Chapter Thirteen

Initiate

The fourth heir and his Pikachu companion had been traveling many months now. One day, they came upon the beautiful city of Celladin. The heir was eager to prove his skills at the city's palace. But once he arrived at the palace, he made a grievous mistake. Not understanding the city's rules of proper etiquette, he unintentionally insulted the princess of Celladin. Because of this, the princess refused to let him enter.

Now, the fourth heir was not a devious soul by nature. Trickery, in fact, was the last thing on his mind. But, standing outside the palace gates while all his companions had already been invited inside filled the last heir with a desperate determination.

It just so happened that a trio of traveling wizards had stopped by in Celladin. These wizards had all sorts of strange magic, such as a giant flying Meowth that would carry them into the skies at their command. But even then, these wizards had also been thrown out of the palace.

So, upon meeting each other, the wizards and the fourth heir struck a deal. The wizards would cast a veil of illusion about the fourth heir and themselves. With this disguise, no one would recognize them. They would be able to get in past the guards, through the gates, and into the palace at last...

"Okay, that's enough!"

Lynn snapped out of her story as Lark's shout rang through the air. The older girl's dark-skinned face was grim, and her eyes were on Cro.

"That's one of the legends about Martyr," Cro said at last, squeezing Eppie's shoulder. The little girl didn't say a thing, but her eyes flickered up in concern.

Lark nodded. "The story of the Martyr at Malachite...Celadon City," she said numbly. "It's been twisted a bit in some places, but it's still the same story. Lynn...tell us. Have the people in your forest, have they been there for a very long time? Do you know where they came from before that?"

Confused, Lynn shook her head.

[You're not saying,] Xander began, his telekinetic words incredulous, [that these forest people may once have been Pokémon trainers themselves?]

"There are stories," Lark said, "about Ringed that escaped, years and years ago, and started their own colonies in the forests. When they escaped from the cities, they probably took the stories of the Martyr with them. Somehow, these stories must have been changed over time."

Now her jaw was set and her voice firm. "Cro, I think this girl's the real deal."

"As do I," Sparkacus chimed in, nodding at Lynn. "Ruemarie? Xander?"

The Bellossom chewed the tips of its hands nervously. "Oh, dear," it said faintly, gazing about at the rest of the circle. "Well, I think we'd ought to give the poor girl a chance. She doesn't seem like a Master to me."

Next, the Psychic boy shook his dark bangs from his eyes. [Sorry, Vix,] he told the scowling Vulpix. [But a story told like that's pretty hard to fake. Plus she's got those Berries -if that's not proof she's not from around here, I don't know what is.]

"Stupid stories and shiny berries!" Vixory fumed, stamping its front paws against the ground. "Is that all it takes to convince you? What if she's working for the Masters?"

"What if she's not?" Lark challenged, stepping forward with her staff lowered. "Vix, look. I know why you're worried, and it's good to be alert. But what if Lynn is innocent? How would you feel then?"

"Oh, dear," Ruemarie said. "That's certainly a good point. Why don't we just trust the poor girl for now?"

The Vulpix's jade-hued eyes blazed verdant fire. "For now, maybe," it grunted. "But I'm not letting her off that easily."

Lynn tried to stand up straight as the Vulpix trotted forward, its curly tails upraised. "You want to be part of our team, sweetheart?" Vixory demanded.

"Uh..." Lynn floundered, afraid of unintentionally insulting it. "Um...what exactly does your team do, anyway?"

Xander's mental laugh resounded deafeningly through Lynn's mind. [You were so paranoid about her being some kind of spy!] he mocked Vixory. [And all this time, she had no idea what the heck we are! For Martyr's sake, do we have to spell it out for you?]

He didn't duck in time to avoid Lark's swinging staff. "Enough of that," the dark-skinned girl scolded. "Lynn, you understand who the Masters are, right? And you understand who we are, too, don't you?"

Slowly, Lynn nodded. Then, biting her tongue, she shook her head.

"We're Ringed, Lynn. Slaves to the Masters. Some of the Ringed are content with the lives they lead. I was, too, a long time ago." Lark's forehead wrinkled as she set her face. "Many Ringed don't know any better than to be content," she continued. "They've forgotten what we used to be, and what the Masters did to our people."

