Disclaimer : I do not own anything from the Pokemon franchise aside from my own Original Characters and any Original Plots I make.
This fanfiction is inspired by the following stories:
The New Normal
When the Moon Rises
Borne of Caution
The Natural
The Other Trainers of Pallet
These Silver Eyes
Interlude : The Lorekeeper
Zinnia's crimson eyes closely observed the rocky terrain laid out before her. By her side, her faithful Bagon growled lowly displaying clear signs of impatience. He had never been one for stakeouts like this.
Not to mention, Meteor Falls was a den of dragons. The stench of others of his type was strong and no doubt, put him on edge.
A quiet huff left her lips as she shifted in place. The scent of wet stone was strong and the humidity in the air clung thickly to her skin as if it were a second layer. She clutched her cloak tighter around her body when she heard the bellow of a wild Druddigon somewhere in the labyrinth that was her home. The roar reverberated through the stone beneath her boots like thunder.
But she wasn't here for Druddigon.
No, her target was something far smaller but even more ferocious. This section of the Falls was where that species usually nested and if she waited here for long enough, she knew that she would eventually catch sight of one of them.
Sure enough, after another ten minutes or so, her eyes caught a flicker of movement, and her head snapped towards the sound of shifting rocks.
There, just a few meters away from her, was the Pokemon she had been searching for. An Axew, one larger than most of its species and likely close to evolution, crouched low behind a massive, jagged rock jutting out of the ground, red eyes darting around warily. It made sense for it to be cautious.
In a place where dragons were dominant, it was always a fight for survival. The weak perished and the strong became stronger.
That was simply the way of these magnificent beasts.
Zinnia remained still and out of sight. Patience was a virtue that had been hammered into her by her sister and the elders. A true Lorekeeper did not pounce like a starved predator as soon as they'd spot their prey. No, they waited and watched. Then, when the time was right, they struck.
So she remained hidden, her breath held, and watched as Axew lifted it's snout and sniffed the air.
Crunch!
Bagon, ever the impatient little brute, shifted his weight on a loose pebble, instantly crushing it, and Zinnia cursed.
Axew's head instantly shot up at the sound and locked eyes with Zinnia, red meeting red. Then it bolted, far faster than she had been expecting.
"Oh, come on, Bagon!" Zinnia hissed, but she was already surging forward, boots skidding against the damp stone as she gave chase. "Swablu, cut it off!"
A flash of white burst from above, trailing down in a sharp arc. Swablu, wings wide, flew through the air, her feathers shimmered with a soft blue glow as she unleashed a razor-sharp Air Cutter.
The blast whistled past Zinnia's shoulder and struck just ahead of the fleeing Axew, the wind shearing off chips of stone. The little dragon skidded to a halt, claws scrambling on the slick ground.
Zinnia didn't let it recover.
"Goomy use Dragon Pulse!"
From the Poke Ball held in her hands, a Goomy materialized into existence, his slimy body already rippling with power. Then a burst of violet draconic energy erupted from his mouth and slammed into the ground just in front of Axew's path, carving a smoldering fissure into the stone.
Axew flinched and stumbled backward, its chest heaving. Zinnia took that moment to step forward, a predatory grin on her face. "Sorry, little guy. But you're not getting away."
The Tusk Pokemon snarled ferociously, sides heaving and, muscles trembling with adrenaline. Its eyes darted left and right and Zinnia could almost see the thoughts spinning: fight or flight.
Its decision came fast.
With a high-pitched cry, Axew's tusks glowed with violet-blue energy before it fired a pulsing Dragon Rage. The orb of flaming draconic energy tore a path through the cavern, heading straight for her. However, she remained still, her grin widening.
"Bagon, now!"
Without hesitation, the iron-skulled dragon hurled himself into the path of the attack. The impact threw him back, claws dragging across the stone, smoke rising from his singed hide, but he held his ground, teeth clenched and eyes blazing.
Zinnia reached for her belt. Her fingers curled around a cool, metallic Ultra Ball but she made no move to throw it. No, not yet.
"You wanna fight?" Her voice was low now, fierce and alive. She stepped forward, fire gleaming in her eyes. "Then you're not fighting them."
She opened her arms.
"You're fighting me."
Axew stared, thrown off by the challenge and hesitated, only for a second. Then fury overtook its features, and it surged forward, eager to gore through her with its tusks.
