Chapter 10 of Worlds Apart, we're now into the double digits! This chapter is, in a way, a tipping point. You'll see what I mean once you've read it.
Zen didn't speak with Rizal at all over the next few days. After the fight they'd had that one morning, he didn't want to risk it. Besides, to be left alone was probably exactly what the Zoroark wanted. He would respect his former friend's wishes.
On some level, he wished he could have gone out and at least said goodbye. But he knew that it was better this way. He didn't want to hurt Rizal any further.
Every day, the Riolu boy would wake up feeling incredibly lonely. He still had Valentina, of course, but just like she couldn't replace his parents, she couldn't replace Rizal either.
This went on for the better part of a week. Towards the end of that week, Zen's legs began to ache when he lay in bed. It was as though his bones were slowly rearranging themselves, breaking in slow motion so that only a bit of the pain was felt at once.
He attributed this to either growing pains or the new loneliness he felt. Those seemed to be the simplest explanations, the easiest ones to process.
And then, one fine morning, Rizal was gone.
Zen was awakened earlier than usual by the sound of a motor vehicle's engine kicking into high gear. He sat bolt upright in bed, then swiftly glanced out the window just in time to watch Mr. Nale's pickup truck driving away.
There it is. It's official: I am alone now.
He thought back to all those glory days he'd spent with Rizal in the forest. He'd made all sorts of great memories with the Zorua; of course, now Rizal was a Zoroark, and those memories were no longer going to be augmented by new ones.
Eventually, Valentina called his name, and Zen slowly made his way into the kitchen. Noticing he didn't have as much energy as usual, Valentina asked him, "What's wrong, Zen?"
Zen sighed, looking down at the floor. "Rizal left for his hunting trip. Drove off with Mr. Nale early in the morning."
Valentina nodded. "I figured that was it. There aren't any lights on in Mr. Nale's house, and he usually gets up pretty early. That's what I learned when I had tea with him."
"Interesting" the Riolu boy replied, but he didn't care one iota about their neighbor's sleep habits. "So now they're going off to hunt defenseless Pokémon."
"I know. But you've still got your other friends in the forest. You can always play tag with them."
"It's just not the same," Zen said morosely. "They don't mean what Rizal meant to me."
Valentina shook her head. "Don't think like that, Zen. Life must go on, no matter how hard it is. After some of the things I've been through, I didn't think I could ever get back on my feet."
Zen realized that he was as close as he'd ever been to knowing more about his owner's past. Why did she live alone? Or rather, why had she been alone until Zen came along?
"What happened?" he asked her. "If you told me, it could really help me accept my lot in life."
Valentina chuckled sadly. "I'll tell you one of these days. But I will say, once I met you, life got a whole lot more enjoyable. But it didn't get easier."
Breakfast was Kalos toast, a dish Zen enjoyed greatly, but this enjoyment was somewhat muted by all of the emotions coursing through him. He'd always expected to get more answers when he grew older; in reality, all he found was more questions.
When Valentina noticed that Zen was picking at his food, she frowned. "Buck up, Zen, you need a decent breakfast. You are going to run around with Emaire and Grant, right?"
"I suppose I am. It's just hard to accept…we might not have spent as much time together as I'd liked, but we were the best of friends! And hunting took all that away from me!"
The Riolu boy could barely contain himself; before long, he was sobbing. Valentina got out of her seat, then walked over and put her arms around the Shiny Riolu.
"You may not have Rizal anymore, but you have me. And I won't turn my back on you."
Zen didn't find those words very reassuring. All he could think about was how he'd felt the same way about Rizal, for a time, and look how that turned out.
Still, he tried to act as though he fully trusted Valentina, because he didn't want to feel suspicious. This was a case of "fake it 'till you make it."
After breakfast was over, Zen was rather relieved. He wouldn't have to speak with Valentina until he returned from the forest, and that wouldn't be for several hours.
The Riolu boy had not explored the forest at all the last few days; he'd simply been too distraught at the fact that Rizal was leaving. As such, he hadn't seen Emaire and Grant since Rizal had evolved.
I hope I can remember the way to their neck of the woods. I've been there dozens of times, so it shouldn't be too hard.
Fortunately, Zen managed not to get too lost. For the most part, he only had to walk in the same direction, over a few small hills, until he found the clearing where he'd met Rizal's friends.
