Chapter 79 – Interlude Presenting a Letter

  “Happy Birthday Zinnia!!”

  “Gooon!” “Gooom!” “Seaa!”

  Mommy walked inside the living room carrying my super special birthday cake with nine candles lit on top. Everyone I liked in the village was here to celebrate with me. Big sis Aster, Dray, Dray’s parents, my second Grandma and of course all of our Pokémon friends. Seeing the bright rainbow-colored cake, I couldn’t wait to dig in after blowing out the candles.

  ‘Arceus, I wish brother, grandpa and grandma could come see me before the year’s end.’

  With one big heave I blew out all the candles in one shot marking the year that I turned from a small girl into a slightly bigger girl. Bagon couldn’t wait any longer and jumped up on the table eager to get first licks on the cake before being stopped by Dragonair who used her tail to wrap him up before depositing Bagon back near the kiddy table with the rest of my Pokémon. Mom was about to cut up and divide the cake when knocking was heard from the front door. Daddy was the one who stood up first to answer our mystery guest at the door.

  We could hear the sound of the door opening in the hallway and daddy having an argument with another younger sounding man before the stranger was let further into the house. I recognized our guest, it was the funny looking villager whose bangs of hair always seemed to cover his eyes.

  “Thank you for sharing the comforts of your home with me. Lorekeeper, Esteemed elder.”

  The man immediately moved to greet Aster and Grandma even though it was my special day. Even daddy seemed put off by the young man’s insistence on paying respect to the council members first. Grandma was the first to ask loopy hair what he was doing here without first being invited.

  “Tomatoma what are you doing here? I’ve heard you went off to prove your mettle in the Hoenn circuit.”

  “I have earned all of the outsiders’ badges save one which has already been promised to me. Right after I earned my seventh badge, from Elite Moore, one of the gym’s staff came up to me to ask for a favor that I could not deny.”

  Tomatoma turned around to face me offering me a sealed letter. Which I eagerly accepted before tearing it open. In my mind there is no one working at the gym who would ask Tomtom to hand over a letter to me save for my worrying older brother.

  Dear Zinnia,

  A lot has happened over these last months where I haven’t gotten the chance to speak to you. For one I’ve managed to make friends with all kinds of interesting people and Pokémon over the course of my journey. When I finally made it back to Hoenn I even got the chance to personally meet Champion Drake whose words of encouragement inspired me to endeavor to gain the necessary strength to challenge those old village fogies for the right to bring you back home to Lavaridge. The original plan was to sneak my way in and take you with me regardless of what your old man thinks. I managed to catch almost all of the Pokémon I told you about while in Unova, each of them unique in their own special way. I was just scraping by for a time even with old man Moore’s sponsorship, but recently I’ve managed to make quite the archeological discovery for the league association. While doing that we’ve gained clues on how to uncover other dig sites safely securing my livelihood for next year’s journey. So far, I’ve won myself five badges for this year’s circuit with my most difficult battle at the Sootopolis gym coming up shortly. When we manage to eke out a victory, we’ll be set. Sponsors will jump at the chance of supporting a fire type specialist who managed to beat a water type gym (Juan makes challengers battle in these large open air swimming pools making winning extra difficult). If all goes well, you’ll be able to watch your big brother win the Ever Grande Conference this year!!

  I don’t know when you’ll receive this letter, the guy I gave it to seems to be very busy with his own circuit run. It might be after your special day so to make up for me missing it I managed to get you an equally special present. Your big brother lucked out and traded a perfectly preserved Anorith fossil he found for a Jaw fossil! The old Celadon professor I traded with had multiples of them and not a single Claw fossil. You know how I told you about the revivification machine that scientists are currently developing on Cinnabar Island right? If everything pans out, you’ll be the proud future trainer of your own Tyrunt which are part dragon types.

  Happy Birthday!!

  Love,

  Your cool dependable brother.

