Chapter 56: Searching for Answers
Firefly could barely believe her eyes. There, right in front of her, was Pokétopia, the city that housed the Pokémon Elder Council. This was a sight she never thought she'd ever see, and yet as she looked around it began to sink in that she had finally made it here.
"Takes your breath away, doesn't it," Twilight commented.
"Yeah," Firefly answered as she continued to gaze at the city. Twilight took a few steps forward.
"If you want I can give you a tour," she offered.
"Would you? I'd really appreciate it," Firefly said.
"Well then, follow me and let the grand tour begin." With a smile on her face the Umbreon began to lead Firefly into the city for what she called the "Grand Tour".
For Firefly the amazement she first experienced was nothing compared to the amazement she was feeling now. Now that she was within the city she got a better look at it, and saw just how amazing it truly was. What really surprised her was the number of buildings within the city.
"Why are there so many buildings? I thought the Pokémon here lived amongst nature," Firefly assumed.
"Normally you'd be correct, but ever since humans were banished from Pokétopia the Pokémon have used the houses for themselves," Twilight explained. Firefly suddenly stopped in her tracks. That was a detail she was not aware of.
"Humans were banished from Pokétopia?" she inquired. Twilight also stopped walking so she could answer Firefly's question.
"I wasn't here when it happened, but from what I've heard something bad happened hundreds of years ago and the Elder Council was forced to banish humans from Pokétopia in order to protect themselves and the other Pokémon who lived here," the Umbreon explained. Firefly let this information register for a bit.
"Something bad enough to make the Elder Council banish humans from Pokétopia… what could have happened to make them take measures that extreme?" she wondered.
"Like I said I wasn't here when it happened, but there are some Pokémon who were, not to mention records of that incident are in the library," Twilight said.
"Library? There's a library here?" Firefly questioned.
"Oh yeah. Even us Pokémon like to keep records of our past events," Twilight stated.
"Heh… Rubic would have a heart attack if she heard that," Firefly thought, thinking about the Igglybuff's love of reading.
"If you want I could show you where it is," Twilight offered.
"Sure," Firefly agreed.
"Okay, I'll take you there right now." The Umbreon began to lead Firefly through Pokétopia once again, this time heading for the library. Along the way they came across a Togetic. He smiled warmly at them.
"Good day, Twilight."
"Hello, Fenrir," Twilight greeted. Firefly looked at the Togetic and noticed he looked different. His body was a silvery color instead of white, and the patterns on his body were black and violet instead of red and blue. Right then he noticed Firefly.
"Oh, forgive me. I was unaware that you had a guest with you," the Togetic apologized. Twilight merely waved it off.
"That's okay. I want you to meet Firefly," Twilight said. "She's here to take the trial."
"She is. In that case I wish you luck, miss," Fenrir said.
"Thank you, though I wonder if I'm truly ready," Firefly replied.
"If I were you I wouldn't let the task occupy my mind too much. The more you think about what you have to do the more likely you are to fail," he said. Listening to his words Firefly realized he was right.
"Thank you," she said with a smile.
"Think nothing of it. I would hate to see you fail before you could even begin," Fenrir retorted. With a polite wave the two ladies continued on towards the library.
"He was friendly," Firefly commented.
"Everyone here is," Twilight stated. "There isn't a single bad-natured Pokémon here anymore."
"Anymore? What do you mean anymore? Were there some here at one point" Firefly asked.
"Just one, and I heard she was about as nasty as they came," Twilight answered. Firefly wondered who it was, but judging by the way Twilight was talking she more than likely wasn't here for that either.
"Maybe I'll find out once I get to the library," Firefly assumed. She continued to follow Twilight until they stood in front of the library.
"Well, here we are," the Umbreon announced. The building itself was what you expected. A one-story brick construction with vines growing wild up and along the walls, though whether the vines were there by choice or because no one had bothered to cut them down was anyone's guess.
"Come on. I'll introduce you to Selina," Twilight said.
"Selina?" Firefly wondered.
"The librarian, or who we consider the librarian," Twilight explained.
"Oh. Will she be able to help me find out what I want?' Firefly asked.
"I'm sure she can. She knows the library better than anyone," Twilight replied. The two of them entered the building.
"Selina? You here?" Twilight called.
"Just a minute." Moments later a beautiful Ninetails walked into view. Her fur was an ice blue color with silver tips at the ends of hr tails and her eyes were a gorgeous green color.
"I had a feeling that was your voice I heard, Twilight," the Ninetails commented.
"Hi there, Selina," Twilight greeted.
"So, what brings you by?" Selina inquired.
