Author's note: I have thought a lot about Zinnia's age. To me, she looks like she's 13/14, so she shall be 14 in this fanfic. If an official age for her is ever released, this can always be counted as an AU. This isn't canon anyway.
Turning Page
Chapter One
The sea shimmered harshly as the sun made its descent, casting an array of color across the sky. The heavenly expanse was a mural of reds, oranges, and yellows that bled into the ocean like a watercolor painting. A pod of Wailmer surfaced, spraying water from their blowholes like a multitude of fountains reaching for the sky before falling, droplets glittering like millions of tiny diamonds. They whistled a greeting to the humans aboard the ferry en route to a nearing island before disappearing beneath the waves, their bodies becoming rounded shadows as they glided beneath the vessel.
A Whismur hopped behind the safety railing, warbling its excitement. A young teenager accompanying the Pokemon averted her attention to the exuberant puffball. A smile pulled at her lips, a chuckle resounding.
"Excited aren't 'ya, Aster?" The Whismur's body nodded in affirmation. "Haha! It won't be much longer. I think the first thing we'll check out is what kind of food they got on those islands."
Aster verbalized an agreement. They had indulged themselves in the food served on the ferry, but getting a taste of authentic Alolan cuisine was something they wanted to experience. Funds given to Zinnia by her grandmother were limited. Careful budgeting was to be taken into consideration. Even if she ran out of money, she was perfectly capable of foraging for herself and her Pokemon. Berries, nuts, and wild game were a staple when she ventured from Meteor Village with little to no money.
Zinnia swiped strands of her unkempt hair from her forehead and cheeks. Sweat coated her skin and dampened the fabric of her top beneath the arms and the heavy collar of her cloak. The only relief from the sticky heat was the wind blasting her skin and kicking up her cape. She heard Alola was hot, but so far her home region of Hoenn far exceeded it in humidity.
Dark clouds hung low above the southeast section of the closest island, teasing the possibility of rainfall. Zinnia didn't mind the rain. The wet pitter-patter was soothing. The subtropical climate of Hoenn was abundant in drizzles and torrents during the rainy season. Though she was acclimatized to the moist weather, her beloved Whismur preferred to stay dry. Waiting for wet clothing to dry in high humidity was a hassle. Clothes hung overnight could still be damp in the morning. Seeking shelter was a priority.
Shouldering her khaki canvas bag worn by age and the elements, Zinnia melded into the mass of passengers as the ferry docked. Aster was at her heels, the charred tails of the girl's cape sweeping her ears. Zinnia ignored the strange looks sent her way. She knew she was out of place. She was an abnormality outside of her village; primitive and uncultivated in the modernized world.
Her village wasn't entirely a sanctuary. There existed fellow Draconids who resented her, and some who outright despised her, for having the sacred title of Lorekeeper passed down to her. Aster, the woman whom her Whismur was named for, was revered for her strength. Zinnia was considered unworthy of receiving the title after her mentor passed. Still she shouldered the burden, despite the ostracization, until she handed it over to the child who befriended Rayquaza. Many of the inhabitants of Meteor Village had been furious that she gave the title to someone who wasn't even a Draconid. She didn't care. The kid earned it.
Zinnia had been raised to be the one to be the world's savior, thrilled by dreams of riding the legendary serpent through the heavens. To witness what she thought was her purpose being fulfilled by someone else...it crushed her. But she masked her emotions with a smile.
There was nothing left for her in the village once the calamity was resolved. She felt lost. Her grandmother knew this. Grannie had sent her on a journey to find herself. The child would never be happy until she found her true calling.
Taking her first steps into Alola was the beginning of a new chapter in her life.
Aster shadowed Zinnia, determined not to lose her in the swarms of humans that surrounded them. The noises were overstimulating her senses. Her anxiety diminished once they broke from the mass of clamoring travelers. Alien and tantalizing smells of foreign cuisine blended with the brine of the sea, stimulating their appetites. A shop bearing the image of a Pokemon that reminded both dragon tamer and Whismur of an ice cream sundae was discovered, the aroma of fresh pastries luring them to its door.
Zinna could have devoured a dozen malasadas if her budget allowed it. She was especially fond of the zesty Cheri Berry filling. Aster's taste gravitated towards the sour Pinap Berry filling. The obsidian-haired girl felt bad the pastries were priced too high to give the rest of her Pokemon their own. They deserved to be spoiled as much as Aster. She would make it up to her dragons by giving each of them a taste next time she obtained a malasada.
