"Oh, hello there, my name is Zinnia...just Zinnia, I'm 18 years old...well, technically, these last days have been weird, I just learned that I was trapped a thousand years by an evil Pokemon, but I was set free by a kind soul, he claims to be a protector of the region and I'm willing to help him, as a member of the Draconid village it is my duty to look over Hoenn as well, if my people saved our home once, then I can do it too... to think all that time has passed... nevertheless, I can't wait to see what awaits in the future."
"Uh... that's great and all, Miss, but I only asked you where the bathroom was."
"Well, I don't know, it's my first time here."
A few moments later.
"Uh...Zinnia, what did you just..."
"Like you heard! From now on I'm you humble slave! I'll serve you in any way you want." Zinnia suddenly hugged Ash and whispered on his ear. "Any way, Master."
"Z-Zinnia, calm yourself!" Ash pushed her away a little.
"Who do you think you are?!" Alita shouted in front of her. "Ash already has me! I'm the only slave he needs!"
"Alita..." Ash trailed off.
"Sorry, but it's true!" The dragon continued. "I'm a true maid! No matter how you look at it, I'm your loyal sex slave!"
"That's not what a maid is..." Ash sighed.
"Do you even know how that is supposed to look?" Winona asked her.
"I've seen things...in Ash's computer."
"You what?!" She exclaimed.
"Alright, everyone shut!" Ash shouted before the situation went too far. "Look Zinnia, you can't just go and tell a person that you'll be their...gosh." He was too embarrassed to even say the word.
"Why not? Offering people as tribute used to be something normal back then."
"Key word, back then." Ash continued with a dead stare.
"Come on Ash, you saved my whole race." Zinnia tried to give a point.
"Yes, but I didn't do it for this." He answered. "What would happen if I rejected the... gift?"
"I would be burned alive for bringing dishonor to my race." She answered unfazed.
"THE WHAT?!" Ash, Winona and Alita shouted together.
"K-Kidding, kidding!" Zinnia tried to calm them down surprised by their reaction. "I'll probably just get told off, but that isn't much better, you haven't seen my grandma angry, anyway, I would prefer to stay with you."
"You want to stay with me?" Ash asked.
"Of course, a thousand years is a lot to pick up, and who better than you to help me? Besides, you said you wanted help with Rayquaza, right?"
"Well, that's true, but-"
"Then I can help!" Zinnia assured. "It'll be my duty as a sent from the Draconid to help you find Rayquaza so you can stop Groudon and Kyogre and save the Hoenn region."
"Hmm..." Ash looked at Winona and Alita and they both shook their heads at the idea. "Alright Zinnia, listen, I won't make you my...sigh, slave or whatever, but you can stay here with us if that's what you want, Team Delta always needs extra hands."
"If that's what you prefer." Zinnia hugged his left arm. "Master."
"You gotta be..." Ash was interrupted by Alita grabbing his free arm.
"...You're too close." She glared at Zinnia.
"And what are you gonna do about it?" Zinnia asked.
"Ever wondered how a mind break feels?" The maid threatened her with some psychic energy on her hand.
"Alita..." Ash tried to calm her down.
"What?"
"Alright you three, that's enough." Winona stepped in and tried to play her usual role as the voice of reason. "Listen, it's late night already, I think we should all go to sleep and discuss this topic tomorrow."
"B-But-"
"I said enough." Winona interrupted again and looked at Alita. "I'm not much happy about this either, but you're not making it any easier."
"Argh, whatever." Alita gave in.
After leaving the night shift team in charge of the Headquarters, Ash and company walked back to their house in Fortree.
"You guys live on a treehouse?!" Zinnia looked up at their home on top of a giant tree, like most houses in Fortree. "That's n-i-i-ice."
"Yeah, I guess we don't think too much about it." Ash answered as he released Dragonite
"Hey there, big guy." Zinnia greeted the dragon as the latter gave her a hug, Dragonite then took them up to the entrance of the house as he always does, Zinnia was the first to walk in as she started to look around. "Heh, I think I'm gonna like it here." She said. "So guys, where am I going to sleep?"
"Not in Ash's room!" Alita quickly exclaimed.
"Well, until we can prepare you a proper room I guess it'll be the best to leave you in the living room." Winona said. "The sofa has a bed inside it, I'll bring you some sheets and nightwear."
