothing-!" I didn't finish that sentence since I was running towards all the Skull grunts.

I let out Dartrix, Growlithe, and Lycanroc. I didn't let out Gyarados since I didn't want to cause more damage.

As we ran, I said, "Growlithe, Lycanroc, take out any grunts you see. Dartrix, we're freeing the captured Pokémon."

They barked and kooed and we were off. As Growlithe and Lycanroc dealt with the grunts, I brought out my special knife and started cutting Pokémon from the nets. Dartrix flew overhead and Razor Leafed the nets from above.

I noticed Alex and Lillie freeing Pokémon as well with Robert taking down the grunts.

A female grunt appeared next to me and I punched her. She was about to retaliate, but a figure crashed into her.

Hau grinned at me. "Can I join the party?"

I grinned back. "Please do."

We fought side-by-side, Hau actually knowing some good moves.

As Hau kicked a Grunt, he grunted, "Tutu always made me take fighting lessons. Looks like they're pretty useful."

Eventually, we ended up near the Kabuto Pond. All the Kabuto's and the Mother Kabutops were trapped in nets. Standing over them was a young woman with skull things on each side of her head. Her multicolored hair was separated into four and she wore a tank top that was cut short, which showed a pink S tattoo on her belly.

She looked at Hau and I and smiled coldly. "Well, if it isn't two of the troublemakers causing Team Radiance grief. That's good work."

I made two fists, Dartrix landing on my shoulder. "Move aside lady and let us free those Pokémon."

She laughed. "How bout no. These Pokémon are Team Skulls property now and they'll fetch us a good amount of money."

I swung a fist at her, but she sidestepped and pushed me into the pond. Hau went for her, but she kicked him in the chest.

She grinned at me. "I heard you were pretty tough. Disappointing now that I met you."

I growled as I lifted myself from the pond.

My soaked trench coat clung to me as I glared at the lady. "I'll show you exactly how tough I am Skull Girl."

In one fluid motion, I swung my trench coat off and flung it at her face. With a moment's distraction, I jumped and rolled behind her. When she flung my trench off, I kicked her legs out beneath her and I instantly was on her, pinning her down with my knife at her throat.

While like that, a bit of my past self showed itself. The bit that I wanted to forget. The bit that would kill for less than what Skull Girl has done.

Then my head cleared. I couldn't become him again, not now, not ever. I whipped my knife away and stood.

I picked up my trench and as I did, I saw Skull Girl come at me in the corner of my eye. Then something in an Aqua Jet slammed into her. It was the Kabuto from earlier.

I turned around and grinned. "Hey Kabuto, let's teach Skull Girl here a lesson. Use Ancient Power!"

Kabuto raised its claws and rocks flew out of the ground and towards Skull Girl. She nimbly dodged the rocks and gave a cocky grin.

"I guess we'll fight another day Zeno," She said. "And I'm looking forwards to it."

She turned away, then looked back at me and gave me a wink. A deadly type of wink. "My name's Plumeria."

And with that, she ran off and disappeared behind a building. Instead of going after her, Hau and I cut the Kabutos free. I went to thank the Kabuto for helping me, but I couldn't see him.

With that done with, Hau and I regrouped with Alex, Lillie, and Robert. By this time, police and park officials were herding fossil Pokémon into cages. From what I overheard, some Pokémon managed to escape, mainly the Aerodactyls.

"That was eventful," Alex commented. "And none of us were eaten. That's an accomplishment."

"That's an understatement," I said.

"Is Team Skull gone?" Lillie asked worriedly.

Robert looked around. "I believe so."

Hau was sitting on the ground, picking at a ripped net. "Why is it that Alola is plagued by Team Skull and Team Radiance? Why do they cause so much trouble?"

He looked up at us, determination spread across his face. "We need to take them down. I don't know how, but we're going to do it."