  P.S. It has only been around a day since I’ve made this deal but the package containing your Jaw fossil should’ve been sent to our home in Lavaridge already. Depending on when you will receive this letter Grandpa and Grandma will be holding onto it for you until your return. With instructions to not give it up to anyone else claiming to be from Draconid village. That way they can wish you a happy missed birthday as well.

  P.S.S. Numsy is now a big strong Camerupt and Rena a dainty extra fluff Ninetales. They miss you and send extra extra love.

  “Uwaaaah!!”

  “Gon!?” “Goom!?” “Seaa!?” “Zinnia what’s wrong?!”

  “I am just so happy right now! This has been one of the greatest birthdays ever!”

  Determined to share my happiness I gave the letter to mommy letting her know how Egon was doing. I couldn’t help but notice that the rest of our guests threw curious glances at my private special letter eager to know what was on it. Tomtom shuffled awkwardly not knowing I was super-duper grateful to him.

  “From now on you are my friend as well Tomtom! Please have some of my delicious birthday cake!”

  “Tomtom is not actually my name…”

  “No complaining on my birthday! Here have some!”

  Placing one of the cake slices on an empty plate I shoved the delicious half frozen treat in Tomtom’s open arms which he clumsily accepted. The rest of the adults in the room could no longer contain their curiosity and were crowding around mom taking sneak peeks at my brother’s letter. While that was going on I shared slices of my rainbow cake with every Pokémon in the room even giving Dray’s Noibat a slice to avoid playing favorites. The gathering of little dragon types devoured the cake with much enthusiasm not even bothering to properly chew their food. While me, Dray and our Pokémon were having a feast the boring adults got to talking about my brother’s letter.

  “Sneak his way into the village? What a foolhardy kid.”

  “Mother-in-law that is…”

  “Cheh! Don’t mind it, I prefer straightforward young men like this. Still… that kid is a busy little combee. Why haven’t I been told about my grandson-in-law?”

  “That brat shares no lineage with us. I didn't think it would matter. Even if by some miracle, he manages to…”

  “Shut it! Not in front of the children.”

  Daddy wasn’t the biggest fan of Egon even after I had told him all about my brother’s accomplishments. When I was still living at Grandma and Grandpa's, Egon himself tended to avoid talking about my daddy. Mommy told me that they just have to spend time getting to know each other before becoming fast friends. The atmosphere in the room turned weird before Aster decided to change the subject.

  “A Jaw Fossil? Do you know anything about that Elder?”

  “Those Fossils are the remains of a line of ancient dragon type Pokémon that lived in what is now called the Kalos region. The brat is very well studied for a ten-year-old.”

  “Elder, He actually turned eleven two weeks ago.”

  “Nevermind that, what has me interested is this talk about a revival machine. If what this kid is claiming holds true, the tribe will have to get on top of this new development before the rest of the world leaves us behind.”

  “Surely you are not believing this kid’s wild claims of a “revivification machine”?”

  “Every time technology advances forwards we are viewed as even more of a backward people. Having our merchants track the going rates for fossils this past year would take little effort. If the claims of a revival machine are substantiative the market prices for intact fossils will surely rise. I’ll make the proposal at the next council meeting.”

  “If the prices are indeed going up?”

  “Then we’ll have to buy as many Jaw fossils as the tribe can afford. Tyrunt are well known predator Pokémon. We'll be doing ordinary trainers a favor by claiming as many of those fossils as possible. Of course, I’ll have to convince the rest of the council first before going forward with this.”

  “Muuuu! This is my birthday party; grown-up talk is not allowed!”

  Second Grandma wizened up before affectionately patting my head.

  “You are right of course darling, how about we get to opening all of your gifts? I don’t know if any present of ours can tip your brother’s but we for sure can try.”