"Sounds good."
After a surprisingly calm dinner, everyone went to his room, as accorded, Zinnia would be sleeping in the Sofa Bed of the living room and she was wearing a green pijama that Winona gave her, but while Alita and Winona were in their rooms in the second floor, Zinnia decided to take a peak of Ash's room, which was just a few meters away from the living room.
Meanwhile with Ash, he had just finished taking a bath and after changing himself to his sleep wear, blue trunks and a white shirts, he felt a presence so he quickly turned the lights, finding none other than Zinnia looking at him as she laid on his bed.
"Hello, Master." She smiled. "You wouldn't mind sleeping with me, would you?"
"I guess this is how things are gonna be from now on." Ash sighed. "Zinnia, I already told you, you don't have to do this."
"And I already told you I want to stay around you."
"Yeah, but why? I understand you and your tribe are grateful, but you don't even know me, like, you were really going to give away your freedom?"
"Honestly, I had the feeling that you were going to decline, someone that does what you did in the village wouldn't accept such a thing...but that didn't stop me from playing along." Zinnia giggled at that last bit.
"Sure, then why do you want to stay with me so bad?"
"Well, it's not like I have much else to do...and to be honest, you're really well-looking."
"Oh-" Ash blushed slightly by the compliment, but it was enough for her to notice. "...so...you think I'm-"
"Maybe..." Zinnia gave a satisfied smile as Ash sighed and sat on the edge of the bed.
"You've never had a girlfriend, right?"
"We're does that question come from?"
"If it makes you feel better, I've never had a boyfriend either."
"Hmm..." Ash was starting to get annoyed.
"Fine, fine, I'll stop bothering you." Zinnia gave another laugh and Ash sighed again. "Hey..." Zinnia sat in the edge of the bed right next to him. "Is there something you want to talk about?"
"What do you mean?"
"Just in case you forgot, I got aura as well." Zinnia reminded him. "I can feel you're worried about something."
"It's nothing, really."
"You suuuure?" Zinnia raised an eyebrow.
"...Fine, it is something, but there are things I prefer to keep for myself."
"For yourself? Even from those two?"
"You mean Winona and Alita? Well, yes, I trust them my life, but there are topics that I simply can't touch with them."
"Well, why don't you use me for that then?"
"You just had to pick that word."
"I'm just saying, if you're not going to chain me and force me do things I don't want to while I beg you to stop..." Zinnia gave him a teasing look and the fact that she didn't even stutter while saying that was more than enough to make him blush harder, something that surely satisfied her. "Hehe, then at least let me hear your pains, after all, if we really want this to work we should start speaking out."
"What exactly do you mean with this?"
"Don't pretend you don't know." Her smirk only grew wider. "Yada yada, then why not telling me about the whole thing with Team Aqua, Magma and Delta?"
"Well..." Ash thought in silence for a moment. "That I can do, if you're really going to stay, I guess I should at least explain you what we're dealing with."
"I'm all ears."
"First things first, Team Magma, they were the first to assemble, 10 years ago, as I told you their plan is to expand the land, they're lead by Maxie, he is someone who thinks about every single detail, something of a scientist, pretty smart all around, but that intelligence came with the price of a massive ego, under him are his three admins, Tabitha is his direct second in command, he tends to stay in the headquarters giving support from afar, then there's Courtney, she does field missions most of the time, she's...weird, the way she talks and acts, she's like a robot."
"Robot?" Zinnia asked.
"Right, thousand years...have you ever seen a Golurk?"
"Yes."
"She's something like that."
"I see..."
"Anyway, I have to admit Courtney is a pretty strong battler."
"And who's the third admin?"
"...Flannery." Ash answered with difficulty and Zinnia could feel the pain in his voice.
"Who's Flannery?" She asked.
"She was... she is a friend of mine, but then she joined them, I...we were so close, but my duties with Team Delta pulled us apart, her... her grandfather died and I guess... she just didn't have anyone else to turn to...I couldn't even go to his funeral because Team Aqua was attacking Mossdeep that day, but that's no excuse, I should've been there, I should've been there to tell her everything was gonna be ok, I-I-I should've-" Ash abruptly stopped once he noticed he was sobbing, in fact, he was about to start shedding tears, he then glanced at Zinnia, who was completely silent with a worried look, Ash shook his head slightly, held his tears and then continued. "I couldn't help her... and I'm never gonna be able to forget myself for that."