He stood and placed his hand in the middle of our group. "Alola's Police Force has done next to nothing to stop them and the Aether Foundation isn't getting anywhere. I think it's time we take it into our own hands, the only ones who've managed to cause both teams grief. Who's with me?"

I didn't hesitate to place my hand on his. "Back in Kanto, we have Team Rocket to deal with. I've never even thought of trying to take them down. Maybe it starts here, taking down Skull and Radiance."

Lillie joined her hand with ours. "Too many people and Pokémon are hurt by them. I'm in."

Robert put his hand on Lillie's. "With a team as great as ours, Team Skull and Radiance don't stand a chance."

Finally, Alex put her hand on ours. "I came to Alola to just train and go on a journey. But, I guess this is my, no, our journey now and our goal. To make them fall."

We flung our hands into the air and we all smiled. We were truly a great team. A group of friends with a purpose. And nothing could stop us. For the time being, I forgot about my past.

Timeskip

We made our way out of Fossil Paradise and back onto Route 8.

Hau had his hands on the back of his head. "To be honest, Fossil Paradise was a serious letdown."

Alex, who was in front of him, looked back at him. "So true."

"Uhhh, Zeno," Robert said. "There's something in your backpack."

I slung it off me and sure enough, there was something wriggling inside. I zipped it open and gasped.

"What is it?" Lillie asked.

I smiled. "Kabuto."

In my backpack, staring up at my on his back, was Kabuto. I tickled his belly and he wriggled around happily.

Robert leaned against a tree. "He chose you."

As I picked up an empty pokeball, I thought, "I hope you can read who I am Kabuto. Because if you can't, you have no idea what you're getting yourself into."

I gently pressed the ball against Kabuto's belly and he went inside. The pokeball wiggled three times, then flashed green.

I smiled. "Welcome to the team, Kabuto."

"Is anyone else wondering if it's illegal for Zeno to catch that Pokémon?" Hau asked. "I mean, doesn't it belong to the owner of Fossil Paradise?"

I nodded slowly. "Probably."

I got up and started running. "Last one to the PMC is a broken Exeggcute!"

I heard my friends laugh and give chase.

While running, i I didn't think of my past, I didn't think about the Prophecy, and I didn't think of being the Hero Born of Darkness.

...

On the second floor of the Shady House in Po Town, Plumeria entered the room. A man with white hair sat upon his makeshift throne, a chest with Buginium Z's overflowing from it to his left.

He looked at Plumeria. "What is it?"

Plumeria smiled. "We caught a couple live Fossils and Zeno showed up as predicted."

The man laughed. "Is he strong?"

Plumeria nodded. "Indeed. Stronger than we initially thought. He must have had prior training."

"He also plans to take us and Radiance down," Plumeria added.

He stopped laughing. "He'll be a threat then. He could ruin my, no, mine and Lusamine's plans."

He stood. "I'll need to contact Lusamine at once. She needs to know the one person who can stop us is friends with her daughter."

The man walked past Plumeria and out of the room. He walked down the hall and climbed out a shattered window. He stood there, arms stretched out to his sides, gazing at the starry night.

"Hey Kukui," He said, imagining he was looking at his old friend. "I'll make you realize that sending new trainers on the Island Challenge will be their doom."

The man donned his weird glasses. "Watch your back Zeno, ya boi Guzma is coming for you."

...

Crouching on a branch high up in a tree, was Kamake. She was spying on Guzma through binoculars and after a moment, lowered them from her eyes. It looked like Guzma was off to talk with Lusamine.

Kamake leaned back against the tree. It wasn't easy working both sides, Aether and Radiance. Three, if you counted being in contact with Team Skull through Aether. She worked for Aether and through that, Team Skull. Then she also worked for Cassandra.

Kamake showed a crazy looking smile. "A girl can go mad with this kind of job. Then again, who says I'm not mad."

She giggled to herself. She would need to get back to Aether. Not because she was needed, but because a certain someone was going to show up there to talk to Lusamine.