Rizal's former friends, Zen thought bitterly. I wonder if they even know that he's gone.
A male Turtwig and a female Vulpix were waiting for him in said clearing. Both of them were smiling, although Emaire's eyes looked almost sad.
"Good morning, guys," Zen said, somewhat morosely. "I have bad news, although, judging by your eyes, you might already know it."
"We haven't seen Rizal in almost a week," Emaire responded. "We're wondering if he evolved, or if he's sick, or what."
"He evolved," the Riolu boy replied simply. "Rizal is now a Zoroark. But that's not even the worst of it."
"I figured," Grant said. "Everybody's gotta evolve sometime."
"Indeed. But he's gone away with his owner, Cedric. They're going on a hunting trip, so we're not going to see him for a while."
Emaire immediately appeared distraught. Her mouth hung agape in a fearful frown.
"I knew that Cedric was a hunter. But I didn't think Rizal would join him so readily like that."
"To be fair", the Turtwig chimed in, "we don't know how readily he was willing to do it. It could be that he was forced into it, but I don't know."
Zen's nose ran as he realized that both of his friends deserved the truth as well. He had, after all, given it to Rizal.
"It upset me in particular" the Riolu boy said, sniffling at the end of that sentence. "Because my parents were killed by hunters."
Emaire, who had clearly been on the edge of tears before, was now well over the line. She began sobbing uncontrollably.
"Oh my Arceus, Zen, I'm so sorry you had to deal with that. That's terrible…".
Grant didn't say anything, but his expression was nearly identical to Emaire's. Both of the other Pokémon looked as though they wanted to give the Riolu boy a hug, but didn't know if he'd be okay with that.
"It's not that big of a deal anymore," Zen replied. "They are still with me, in a way. As long as I have memories of them, they can never truly die."
Zen was surprised at how comfortably he was able to say that. He hadn't really been rehearsing that line, but at that moment, it felt like exactly the right thing to say.
"Can I hug you, Zen?" Emaire asked. "You're just so sweet…and I feel really bad about your parents. I wish I could do something to help."
"There's no need to be sorry," Zen said curtly. "You didn't have anything to do with it. The only one of us who should be sorry is Rizal, because he already knew about how my parents died, and he's still going hunting with Cedric!"
Grant nodded. "That has to be difficult for you."
"It's quite a bit more than difficult," the Riolu boy replied. "I would think that killing innocent Pokémon costs everything you are. Especially since he knew me as a friend, and knew that hunting was an upsetting topic for me."
Emaire didn't even ask. She lunged at Zen and put her front legs around his waist in a hug.
"Th-thanks" Zen stammered, surprised that it had happened so suddenly. "I'm just…it's really hard to accept it. One day we were the best of friends. The next day, he's proudly embarking on this killing spree. I just can't believe it."
"No matter what, we'll be here for you," Grant promised. "If you ever need a little pick-me-up, you'll always be welcome in the woods with us. And we're always down for a game of tag, even if it's not as fun with only three."
Zen couldn't help but notice that this was the same promise Valentina had made him that morning; and, in turn, that was the same promise Rizal had made. One of them had broken said promise.
Who's to say they actually mean it? Who's to say that they won't betray me just like Rizal did?
A few moments later, Grant joined in on the group hug, and Zen didn't protest it. Truth be told, that's exactly what he needed after the distress earlier.
Maybe today can still be salvaged, the Riolu boy thought to himself. Maybe, just maybe, I can look back on this day and not think of it as the one my life turned upside down.
The trio eventually broke up the huddle, and they agreed to play a game of tag. It might not have been as exciting with one less player, but it would still get them moving, and that's what truly mattered.
Throughout the game, even as he was focused on running, Zen had a lot of time to think. He had ample time to wonder where Rizal was now, and what he was thinking.
I hope he's not too mad at me. I hope he's found his peace somehow.
After he'd stood still for a few seconds, barely realizing it, Zen felt a tap on his shoulder. He was tempted to face-paw, just because he could hardly believe he'd forgotten to keep jogging.
"You're It!" Emaire exclaimed.
Zen sighed as he stood there. The group's "house rules" stipulated that if you were tagged and became It, you had to stay still for thirty seconds to give the tagger enough time to run away. So that gave him more time to ponder Rizal's situation.