"...I-I'm sorry to hear that."
"One of these days." He continued. "One of these days I'll convince her to abandon all that, I...I need to tell her I'm sorry, I just hope she forgives me... I won't give up on her, I know she can still be saved."
"But...what if she doesn't want to be saved?"
"...Then it'd be my fault."
"..."
"T-That's... That's pretty much it about Team Magma." Ash tried to move on and avoid going further with the Flannery topic. "Second things second, there's Team Aqua, they formed two years later, they want to expand the sea, their leader is Archie, he is really outgoing, almost wild I would say, he cares about his Pokemon and his subordinates to an extend, but he's dangerous, he doesn't care about whatever he needs to destroy in order to achieve his goal, that's something Maxie and him got in common." Ash took another pause. "Continuing with the story, his admins are Matt and Shelly...Matt is an exwrestler, he is in debt with Archie, from what I heard he once saved his life, Matt is loyal to him deep down in his heart, he accepted his ideals as his own and would be willing to give his life if it would help to make them come true, I'm sure of it, I've seen him almost die to save Archie... Shelly on the other side is the brains of Team Aqua, she has outsmarted me more than once, but she's not only intelligent, she's cruel and ruthless, and just like Matt, she'd do anything for Archie and their goal."
"Was someone there a friend of yours too?"
"Not exactly, I met Shelly in Devon corporation, but it was just a one-off, next thing I knew was that she's an Aqua Admin."
"Well, third things third..." Zinnia decided to play along. "What about Team Delta, uh?"
"Of course...it was 3 years ago, people had been living in fear of Teams Magma and Aqua since they formed, there was no way to know when will they attack, what they would do...the Gym Leaders couldn't find a way to counter them, the champion and the Elite Four tried to call to other regions for help, but nobody came, they said they were busy, that they had their own problems...looking back, I'm not completely sure about how it happened...it was just an idea... to bring together a group of people, see if we could become something more, work together to fight the battles that the people of Hoenn couldn't... there's was just a moment when I had enough...a moment when I said...If I don't do it, who will?" Ash then let out a rather nostalgic smile. "...Team Delta was born from that question."
"Wow...so you're kind of a liberator?"
"That's one way of putting it...I'm still surprised by how many people we've gathered."
"How many?"
"Uh, let me see...we got 196 grunts, Alita and Winona are my two admins and, of course then there's me, so we're 199."
"Well, that makes the 200th correct?"
"Yes, I guess it does." He answered. "What about you, Zinnia?"
"What?"
"Well, I'd like to know about you."
"Eh, what can I say?" Zinnia looked up for a moment. "Born as a girl in the Draconid village there wasn't much to do, I was always with my grandma...my mother died of an illness a few weeks after I was born...they said my father couldn't continue without her."
"S...Sorry to hear that."
"Don't mind it, I never met them so it doesn't hurt as much as one would think... what's next? Oh, I told you about my Salamence, right?"
"Yes, what happened?"
"This little fella happened." Zinnia searched in the pocket of her pajama and called Bagon from a Poke Ball. "I can feel his energy, he's a descendant from my Salamence, he somehow escaped Yveltal's attack and...he died long ago, but it's like he passed on the message to take care of the village until someone could come and free us."
"That's... that's amazing, you must have been really close."
"We were." Zinnia nodded as she hugged Bagon. "Too bad we could never say our goodbyes...and well, then there's the prophecy... about how Kyogre and Groudon would return to sweep disaster over Hoenn and how a chosen one from the Draconid, bearing the title of Lorekeeper would call upon Rayquaza to save the whole region...That was supposed to be me..."
"What?"
"Yes, Grandma told me when I was younger that I would have been the one to summon Rayquaza..."
"But why didn't you tell me that?"
"I was still processing everything... and honestly things just got out of hand with all these teams ...I guess that'll be up to you now... But I'm glad, maybe I wasn't the right person."
"How so?"
"I don't know, to find Rayquaza and save the region...it made me proud to think it was up to me, I really wanted to do it, it was my wish, but... having to carry the burden of being the one destined to save the world... I felt like it was too much for me sometimes, it confused me... you know? Ever since I was a little girl, I have always turned my eyes up to the sky, when I was so full of uncertainty that I felt my heart might be crushed by it... when I was so grief-stricken and alone I thought my heart might break of it... I turned and looked up there... so that my tears would never, ever fall... What about you? Have you ever had to do something like that?"