  Everyone at the party brought along thoughtful presents. Aster got me a cool looking cape which she claimed to be a mandatory piece of attire for all prospective dragon masters. My second Grandma got me an old looking canine called a Dragon Fang, Dray got me a neat looking dreamcatcher that he made himself under his mother’s supervision while his parents gifted me a licking salt stone which scared the gengar out of Goomy. She refused to come out of her basket without me promising that the licking salt would be kept far away from her. When it came time for Daddy to give me his present, he looked like a stantler caught in headlights.

  When it finally became time for mommy and daddy’s turn to give me presents, I was pleasantly surprised by Mommy giving me that shiny red hair tie which I told her about the last time we went through the merchants’ inventory together. On the other hand, Daddy…

  “Isn’t she already living off my dime? What else could she possibly want?”

  That comment got second Grandma to whack him with the end of her walking cane.

  “Unfilial son! You better get sweet Zinnia a meaningful gift or else she’ll be getting your inheritance!”

  Hearing those words Daddy sped off upstairs and we heard quite a few rumbling noises from the attic until he eventually returned carrying a blue spiraling bracelet decorated with the village’s markings. Which at the very top held an empty socket clearly missing its centerpiece. It looked very cool but seemed too big to properly wrap around my arm.

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  “That’s better but it’s missing something.”

  “Are you serious?! That keystone had been passed on to me after you received the additional one that comes from joining the council as an elder.”

  ‘Keystone?! That’s what Egon told me about. The power to further evolve Pokémon through the power of bonds.’

  “Sonny, you don’t have any Pokémon capable of performing the feat. This is why other members of the tribe have gone out to capture appropriate partners based on their household’s collection of …stones. Not just anyone has the correct attitude to partner up with one of the mountain’s Salamence.”

  “That …stone nor the keystone will go to waste. I just need more time to properly convince … of the benefits of partnering up with a trainer.”

  “And until you do, I’d like Zinnia to wear that anklet with the appropriate fitting. It wouldn’t do for my granddaughter to walk around the village with an incomplete accessory. This act of selflessness would go a long way of proving yourself worthy of a council seat.”

  Daddy let out a single huff before returning upstairs and coming back a moment later carrying a multicolored stone depicting a helix pattern. Following that he pushed the Keystone into the open slot before handing it over to me.

  “…Happy Birthday Zinnia.”

  “Wooow! Pretty! Thank you, Daddy. You are the best!”

  Afterparty*

  The weird spiraling bracelet turned out to be supposed to be worn on my leg. It felt a bit uncomfortable, but Grandma assured me that I’d grow into it. Dray kept throwing jealous glances at my last gift as if it was somehow a big deal that I received one before his family got him one too. When it started growing dark outside our visiting guests left for their own homes leaving me with Daddy, Mommy and second Grandma. For some reason Grandma decided to stay a bit longer to tell me something important.

  “Zinnia dear, do you have any idea what your father has gifted you just now? Don’t think I didn’t notice that look of recognition. You are years away from hiding anything from a crafty old Ninetales like me.”

  “…I can’t tell you.”

  “Why not?”

  “I promised.”

  “Hmmm okay then. All that’s left for me to do is explaining the tribe’s rules regarding the safekeeping of our secrets. Firstly, you can talk about the Key and Mega stones with anyone who is of age living in the village but when it comes to outsiders…”

  “I won’t tell anyone who doesn’t already know!”

  “…Good, secondly pairing the correct Mega stones with the appropriate Pokémon is a key element to the stones’ functioning. Each village household has accrued a collection of them over the many years. This is also part of the reason why we villagers venture out to participate in the circuit. The odds of us finding them while on journeys increases. Typically, we buy them off of other peoples that do not realize what they have found. Naturally it is our village’s policy to pay four times their asking price to not leave behind any hard feelings for both the seller and the buyer.”

  “That means… do we have any Mega stones?”

  “Yes, indeed but we have only the one. Which could be considered the most valuable of all by the village standards, a Salamencite. The oldest in the family, which would be me, keeps all of the stones until or unless one individual in the family has the appropriate partner Pokémon. My battling days have long since passed, so when this little Bagon here manages to reach its most mature stage the Mega stone will be gifted to you.”