"I've got a friend here whose looking for some answers," Twilight answered, motioning towards Firefly. "I was hoping you'd be able to help her find those answers."
"I'll do my best. If they can be found here then I'll find them," the Ninetails declared.
"Alright then. I'll leave it to you," Twilight said. She turned to Firefly and smiled.
"Well, Firefly, I hope you find the answers you're looking for," she said.
"So do I," Firefly replied. With a wave Twilight left the library. Once the Umbreon left Selina approached Firefly.
"Firefly, right? What can I help you find?" she inquired.
"Well, I'm here to take the trial and I need to find out something," Firefly answered.
"Oh, so you're the next one in line," Selina commented.
"Next in line? I'm not the first one today?" Firefly questioned.
"Oh no. If I'm right you'd be the fifth Pokémon to take the trial today," Selina figured.
"Fifth? Just how many come here to take the trial?" Firefly wondered.
"Well, on average I'd say about 10 - 15 actually reach Pokétopia to take the trial, but there's really no telling how many attempt to get here but never make it," Selina answered. This made Firefly think. She already knew one Pokémon had attempted today and didn't make it, but she also wondered how many came before her, and how many would come after her.
"Oh dear, look at us. We haven't even gotten to the reason you're here," Selina stated.
"You're right. I guess we got carried away with our conversation," Firefly guessed.
"It would seem so," Selina agreed. "Now, what answers are you looking for?"
"I was hoping you could help me find out what happened back when humans were banished from Pokétopia," Firefly explained.
"The Human Rebellion?" Selina questioned.
"Is that what it was called?" Firefly asked.
"Yes, but why would you want to know about that?" Selina questioned.
"Well, if I am to try and become the next Queen then I'd like to know everything I can about what happened in the past so I don't repeat the mistakes of my predecessors," Firefly explained.
"Well, that's a good enough answer in my book," Selina commented. "Follow me. I'll take you to those records now." With the Ninetails in the lead the two of them headed to where the records of the Human Rebellion were kept. With any luck Firefly would discover what she was looking for.
Elsewhere, in a secret Team Rocket research facility, scientists were hard at work analyzing an interesting bit of DNA Giovanni had supplied to them. They had been given specific instructions on what to do, and to make sure things we smoothly Giovanni was overseeing the operation himself.
"Have you located it yet?" he asked a scientist.
"Almost. We've managed to narrow it down to a few specific strands that may contain the particular DNA code you're looking for," the scientist explained.
"How much longer?" Giovanni asked.
"It's difficult to say. It could be a few days or a couple of months," the scientist answered. "In a worst-case scenario the DNA code may not even be contained in this sample."
"It's there, and I expect you to find it!" Giovanni roared.
"Y-Yes sir!" the scientist stuttered. He quickly got back to work in order to avoid another outburst. Giovanni then turned his gaze to a nearby computer monitor which showed various DNA strands.
"Where are you? Show yourself to me," he whispered.
After Selina showed Firefly the records of the Human Rebellion the Vulpix went to work looking through them. The files were very detailed, describing everything from the number of casualties during the incident to the method used to expel the humans, but no matter how many times she re-read them there was no mention of the incident that caused it.
"Nothing," she sighed. "You'd think they'd put the cause of it all with the records." At that moment Selina approached her and saw the disappointed look on Firefly's face.
"No luck?" she asked. Firefly shook her head.
"These documents show everything that happened with the Human Rebellion except what started it in the first place," Firefly explained.
"I'm sorry they weren't of any help to you," Selina said.
"It's not your fault. You did what you could," Firefly replied. "I just wish there was some other way, like maybe speaking to someone who was alive back then." Right then a look or realization came across Selina's face.
"I think I can help you with that," she announced.
"How?" Firefly wondered.
"It just so happens that I know a Pokémon who was alive back during that incident," the Ninetails said.
"You do? Who? One of the members of the Elder Council?" Firefly asked.
"No. He's not a member of the council, but he was alive back then," Selina explained. "I'm sure he could tell you exactly what caused the Human Rebellion."
"If that's true then I need to talk to him," Firefly stated.
"Come on. I'll take you to him." Filled with a renewed sense of hope Firefly followed the Ninetails once again, this time to meet a Pokémon who was alive during the Human Rebellion who could very well give Firefly the answers she had been seeking.
Arriving at Pokétopia was a huge accomplishment for Firefly, but now she's searching for answers for questions that currently occupy her mind. Why were humans banished from Pokétopia? What started the Human Rebellion? Find out the answers to these questions and more in the next chapter of Firefly: Queen of the New Breed!
Author's Notes: Fenrir the Togetic belongs to Jester of Nobody. Selina the Ninetails belongs to countrygirl213
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