"All the time." He answered. "Thinking about how I am the one who has to stop all those problems, thinking that there are so many people that are counting on me, they all expect me to be strong...sometimes it's too much, but they all rely on me, so I don't want to admit it."
"Right...then I guess you and I are not so different."
"Looks like it... this life I chose isn't easy but... it sure is one heck of a ride." Ash gave a weak laugh. "Hey...I don't want you to feel like I'm replacing you, okay? You can still follow your wish, but that burden isn't only yours anymore, we can find Rayquaza together."
"Together..." Zinnia smiled, but the gave a sigh. "Do you ever wonder why do this kind of things always 'return'? Like, why couldn't the first solution be permanent, why couldn't Rayquaza stop them for good back then?"
"People say history always repeat itself." Ash replied. "But that gives us a chance to do it better the second time, I'm sure we'll be able to stop that catastrophe so that it never happens again."
"Huff, I pray you're right, if we could...just live in peace once this is all over."
"Peace is really all I'm asking for now... heh... well, good chat." Ash stood up. "Nothing like sharing a touching moment of pain... you can sleep here, I'll be in the sofa, good night."
"Yeah, uh... good night." Zinnia approached Ash and gave him a hug, he was surprised by that, but he returned the gesture nonetheless, after breaking apart, Ash simply gave her a warm smile and left the room.
"... We'll do it together." Zinnia said to herself with a smile.
Next day.
"CHIRP! CHIRP! CHIRP!"
"Swablu..." Winona yawned from her bed, wearing a light blue nightgown. "What did I tell you about playing to be my alarm clock?"
"Swa..." The little bird apologized with a bow.
"Nevermind, it's time to wake up anyway." Winona got out of bed and decided to go to the kitchen, walking past Ash's room, she noticed the door was open and walked in, seeing nobody in bed. "Where is..." Winona felt a sudden goosebump and ran to the living room.
Meanwhile in the living room.
"Good morning." Zinnia smiled at Ash once he woke up and found her resting in the sofa bed next to him. "I was going to wake you up, but you look really cute sleeping; and before you ask, yes, I did spend the whole night here."
"..." Ash simply sighed.
"Come on, we had that talk last night, you should have expected this to happen."
"Zinnia, I really suggest you to get out of here befo-"
"WHAT IN THE NAME OF LUGIA IS GOING HERE?!" Winona shouted standing next to the sofa.
"Before that happens..."
"Ssh, we're resting." Zinnia hugged Ash closer to her.
"Why are you sleeping together?!" Winona continued.
"Yes Zinnia, why are we sleeping together?" Ash asked as she laughed.
"You just looked so cold." She laughed.
"I'm done with you!" Winona pulled Zinnia out of the sofa. "You haven't been here for 24 hours and I'm already done! You think you can just burst into our home and take everything like it's yours?!"
"Well, look who just lost all her cool." Zinnia giggled. "Unlike you, Ash likes having me around, we had a wholeheartedly talk and everything last night, he told me things he's too scared to tell you."
"T-That's not true!" Winona stammered. "Ash knows he can tell me anything, right?"
"Uh..." Ash just looked around.
"ASH!" The Gym Leader shouted.
"Oh, that's right, it seems like I'm the more trustworthy now." Zinnia continued. "After all, he will always see you as his sister and nothing more than that."
"THAT'S IT!" Winona grabbed Zinnia by her collar, but a sudden blue alarm light started to pulse from the ceiling. "Argh, not now!"
"Uh, what does that mean?" Zinnia asked.
"It means that you just got your first mission." Ash answered as he stood up from the sofa.
After the group changed themselves and woke up Alita, they rushed to the Headquarters, going directly to the control center.
"What do we have here, Max?" Winona said to the teen with glasses managing the computers.
"Elite Four Phoebe informed us Team Aqua is raiding Mt. Pyre." He answered. "She's doing her best to hold them back, but she needs help."
"Why would Team Aqua attack Mt. Pyre?" Alita asked.