Keeping five large stomachs satisfied daily was a struggle. Her dragons were trained to be resourceful and locate sustenance. Should the occasion arise where there wasn't enough to go around, she skipped a meal or two to keep her Pokemon fed. She had taken full advantage of the buffets on the ferry to stuff her party and herself, uncertain when they would eat that well again.
Finding food for the rest of her Pokemon would be prioritized over shelter. Informed that Alola was abundant in berry and fruit trees and seafood, she was confident they would sleep with full stomachs.
Zinnia and Aster took stock of their surroundings as they traversed through Hau'oli City. Locals and travelers traipsed the streets in throngs. Vendors welcomed curious patrons. Buildings towered above all walking life in proud columns.
The beach thinned out as evening progressed. Zinnia and Aster could smell the lingering vestiges of multiple barbecues. The girl's open-toed boots sank in the sand as she ventured forth, her gaze fixated on the colorful display painted across the sky and sea.
"That's some view, isn't it?" When she received no reply, Zinnia's attention averted to her side where her Whismur usually resided. A Slowpoke looked up at her, deeply lowing a greeting. She spun around, scanning the area for the Whismur. Foot impressions left by humans and creatures mingled with each other, making it impossible to find her by a trail of footprints. "Aster?"
A familiar blob of pink caught the corner of her eye. Aster waddled towards a figure seated in the sand, curious over what the human was intently occupied with. A boy with a voluminous orange rust mop-top, its locks curling and flaring out at the ends, gently blew on a wet, half-finished watercolor painting. Hair along his neckline was shortened to half an inch, standing like soft quills. Long bangs were styled into a shaggy fringe that mostly obscured his eyebrows. Layers of light blue, cobalt, and navy blue that made up his shirt were reminiscent of waves. A white silhouette of a Pokeball was superimposed over the torso. Arctic blue Polynesian print ran down both sides of his black board shorts. Black sneakers with laces in a matching arctic blue with white crew socks completed his outfit.
Masking tape framed the page, an additional strip running across the middle to confine a blend of yellow, orange, and red in its designated space. As Aster ventured closer, she could make out the beginnings of a sunset. Approaching his side, she noticed a content smoke-furred Meowth curled up against a black duffel bag on his other side. A plastic cup holding two paintbrushes and half-filled with water dyed by a mixture of the utilized colors sat at the boy's foot, sand molded around it to keep it in place.
Vibrant sea green eyes met her own. A gentle smile lined the boy's lips. He radiated a pure aura that was magnetic. It made her comfortable approaching him. The book of watercolor paper was lifted from his knees and turned to her to give her a better look. The colors made the Whismur think of berries.
Aster warbled her approval and the boy's smile extended. Meowth's ears perked. The feline lazily lolled his head around his owner's bent legs to peer at her.
Propping the book on his thighs, the boy proffered his hand for her to inspect. She leaned in to sniff. He smelled as good as the energy he gave out was calming. The Whismur gave his hand the lightest nudge. His fingers went to the base of her ear. She leaned into his hand as he scratched, pleasure rippling through her.
A shadow spawned above Aster and stretched over the boy, startling him into flinching. The book went flying and landed in the sand face-up a few inches from where the Whismur stood. His foot bumped the plastic cup, knocking it free from its makeshift cup holder and spilling its liquid contents into the thirsty sand. Meowth jumped to his feet, back arching and fur bristling. The feline went lax upon realizing the cause for alarm was only the arrival of a girl. He turned to his human, his furry features expressing annoyance.
The boy's nerves were not calmed. Being in the presence of a girl around his age enhanced his anxiety. Zinnia likened his eyes to a Deerling's in the glare of oncoming headlights. He didn't look much younger than her. Perhaps a year or two her junior.
"Looking good so far!" Bent over, hands locked behind her back, Zinnia's eyes roamed the wet section of the page. It was a shame it was only half-finished. She would have liked to see the completed piece.
The boy said nothing. Their eyes met and his muscles tightened up. Zinnia straightened up and arched her brow. Was she really that imposing? She was barely taller than him. And yet, he was sitting there, doe-eyes wide and uneasy.
"Cat got your tongue?" Zinnia cheekily queried. Meowth reacted with an unamused glare.