I know it makes me sick that he's doing this, but part of me still really cares about him. I just hope Cedric doesn't push him too hard.
As a Zorua, getting into and out of Cedric's pickup truck had been a trivial task. All Rizal had to do then was leap onto the seat, let his owner buckle his seat belt, and then enjoy the ride as much as he could.
Now that he'd evolved, however, things were harder.
"How on Nexus can I squish my ponytail into the truck?" Rizal all but shouted. "I might be too big for this!"
"Trial and error, Rizal. It's trial and error."
After a few tries, the Zoroark managed to squeeze into the passenger seat of the truck. Cedric then started the engine, and they were off, driving into the approaching day.
As he was driving, Cedric looked over at Rizal. "How are you doing today, Rizal?" he asked the Zoroark. "It's going to be a long drive, so if you ever need to get out and stretch your legs, let me know."
"I'm good," Rizal responded. In reality, his legs already felt like they were being squished against the glove compartment, but stopping would only make the trip take longer.
Part of him was excited for this trip, as much as Zen wouldn't like to hear that. Cedric had mentioned the hunting lodge that he stayed at whenever he went on his trips to the mountains, and from what he'd been told, Rizal thought it sounded like a beautiful place.
They drove for over an hour before another word was said, the truck seeming to hit every pothole on the road (and there were a lot of them.) Several times, Rizal bounced so high that he hit his head against the car's ceiling. Fortunately, he didn't hit it very hard, but it still hurt.
"They could have done a better job with the roads, I'll admit" Cedric said after a long time. "But then again, those moving to Hisui didn't sign up for an easy life. Being a settler isn't a walk in the park."
Rizal nodded, not knowing what to say.
"Are you feeling okay, Rizal?" the man asked as he noticed that the Zoroark hadn't said anything. "You've been awfully quiet for the last hour."
The Zoroark sighed. He didn't think his owner would be thrilled to hear this, but it needed to be said anyway. Rizal cared about Cedric, but if Cedric was angry about it, that was his problem.
"I've just been thinking about Zen. The Riolu next door."
Cedric fiddled with his mustache, keeping one hand on the wheel. "What about him? You can't honestly be worried about him, are you?"
"Well, no," Rizal admitted. "But we didn't exactly part on good terms. The last time I spoke to him, we had an argument. And it wasn't pretty."
"There's no need to feel sorry for Zen, my boy. He's been coddled by Valentina Rosewood for the last few years. He's lived in the lap of luxury, never faced any adversity in his life."
He's never faced any adversity in his life. That's what Cedric just said about Zen.
Although their last conversation still hurt, so did Cedric's casual dismissal of everything the Riolu had been through. Rizal didn't know if Cedric was aware of Zen's past, and he wasn't going to ask, but Zen would surely find it deeply offensive.
In a way, though, he's right. I shouldn't be worried about Zen. We aren't friends anymore, so he's no longer my problem.
The drive seemed to be interminable, with long stretches of time during which nothing was said. Really, there was nothing to say; at least, nothing that Cedric wouldn't find objectionable. As to mentioning the beauty of Hisui, there was no need to, for it was self-evident.
After a number of hours, the sun, which had yet to rise when the pair had embarked on their journey, started to sink below the mountains in the distance. Cedric explained that they were nearing the foothills of the Coronet Range, the largest mountain range in Hisui.
Even now, Rizal could feel the air getting thinner and cooler. There was something exhilarating about it, something he couldn't quite place. Perhaps it was just that this area felt wilder.
"Here we are," Cedric announced, steering the pickup truck into a dusty field. "Welcome to the Coronet Royal Lodge."
Rizal, who had been in the same position all day, relished the opportunity to get out and stretch his legs. At a minimum, it would feel excellent to no longer be squished by the confines of the truck.
However, once he jumped out of the car, his knees buckled, and he fell to the ground.
"I…should have taken the chance…to exercise" the Zoroark mouthed, moaning at the same time.
"Perhaps you should have," Cedric replied. "If you need any help getting inside the lodge, let me know. I can hold your claw if need be."
Rizal snorted. "I'm fine," he said curtly. If Cedric's hunting buddies saw him getting led by the hand like a little kid, that would be far more embarrassing even than the display he'd just put on.
"Fair enough. I've been here a few times before I met you, and it's quite a nice place. And you'll get to know my other friends."