Cro's voice broke in suddenly, startling even Lark into silence. His words, though quietly stated, seemed surprisingly loud in the small courtyard. "But many others haven't forgotten. We won't forget. The children of the Pokémon trainers weren't meant to be slaves. If no one else remembers that, then we'll fight until it's been branded back into their brains. Because we, Lynnet of Viridian Forest, are the backbone of Viridian City's Ringed resistance force."

Silence followed Cro's unexpected speech. The rest of the circle seemed too intimidated by or too respectful of him to speak up. Feeling everyone else's eyes coming to rest on her, Lynn searched for something to say and blurted out, "S-so you fight the Masters, then. Um...okay...um..."

"Okay?" Vixory echoed mockingly. "Just a little less than okay!"

"We...ah," Ruemarie said timidly. "We have one plan..."

"Ha, right! We haven't got a way to get ourselves out of this stinking cesspool without raising an even bigger stink!" Vixory snorted, flipping its curl of fur from its eyes. "But that's all going to change, right about now. Believe it or not, sweetheart, you and that story of yours have given me a much better plan."

"Um...you're welcome?"

The Vulpix snorted again. "This is what I meant about not letting you off easy," it informed Lynn with a malicious grin. "You're going to be the center of our next mission."

[Hang on,] Xander said, floating forward on his glowing bubble. [I think I know what you're talking about, Vix.]

"Stop reading my mind, then!" the Vulpix snapped. "Look, Lynnet or whatever your name is, we've already established you've got no Ring. There's no better way to disguise yourself as a Master. You can waltz right into town and get yourself more respect from the other Masters than the whole lot of us have gotten in our entire lives."

"But Lynn is just a child," Ruemarie pointed out hesitantly.

"Hold up, Ruey, and give my plan some credit. So you come into town, pretending to be a Master. And the best thing about being a Master is that you don't have these little things holding you back." The Vulpix indicated the metallic Ring around its neck.

"The Rings are what keep us from leaving the city, Lynn," Lark explained quickly, noticing the former forest girl's confused face. "Each one is rigged with sensors. If any one of us tries to take them off, go into off-limits zones, or leave the city, they're supposed to detonate and blow us apart. In times of 'emergency,' our Masters are allowed to detonate the Rings as well."

Lynn's eyes widened, her face blanching at Lark's words.

Vix swished its tail dismissively at this. "The Rings are controlled by a security plant centered here in the city," it continued, ignoring Lynn's growing discomfort. "Of course, that's an off-limits zone for us Ringed. For a pretend Master, though, getting in is a heck of a lot easier." A wolfish grin was beginning to form on the Vulpix's face. "Especially if the pretend Master in question is best friends with the Chief of Security's cute little daughter."

There was a collective gasp from the other Ringed. Xander, for his part, laughed aloud. [You want her to get all buddy-buddy with Himeka Madison?] he guffawed. [Himeka doesn't make any friends!]

"Got that right," Cro growled.

"That brat couldn't make them even if she wanted to!" Vix shot back. "There's never been anyone who'd actually listen to her obnoxious whining, or a kid her own age that didn't avoid her like the plague." The Vulpix's pert mouth widened into a disconcertingly toothy smile. "Until now, that is."

"But what..." Lynn started. She gulped at Vix's penetrating gaze. "What if she doesn't like me?"

To her surprise, Vixory barked out a laugh. "Sweetheart, if dear Himeka doesn't like you, then we won't like you very much, either. And if that's the case, she's the least of your problems. No, the real problem is how we're going to get a rich little brat like Himeka to become friends with a dirty wild thing like you. Some extra money would help in that department."

"What's...money?"

Vix's eyes rolled all the way into the back of its skull. "Forest girl," the Vulpix muttered irritably to itself. "Money, sugar-covered angel heart, is what we silly city folk use to get what we want." It stood shakily up on its hind legs and pointed its nose in the direction of Lynn's hand. "You've still got the shiny berries, right?"