Positive that the boy wasn't going to retrieve his book, Zinnia picked it up and brushed grains of sand from the edges and back. "Lucky it didn't land face-down in the sand. That would'a been a real shame." He responded with a slow nod. Zinnia extended the book to him. He remained frozen. The book was waved to draw his attention to it. "Come on! I ain't gonna bite'cha!"
He raised a hand with intentions of accepting his book. It came to a stop inches away, shaking from raw nerves. Abruptly whirling and scrambling to his feet, he leapt over Meowth and fled. Incredulity morphed itself onto the expressions of Zinnia and Aster as they watched the boy make a beeline for the street.
"What's with him?" the dragon tamer questioned, shifting her gaze to Meowth.
"Mrah." Meowth waved a paw dismissively to reassure the girl and Whismur that his owner was fine. Disregarding the existence of his human's belongings, he padded off at a leisurely pace.
Zinnia stared at the book in hand, then to the boy perched on the steps separating the beach from the street, watching like a cautious, flighty animal observing a predator. Would he come back for his things? Her ruby oculars scanned the fallen paintbrushes. She could see a pan of watercolors in the open duffel bag. This stuff looked expensive.
The boy fixated his attention on Meowth as he ambled over and began climbing the steps. Crouching, he reached out to his fuzzy companion.
"Y-you couldn't bring my stuff?" the boy fretted.
Meowth initially leaned into his human's hand, then glared, affronted that he should bother when the boy was fully capable of retrieving his own things. He threw a pointed claw into the direction from where they came and mewled.
The orange-rust haired child pulled his hand back. He knew Meowth was telling him to do it himself. He watched Meowth's maw curl into a smug grin, challenging him to go back. Annoyance twisted his features.
Typical cat.
His round, sea green eyes flitted to Zinnia. He couldn't read her expression from this distance, but he could still make out his book in her hands. Anxiety amplifying, he shook his head vigorously.
Nope. He couldn't do it.
The boy hiked up the remaining steps and proceeded to foot it. Assuming his human's destination, Meowth continued his languorous stride. Even if the human wasn't headed for home, he would eventually meet him there.
Face painted with confusion, Zinnia looked to Aster. "Any idea what that was about?"
The Whismur tilted her body with confusion that matched hers.
"I didn't think so." She roved over the items left behind. "We can't leave this stuff behind. Someone could swipe it before he comes back."
Eager squawking drew her attention to a flock of Wingull circling overhead. The aquatic bird was a common sight in her home region. She was well aware of their bold attempts at stealing from unsuspecting humans and Pokemon. It was typically food, but anything that struck their fancy or curiosity was a target. If another person didn't touch the boy's stuff, these Wingull would.
"I guess we'll hold onto this stuff until we see him again. That red hair shouldn't be too hard to spot."
Dropping into a crouch, Zinnia packed the book into the open duffel back wet side up and zipped it closed. Removing the damp paint brushes from the now empty plastic cup, she wrung the bristles with her fingers and tucked them into one of the bag's side pockets. Sliding the strap onto her free shoulder, the plastic cup was tossed into the nearest trash receptacle.
Astride Salamence, it was a matter of minutes before a myriad of trees bearing berries, fruit, and nuts were discovered. The rest of Zinnia's party was released to feast to their heart's content. What little space was left in her backpack was crammed with bananas and mangos.
Zinnia trudged through the greenery and came upon an ancient banyan tree. Swollen with leaves and aerial prop roots sprouting from the boughs and reaching for the fertile earth, it reminded her of a Tentacruel. Droplets tickling her temple and shoulder, she squeezed into one of the tree's many crannies. Aster made herself comfortable in her lap. Altaria perched upon the sturdy branch above her human's alcove for additional shelter.
Removing the backpack and duffel bag, she thrust them deeper into her nook to give herself and Aster more room to move. She watched her dragons relax beneath the gentle drizzle. Tyrantrum licked rainwater trickling down his snout. Noivern flapped his wings, flicking water into Goodra's direction. Goodra let out a happy cry, entertained by her winged brethren's antics. Salamence lumbered underneath a nearby berry tree to curl up on his belly.
Mango in hand, Zinnia peeled a small section with her top teeth and spat out the skin. She lowered the fruit to Aster to offer her the first taste. The Whismur declined, belly full with malasada and berries. Flicking the pit and wiping the devoured fruit's juice from her face with the back of her hand, she reclined against her backpack. A long sigh passed her lips, body going lax. The girl's eyelids drooped, lulled by the pitter-patter of rainfall.