"Seems like we're gonna find out, take off everyone! We're on our way." Ash ordered. "Winona, you're coming with me, along the Gokai, Dai, Geki, Jet and Zyu squadrons, we're helping Phoebe."
"Got it." The Gym Leader nodded at him.
"Alita, stay here." He continued. "If anything happens take the Bouken, Deka, Magi, Hurri and Gao squadrons with you."
"Yes, sir!" The maid gave a salute.
"Max, I want everyone else to stay with their guards up, we don't know if things will escalate."
"Roger that." He answered.
"Finally, Zinnia, you'll come with us too, seems like the perfect chance to show you how we get things done."
"Understood." Zinnia took his hand and smiled.
"I don't think we should take a newbie with us." Winona rolled her eyes.
"How did you call me?!" Zinnia exclaimed.
"These missions are dangerous!" She stood firm. "You have no idea what you're messing with here!"
"Ash told me those are people trying to rule Hoenn, so rather they are messing with me!"
"The last thing we need is some random kid running around feeling invincible!"
"Who are you calling kid, you flat grandma!"
"W-Who are you calling flat?! You walking airbag!"
"Ladies, ladies, come on, we're not savages." Alita stood between the two. "...everyone knows medium is premium."
"That's it, I'm cutting your internet privileges." Ash jumped into yet another discussion. "We don't have time for this, Zinnia's coming with us, if she causes any trouble, I'll be responsible."
"Hmm...fine." Winona gave in.
"Great." Ash sighed relieved. "Zinnia, do you have any flying Pokemon?"
"Nope, I only have Bagon." Zinnia showed him the Poke Ball again.
"Alright, then let's... wait, now that I think about it, where did you even get that Poke Ball from?"
"Uh...Somewhere over there." Zinnia looked to the sides.
"Did you steal that?" Ash continued to ask.
"...No." Zinnia began to sweat.
"...we'll talk about this later, you're coming with us. Dragonite!" Ash released the Pokemon next to him. "We need a ride."
"Nite!" He nodded.
"Alright, everyone, we're going to Mt. Pyre!" Ash exclaimed.
Mt. Pyre, a few minutes later.
"Dusknoir!" Phoebe recalled her fainted Pokemon as she was trying to counter a dozen of Team Aqua grunts who were using Mightyena, Carvanha, Muk and Golbat, despite her best efforts, she only had her Mega-Sableye left standing. "They're too many, I just can't-"
"Phoebe!" Ash called from the back of Dragonite along Zinnia as the Dragon descended and landed infront of the Elite Four to protect her, Winona then landed as well in her Skarmory followed by the grunts with their own flying types, Honchkrow, Crobat, Mandibuzz and Fearow, just to name a few. "Let's make this showy!" Ash shouted and the battle began.
"A battle cry? I feel like you take these things too easy sometimes." Winona smirked at him. "Next time you'll tell me we need a roll call."
"Maybe another time." Ash jumped off of Dragonite, Zinnia then did the same and Dragonite boosted himself with a Dragon Dance, charging against the Aqua grunt's Pokemon. "Phoebe, you okay?"
"I'm fine Ash, thank you for coming." She answered.
"We answered the call, what's going on?" Winona asked.
"They simply appeared out of nowhere while I was training here, Shelly was guiding them along someone else, a young girl, the grunts were taking orders from her too."
"Sounds like Team Aqua's got a new admin." Ash said.
"Looks like it." Phoebe continued. "I didn't hear their plan, but it seems like they're looking for something, but I'm not sure what it could..." Phoebe then remembered something. "No, it can't be that."
"What thing?" Ash asked.
"There are two spheres, inside a temple in the summit of the mount, it's an old legend, but they're somewhat related to Groudon and Kyogre."
"Does that sound familiar to you, Zinnia?" Ash asked her.
"Yes, they could be the red and blue orbs, two ancient artifacts left by Kyogre and Groudon after they were first stopped by Rayquaza." Zinnia explained.
"Sounds like more than enough reason for them to come." Winona said.
"We need to move! Dragonite!" After Ash's dragon took down about two thirds of the grunt's Pokemon he returned to him and Ash jumped on his back again. "Winona, stay here and clean the area, I'm going up."
"Take care." Winona said.
"Wait, Ash! I'm going with you." Zinnia hoped on Dragonite's back as well.