"Are any of your friends here right now?" Rizal asked his owner.
Cedric nodded. "Keith is there. Keith Slate. At least, he said he'd be at the lodge; who knows if he's truly there or not?"
Rizal frowned. "Why wouldn't he tell the truth about that?"
His owner shrugged. "Keith isn't the sharpest tool in the shed sometimes. But he's a pretty nice guy once you get to know him. We get along quite well."
That's good to know, I guess.
Cedric led Rizal inside the Coronet Royal Lodge, which seemed to consist of a large open-air building with a fire pit in the center, surrounded by a couple of wooden chairs. At the front desk, there was a young-looking woman with a brown ponytail.
"Good evening, Mr. Nale. And I see you've brought a Zoroark with you. What is his name?"
"Rizal" the Zoroark chimed in, glaring at his owner. "I'd prefer to be the one to say my name, thank you very much."
"Okay" the receptionist replied. "Cedric Nale and Rizal. Do you have a last name, Rizal?"
The Zoroark shook his head. "As far as I know, I don't. He adopted me when I was born, and I never met my birth parents."
"Noted. I am sorry to hear that" the receptionist said, nodding sadly. "Well, you two are all checked in to the Royal Lodge, so I'd advise you to enjoy your stay. Your cabin is Cabin Ten."
"Thank you so much, Ashley," Cedric replied. "Really, I can't thank you enough. Leave it to you to make staying here an excellent experience."
Ashley smiled, somewhat awkwardly. "I appreciate it, Mr. Nale, but I can't really say I did anything. I don't run the lodge, after all. Anyway, dinner will be served in - " she looked at the clock upon the wall, "- twenty-seven minutes. So you two should probably get to your cabin and make yourselves at home."
After bidding Ashley goodbye, the human and his Zoroark walked out of the pavilion and down an inclined path, from which the view was marvelous.
The lodge was located on the side of a decently-sized mountain. Far below, probably a few thousand feet, there lay a lake, the surface of which was getting dimmer as the sky above darkened. In between, there were countless trees, both evergreen and deciduous.
Along the way down the path to the cabins, the pair ran into a man who was unfamiliar to Rizal, but whom Cedric greeted like an old friend.
"Keith!" Cedric exclaimed. "It's been so long since I saw you…I know you're in Jubilife Town now, that must've been quite a haul to get up here!"
Keith, a somewhat short man with a smaller mustache than Cedric, smiled.
"Yes, it was, but it was all worth it. It's amazing to hear your voice again in person, and I see you've brought Rizal with you!"
"Indeed!" Cedric exclaimed. "He's becoming a man now, just evolved the other day. So I decided it was time for a change of scenery."
Rizal didn't feel comfortable admitting this, but to hear the two men discuss him without hearing any of his input…it made him feel rather self-conscious, to say the least.
Keith turned to Rizal. "I've heard so much about you; Cedric and I talk regularly. He tells me you're used to running around in the woods - that's good for hunting, because it means you'll have a lot of stamina. And that's key when you're playing the world's most dangerous game."
The Zoroark frowned. "The most dangerous game?"
Keith simply laughed. "Well, it's not so dangerous for the hunters. It is dangerous for the hunted."
"That's right," Cedric replied. "Anyway, like Ashley told us, we really should get our cabin set up. And then we'll head back here for dinner."
After waving goodbye to Keith Slate, the pair kept making their way down the trail until they reached Cabin Ten. It was a one-room building made partly of wood, partly of stone, with a number 10 hammered into the exterior wall.
The inside of the cabin was drafty. Despite the fact that it was summer, the time of day, in addition to the higher elevation, made the air feel almost chilly.
Although it wasn't warm from the standpoint of temperature, the actual cabin felt inviting. There were two king beds inside, as well as a fireplace. In a way, it felt just like home; at a minimum, they could make it feel like home.
But then Rizal noticed something mounted on the wall, which gave him pause.
It was the lifeless head of a creature with golden yellow fur throughout most of its face, as well as a black stripe around its eyes. The eyes themselves were blank, milky white without any pupils. It was what Rizal imagined a blind Pokémon's eyes would look like.
As the Zoroark studied the head, it became increasingly clear what he was looking at.
That is the stuffed head of a Shiny Lucario.