Zinnia made an attempt to avoid the charging dragon, but she wasn't fast enough. One tusk grazed her thigh, slicing through the fabric of her pants and leaving a burning sting in its wake. She winced, breath hissing through her teeth, but didn't back down. With a low grunt, she lunged forward, arms wrapping around the Axew's middle.
They struggled for a while before Zinnia's boots slipped, her balance swaying as the little dragon thrashed wildly, claws flailing, tusks slicing at the air. Her grip tightened. She slid back several feet but still didn't let go.
Then, with one last burst of strength, she twisted and brought them both down harshly. Axew snarled as she slammed it into the ground with all of her strength, pinning it firmly against the damp stone. When the Tusk Pokemon started thrashing beneath her, she pressed her knee against its chest and gripped its head tightly with one hand, keeping it fixed in place.
Its red eyes burned with defiance, chest heaving as it glared up at her.
"You've got spirit. I like that." Zinnia grunted glancing down at her leg as blood welled up, dark against her skin. She exhaled sharply, shaking her head. "But you're mine now."
She grabbed the Ultra Ball from her belt with her free hand and tapped it against Axew's forehead. In a flash of red light, the dragon was engulfed. The Ultra Ball dropped to the ground, snapping shut and shaking violently as Axew fought against its confines. Zinnia watched, breath held, as the ball rocked once…twice…
And then, with a decisive click, it stilled.
A slow, triumphant grin spread across her face. She snatched up the Ultra Ball and held it aloft, her crimson eyes gleaming with satisfaction.
"Got you."
Bagon let out an approving growl, nudging her uninjured leg with his snout. Swablu fluttered down to perch on her shoulder, trilling softly. Goomy, ever the slow but steady companion, oozed his way over, blinking up at her with quiet pride.
Zinnia exhaled, rolling her shoulders. The sting of her wounds was already fading beneath the rush of victory. She turned the Ultra Ball over in her palm, thrilled at having added yet another dragon to her team.
"You're gonna be a beast when you evolve." She stated with a grin.
Then, with a sharp whistle, she turned on her heel and started back through the winding caverns of Meteor Falls, her team falling into step behind her.
It didn't take her long to return to Meteor Village. She must have been quite a sight, she was sure, walking with a limp and blood trickling down her leg, with her Bagon stomping protectively by her side, Swablu flying overhead and Goomy, perched on her shoulder.
However, most of the villagers barely spared her a second glance as she strode through the winding paths of Meteor Village, though she could feel their discontent at her presence. They didn't like her, that much was clear. More specifically, they didn't like the fact that she had been picked to be the next Lorekeeper following Aster's…demise.
Zinnia swallowed thickly as old wounds threatened to reopen but then shook her head, making sure to keep the mental stitches in place. She didn't care what they thought.
They could all go fuck themselves.
Her boots scuffed against the worn stone as she made her way toward the heart of the village, where the carved archway of the Lorekeeper's Sanctum loomed. The ancient stone was etched with the sinuous forms of various Dragon Pokemon.
She paused at the entrance, rolling her shoulders. The adrenaline of the hunt had faded, leaving behind the dull throb of her injuries. Bagon nudged her leg again, his rough scales brushing against her calf.
"Yeah, yeah." She muttered, reaching down to rub his iron-plated skull. "I'll get it looked at."
Then, with a deep breath, Zinnia stepped inside.
The sanctum was cool and dim, the air thick with the scent of incense and old parchment. Torches flickered along the walls, casting long shadows that danced across the stone. At the far end of the chamber, seated atop a raised dais, was Elder Liora, though to her, she was just Granny.
The old woman didn't look up as Zinnia approached, her fingers tracing the lines of an ancient scroll spread across her lap. The soft rustle of parchment was the only sound between them for a long moment.
Then, without lifting her gaze, Liora spoke.
"You're bleeding."
Zinnia stopped a few paces away, chest rising and falling with stubborn breath. "Caught an Axew." She stated, nodding toward the shrunken Ultra Ball attached to her belt. "It was a big one. Nearly took a chunk out of my leg. Put up a hell of a fight."
"And so did you, I imagine." Liora replied, voice like rustling parchment.
"Yeah." Zinnia stated, her lips splitting open to form a grin. "I did."
Liora rose from her seat, and stepped down from the dais, her movements graceful. When she reached Zinnia, she grabbed her granddaughter by the wrist, tugging her toward one of the side chambers.
"Sit." She ordered, nudging Zinnia onto a low bench.