Kamake's cheeks flushed when she thought about Guzma. Quickly, Kamake dismissed Guzma from her head. She had to act professional.

When Kamake got back on the ground, she saw something out of the corner of her eye. Kamake's heart rate doubled.

"No," She thought. "Are they following me!?"

Sure enough, two guys stepped out of the shadows. Each wore the Team Rocket insignia on their uniforms.

"I thought I got rid of you two back on Route 6," Kamake said, frightened, something that didn't happen often.

They smiled and the one on her left said, "You should've killed us when you had the chance."

The one on her right said, "We must say Kamake, Team Rocket misses it's best Science Officer. You never did finish that experiment with Mew and without you, Giovanni fears it never will."

They took a step forward and Kamake stumbled backwards in fear, falling on her butt. They laughed and moved closer.

As quick as she could, Kamake dug into her Aether uniform and pulled out a gun, something you could only get on the black market. Even then, they're very rare.

Kamake shot both the grunts in the chest and then in their heads. They were dead before they hit the ground.

Kamake quickly stowed her gun away. After a minute of dragging, Kamake dumped the bodies into the ocean from atop a cliff. Hopefully they hadn't told Giovanni that she was here.

Kamake pressed a button on a device and her personal Charizard flew out of the forest towards her. Once she was on his back, she said, "Aether as fast as you can go."

On the way back to Aether, Kamake managed to get Team Rocket from her mind. She's killed before, but always hated doing it, though sometimes it was necessary. Instead, she focused on Guzma, who she would hopefully see at Aether.

"Thinking about Guzma is much better than thinking about Team Rocket," Kamake reasoned.

...

Tapu Koko was currently visiting his sister, Tapu Lele, at the Ruins of Life at his sister's request.

Tapu Koko hovered next to Tapu Lele. "Why did you summon me here sister."

Tapu Lele pointed at the cracked stone floor. "Beneath these ruins, I feel her stirring."

Tapu Koko paled. "It's starting then."

Tapu Lele looked at him. "The Prophecy?"

He nodded. "If the Prowler is wakening, then the others won't be far behind. We must be careful."

He looked at his sister. "Does she say anything?"

Tapu Lele nodded gravely. "I hear her speak his name. Zeno. Over and over."

Suddenly, they heard a content purring from beneath the ruins and a sweet sounding voice filtered through the floor.

"The Hero Born of Darkness comes ever closer to my den," the Prowler spoke. "And when he arrives, I'll be waiting."

Tapu Koko felt something stir on Melemele. "I must return to the Ruins of Conflict."

And with those final words, he left, leaving Tapu Lele worried about what the future would bring. On Melemele, a soft, rythmic pounding could be heard beneath the Ruins of Conflict. On Ula'Ula, beneath the Ruins of Abundance, a chattering and clicking noise sounded through the floor. On Poni Island, beneath the island itself, a huge creature stirred, sending bubbles into the pond in the Ruins of Hope. The gods of Old were awakening and one day soon, they would rise again to topple the Tapus and regain control of Alola.

Zeno added a new member to his team and shared a bit of his past with Alex, an emotional moment for both. Guzma is in league with the Aether Foundation and will be coming for Zeno and Kukui. Kamake has a secret crush on Guzma and is trying to forget her own past with Team Rocket. Meanwhile, the Prowler lies beneath the Ruins of Life and awaits Zeno's arrival. The journey ahead of Zeno and his friends will not be easy and is full of darkness. Zeno wishes to forget his past, but one day, his secrets will be out and his life will never the same again.

Another chapter, another day. I must say, these are getting easier and more fun to write. I'd like to thank all my followers, including one new edition, @artsynderella from Wattpad. A big thanks to you all. Besides that, the journey will continue within a week, hopefully. I can say one thing about the next chapter, it has more of Zeno's dark past, so be prepared to be like "Zeno, no!" Till next time. Toodles.