"Zinnia...listen, I know what I said, but Winona does have a point, these missions are dangerous, and you heard me yesterday, Shelly's up there and she isn't exactly nice."
"Think you're gonna scare me off?" Zinnia hugged Ash tightly from behind. "I'm part of this team now, I'm gonna help you."
"...Fine, stay close." Ash gave in and Dragonite took flight to the summit, where they found Shelly along her Walrein guarding the entrance of the temple.
"Well, look at you, Mister Bird Keeper all grown up." She laughed at Ash.
"We know why you're here." Ash answered. "You won't get away with that orb!"
"Poor Ash, you should know it by now, we're pirates, when we like something we take it and most importantly, when we don't like something...WE DESTROY IT!" As Shelly said this, her Walrein gave a fearsome roar, she then released two Crawdaunt and two Sharpedo to join the battle.
"Alright, Shelly, there are two ways out of this-" Ash continued.
"Hydro Pump!" She shouted and all her Pokemon attacked.
"Fine, three ways." Ash said as Dragonite flew around avoiding the attacks. "Hyper Beam!" Dragonite attacked and easily knocked out both Crawdaunt while damaging Walrein and the Sharpedo.
"Argh, keep him busy, guys." Shelly said as she ran inside the temple. "Hey, new girl! We got visitors, you done?"
"Of course, I was just making myself sure." She answered smiling in front of the orbs. "These are the originals, just like I told you."
"You say we should take both?" Shelly asked.
"It's the best way to obstacle Team Magma, so yes."
"Hmm... retreat everyone, we got what we came here for." She said through her communicator, her Walrein then suddenly came flying, falling defeated next to them. "That's just perfect."
"Enough, Shelly!" Ash shouted as Dragonite landed in the entrance of the temple.
"Let's take some bad guys!" Zinnia jumped off Dragonite and released Bagon.
"Any more bright ideas?" Shelly asked her.
"Yeah, I've got a few. Vaporeon, Mist!" She called upon the Water-Type.
"Swellow, Defog!" Ash released the bird.
Both Pokemon made their moves, but the mist was just thick enough to let Shelly and the new recruit escape with both orbs.
Ash and Zinnia then ran outside the temple and saw Shelly and her acquaintance going down the mountain in the back of a giant spider Pokemon with a water bubble on its head.
"Swellow!" Ash shouted as the Pokemon descended at them with a Brave Bird.
"Gosh, you're right, he's really persistent."
"Think the job's too tough already?" Shelly asked with both orbs on her hands.
"No, not at all." The girl pulled out a folding fishing rod.
"What are you doing?!"
"What? Haven't watched part 5?" The girl swung the reel around like a whip and this ensnared Swellow, she then moved the moved the hook wildly, reeling the bird and crashing him against the mount. "Ta-da." She laughed as she folded back her fishing rod, the spider then reached the beach and the Aqua submarine rose from the water while the grunts jumped in to escape.
"We're out of here." Shelly was about to go into the submarine, but the girl took the blue orb out of her hand. "Argh, what now?!"
"Sorry, I waited long enough." She winked as she walked to the foreshore. "Turn up a camera or something, Archie would like to see the show."
"This girl is gonna get us killed..." Shelly sighed and jumped inside the submarine while the girl stood facing at the ocean.
"Now, where are you?" She asked.
Dragonite then landed on the beach and Ash and Zinnia stood a few meters away from the girl.
"Put that thing down." Ash formed an Aura Sphere on his hand. "I won't ask again."
"So you're the magic boy." She giggled looking back at them. "Nice to meet you."
"That feels like an oversimplification." Ash answered. "I suppose you're the new admin."
"My name is Lana, dear..." She held the orb up in the air and it started to illuminate as grey clouds blocked the sunlight. "And I hope you two know how to swim."
"KYYYYOOOOOOOO!"
And that's it!
Yeah, I made it pretty obvious that it was Lana, this will be fun.
So, you've probably noticed the route this story is going to take, we're grabbing some elements from the Delta Episode, but the main danger are Groudon and Kyogre, still, the falling meteorite will have an important role later as well.
Anyway, that cliffhanger starts the hiatus, not sure how long it'll be yet, but I'm going back to Fighting Dreamers for now, I had one of those weird inspiration surges.
Well, that's all folks, I'll read you later.
Thanks for pointing out the errors, Luca!