Zinnia rolled her eyes but obeyed, stretching her injured leg out with a wince. Bagon settled at her feet, while Swablu fluttered to perch on a nearby shelf. Goomy oozed his way off her shoulder and onto the bench beside her.
Liora returned moments later with a basin of water and a bundle of herbs. She knelt, her fingers deft as she peeled back the torn fabric to assess the wound.
"You're lucky it didn't hit anything vital." She murmured, dabbing at the blood with a damp cloth.
Zinnia scoffed. "Like I'd let some runt take me down that easily."
The Elder's lips twitched, but she didn't make a sound. Instead, she crushed the herbs between her palms, the sharp, earthy scent filling the air before she pressed them to the wound. Zinnia hissed through her teeth but didn't pull away.
"You're reckless." Liora said after a moment, her voice low, and Zinnia rolled her eyes. Once she was done treating the wound, she wrapped a bandage around it tightly before pulling away. For a moment, neither said anything. Then, Liora spoke. "The time draws near. I can feel it."
Zinnia's throat tightened. "…The meteor?"
Liora closed her eyes and nodded. "As you well know, a thousand years ago, our ancestors foresaw it – a great calamity, falling from the heavens. A fire that would scorch the earth. They declared that only Rayquaza would be able to prevent the calamity from happening and only the Lorekeeper, the strongest of our people, could summon Rayquaza to stop it."
Zinnia's fingers twitched. None of this was new to her; she had heard all these stories since childhood. However now, with the way her grandmother was speaking, the danger the legends foretold of was very real and drawing ever closer.
"Aster was supposed to be the one." She whispered, the memory of her sister flashing through her mind.
Liora's face darkened with sorrow. "Yes, she was. But Aster is gone and with her dying breath, she chose you to take her place. You are the Lorekeeper now, Zinnia…but you are not yet prepared for the trial ahead of you."
The black-haired girl stiffened. "…What?"
The Elder's hands, gnarled with age but still strong as dragon claws, grasped Zinnia's shoulders. "You are strong and will only continue to grow stronger. But strength alone will not call Rayquaza from the sky."
Zinnia's jaw tightened. "Ever since Aster died, I've spent my time preparing –"
"And what have you learned?" Liora's voice cracked like a whip. "To fight? To bleed? To take what you want through force?" She released Zinnia with a sigh that seemed to carry the weight of centuries. "A Lorekeeper must understand more than battle. She must understand the world she seeks to protect."
The torchlight flickered across the ancient carvings of dragons that lined the sanctum walls. Zinnia's eyes traced the sinuous form of Rayquaza coiled around the ceiling beams, its stone eyes seeming to judge her.
"You're telling me to leave." The realization settled in her gut like cold iron.
Liora nodded. "Hoenn's winds carry more wisdom than these caverns ever could. Walk its paths. Let its storms temper you. Meet other trainers and grow. Learn what it truly means to be Lorekeeper."
"The meteor –"
"–Will come when it comes." Liora interrupted. "Whether you are ready or not. But you cannot face it as you are now." She reached into the folds of her robe and produced a small, carved dragon fang on a leather cord. "Take this. When the sky burns red and the earth trembles, you will know it is time to return."
Zinnia accepted the talisman, the bone warm against her palm. For a moment, she hesitated. Meteor Falls was all that she had ever known. Sure, she had ventured outside the caverns many times, but this place was still her home.
But Liora was right. She had to become stronger. To prove herself as a Lorekeeper. To prove that she was capable of handling the burden placed on her shoulders. The duty that her sister had entrusted to her. So, she steeled her nerves and turned to her grandmother with fire in her eyes.
"I'll go. But not because you ordered it. I'll prove to everyone – to you, to the villagers, and to Aster's ghost – that I'm worthy of this title."
Liora simply nodded, the ghost of a smile playing at her lips. "See that you do."
Weird to have an interlude after releasing a single chapter, but I wanted to upload this before posting the next main chapter because I think it's better suited as a standalone piece. This interlude gives a deeper look into Zinnia's character and it also sets up her journey ahead, both physically and emotionally.
I've always loved Zinnia as a character, and exploring and expanding the lore of the Draconids was fun for me. Plus, who doesn't love a good dragon-taming scene?
Its pretty obvious what I plan on doing with her. She will be an integral part of this story - one of the main characters.
Hope you enjoyed this little dive into Zinnia's world! The next chapter will return to the main storyline, so stay tuned.
As always, thanks for reading!