Lynn lowered her hand so Vixory could inspect the Gold Berries. The Vulpix nodded, falling back onto its front legs.

"You want to prove you're loyal to us, sweetheart?" it asked Lynn. "Well, you can start off by giving us one of those Berries. I'll bet all six of my tails that Old Man Scarbos will pay nicely for it."

Lynn's fingers closed over the Berries uneasily. It had barely been three days, and already she'd given away half of her precious gifts. But if this was what it took to get the others to trust her...then so be it.

"Okay," Lynn said, selecting the plumpest Berry and holding it out. Vixory took it delicately between its jaws, face triumphant.

"We can take care of all that tomorrow, Vix," Lark said. "But now that we've got everything with Lynn settled, you've all really got to be going. It's late, but Festival parties can't keep your Masters away all night."

[She's right,] Xander agreed, yawning widely. [Better go, else good old Rhys'll will probably throw a search party instead.] He vanished in a flash of purple light, mouth still stuck in mid-yawn.

Vixory trotted out without another word to anyone, and Ruemarie went scuttling anxiously after the Vulpix. The Bellossom paused a bit as it passed the still burning torch. Darting forward, it lowered its face and quickly blew out the flames. The courtyard disappeared, shrouded in a sudden cloud of darkness.

"Almost forgot!" Lark's voice rang out from the middle of the nothingness. "Cro, that Allegard kid stopped by this evening. He says you still owe him for that last batch of color nuts."

"Null Allegard showed up?" Cro repeated, eyes narrowing. "In person?"

"All stinking four-and-a-half feet of him."

Cro swore. Lynn peered through the darkness at Eppie, who had been extremely quiet during the entire discussion. Instantly, she saw why Eppie hadn't spoken -the little girl had long since fallen fast asleep. Her small body hung limply, Cro's arm the only support that kept it from sliding to the ground.

And Sparkacus...perhaps it was just her poor night vision, but Lynn did not see Sparkacus at all.

"So Allegard's come to the Stadium himself?" Cro was muttering. "That can't be good; who knows what the little rat's up to now? Come on, let's get going." He grunted as he hoisted Eppie over his shoulder.

"Wait!" Lynn cried out as he, Eppie, and Lark disappeared through the trapdoor exit, letting the door clunk down as they left. The childish, panicky words burst out before she could hold them back. "You're not going to leave me here all night, are you?"
Apparently, they were, without the slightest qualms. Which left Lynn feeling incredibly stupid for acting so immature.

Hugging her arms around her body, Lynn backtracked into the corner of the courtyard and sat down. Teeth chattering in a sudden wind, she leaned back into the narrow crevice, only to feel the bulge of the Apricorn sack pressing uncomfortably against her. This was going to be one long, unpleasant night. Sighing, Lynn closed her eyes.

A soft brushing against her face sent her bolting into a sitting position.

"Relax, Lynn," came Sparkacus's voice from the shadows. "It's only me."

"Spark?"

"Yes." There was a rustle of fur as the Pikachu stepped back. "I'm afraid I don't have much time left to spend with you, if I'm to get back before my Master notices I'm gone. But I wanted to talk to you a little."

Gratefulness flooded every inch of Lynn's veins. Just the relief of not being left alone in this cold, dark courtyard made her feel eternally indebted to Sparkacus. "What do you want to talk about?" she asked the Pikachu, trying not to show how pathetically thankful she was.

"I've been thinking about the story you told us, about how you arrived in Verdant City. Perhaps I wasn't listening closely enough, but why exactly did you choose to come to Verdant?"

Lynn's heart sank. She couldn't explain about Aeolus and the Rainbow Wing now, not when she'd left it out before! Not without sounding even more suspicious than she did now, at any rate. "I-I don't know," she mumbled finally. "I've always wanted to see a city, and Verdant City sounded, um, good to me. Besides, Null gave me that train ticket, so I thought I might as well come here."

"That makes sense," Sparkacus replied in a gentle voice. "And what about that creature with the red eyes, the one who attacked you during the storm? It's a bit strange that it would just assault a random traveler like that, don't you think?"

Lynn nodded miserably. "Yeah."

"Is there something you'd like to tell me, Lynn? Something that you might have forgotten to tell everybody before?"

She shook her head, before realizing that Sparkacus couldn't see her face in the darkness. "I-I don't think so..." she managed.

There was a small sigh from Sparkacus. Or perhaps it was just the murmur of a passing breeze, Lynn wasn't sure which. "You don't think so?" Sparkacus repeated softly. "Lynn, please understand. I wouldn't blame you for leaving part of your story out before. It was very brave of you to face the others like you did, and I admire you for having the courage to do so."

No one, Lynn knew, had ever associated her with having courage before.

"Vixory can be very aggressive. Believe me, I should know," Sparkacus went on, the hint of a chuckle in its voice. "And Cro's rather intimidating as well. Both of the same time may be a bit too much for anyone to handle!"

Despite herself, Lynn was smiling. Sparkacus's voice was kind and warm, its words sympathetic and reassuring.

"Maybe there is something you should know," she said, making her decision at last. And she reached into her pocket and pulled out the Rainbow Wing.

There was no light in the courtyard, but the Wing seemed to glow with a radiance all its own. Squinting only a little, Lynn could see Sparkacus's face fill with awe as it was illuminated in the golden aura of the vessel.

Sparkacus proved to be a good listener. It didn't interrupt Lynn even once as she explained about Aeolus the Fearow and her mission in Verdant City. When she had finished, the Pikachu reached out a small paw.

"May I touch it?" it asked Lynn. She nodded, and Sparkacus laid its paw on the Wing's golden surface. "So these are the feathers of Ho-Oh, the legendary phoenix Pokémon," it mused, eying the long rainbow feathers that protruded from the vessel's back. "And, according to Aeolus, once you assemble all seven of these feathers, you will have the power to summon Ho-Oh back to earth and possibly even control it. Interesting, very interesting indeed. A rare coincidence."

"What coincidence?" Lynn asked.

The Pikachu drew back from the vessel, casting its face into shadow. "Do you know why Cro was so angry with you when you first came here?" it inquired.

"He thought I was a burden," Lynn said, lowering her gaze. "A stray, like he told Eppie."

There still enough light for Lynn to see Sparkacus shake its head. "No, Lynn," the Pikachu replied. "He was angry because Eppie had called you the last heir. The last heir, you must understand, is the legendary descendent of the Martyr, and the one supposedly destined to bring Ho-Oh back and save us all."

"But I'm not," Lynn protested. "Eppie has to be wrong. I mean, I never knew about any of this before! All I had before...was one feather."

"And that's just the thing," Sparkacus told her. "Though Cro may not trumpet it around, I'm too close to him not to know. Cro thinks that he is meant to be the last heir. He's thought that his entire life. And you know why?" The Pikachu's gaze fell to the feathers dangling from the Wing. "Because he, too, was given one of those rainbow feathers as a small child. To discover you, not himself, is the true wielder of the Rainbow Wing...I do not fancy the thought of what he might do."

Lynn's knees began to shake; if she'd still been standing, she most certainly would have fallen. "But I can't be the last heir!" she cried. "All this destiny talk is...well, it's wrong. Cro'll know that! Won't he?"

"For Cro, there is no purpose other than that of becoming the last heir. To him, Lynn, you are a threat. A very real rival." Sparkacus's round eyes grew steely. "Perhaps it is best if you did not show the Rainbow Wing to anyone else," the Pikachu advised. "You were wise to keep it a secret before. Meanwhile, I'll see what I can do about getting that one feather from Cro. It'll bring you one feather closer to completing the Wing, yes?"

"But what about after that?" Lynn demanded, feeling sick all over again. "I'm no last heir. I don't know what to do next."

"We'll figure it out," Sparkacus told her, voice ringing with confidence.

And, really, it was the fact that the Pikachu had used the word "we'll" instead of "you'll" that made Lynn feel just the tiniest bit better. Though she often preferred to be alone, there were some times where having a friend or two didn't hurt at all.

Both girl and Pikachu conversed a while longer, growing increasingly more comfortable and candid with each other.

But unknown to both, another set of eyes was watching through the darkness.