  “Gon…!”

  “Can I see it!? Mega evolution!”

  “Every so often the adults in the tribe hold small competitions to keep their skills sharp. Ask Aster for permission to bring you along. That girl is your official master; she will be the one to decide if you are ready to witness higher level battling. Which brings me to the third rule which will not be relevant to you for a good while. We don’t use Mega evolution openly outside of the Meteor Falls Mountain range.”

  “Okay… but why keep it a secret? Doesn’t it make the battles more fun when everyone can use the stones?”

  “Some see things like you do, but the village elders have come to realize that public knowledge of the stones would bring great danger to the village. Where do you think Mega and Key stones come from?”

  “Space?”

  “You are half correct. The Mega stones were originally meteorites that have fallen onto our planet and after being saturated in the world’s natural energies for years and years transformed into the stones that we know and use today. The kind of Mega stone they transform into usually depends on the type of Pokémon species that populated the nearby areas during the stones’ transformative state. Mega stones, although valuable and rare, are not a limited resource. Key stones are fashioned from a rare type of mineral we villagers discovered a long time ago. Even way back then there was only a limited amount that could be mined and refined into appropriately sized Key stones. As far as we know we villagers are the only ones with working Key stones in the entire Hoenn region. Can you tell me why we must keep the existence of mega evolution a secret?”

  “Bad people will come take away the village’s Key stones?”

  “That is correct, this is also why we encourage our people to stay within the village. Loose lips sink ships. One word said to the wrong person could bring us under scrutiny. To be frank it’s already a miraculous feat that our people have managed to keep the lid on this secret for so long.”

  “I still disagree! Forming connections with other people can never be wrong! When I become Champion, I’ll turn Hoenn into a place where everyone can come visit the village!”

  Grandma made a weird sound before patting me on the head. Treating me as if I didn’t know what I was talking about.

  “Sure, but Drake isn’t a lightweight you know? We used to briefly date in our youth before I met your actual grandfather. By the time you are good enough to actually take him on in a battle someone else will have already beaten you to the punch.”

  “Ewww! Grandma dating boys is indecent!”

  “I’ll have you know that Grandma used to be quite the looker. Judging by the look of that cute face of yours I am sure that you’ll turn into a heartbreaker as well.”

  “Yuck! Gross! Stop talking!”

  The following day*

  “Little sister!! I am here to pick you up!”

  The familiar sound of Aster coming over for an early morning visit sounded out from above the clouds marking the start of our usual training time. Me and my cute Pokémon were out in the garden Goomy soaking in her kiddy pool while Horsea was swimming circles in our pond. Bagon was again eying our rooftop ladder that’s why I had to keep a close eye on him whenever he was out of his ball. Bagon didn’t seem to care overly much as long as he could keep sitting down on my lap.

  Aster while riding Dragonair swooped down onto our garden hopping off with a practiced deftness that she assured me would come naturally as I grew older myself.

  “Big sister… I thought you had a council meeting today?”

  “That’s correct, but this time you will be attending as well.”

  “Eh?! You said council meetings are for old boring adults except you.”

  “Our topic of discussion today concerns that letter your brother sent you. It will help if you bring that piece of paper along so those old heads can go over the exact details.”

  “That’s my precious letter! Only mommy and I get to read it!”

  “That’s… true… How about I take you out for treats afterwards?”

  “You are not just saying that aren’t you? The last time you took me out for “treats” the village eatery served us rice cakes filled with red bean paste. Healthy snacks are evil!”

  “Gon!” Bagon loudly agreed with me.

  “Dragon master’s promise.”

  “Okay… but they can only read the first part! My brother’s Pokémon’s extra love is just for me, not anybody else!”

  Still holding Bagon I darted back in the house, picked up my birthday letter and walked back out. Without further ado I recalled Horsea back into his modern ball and my other two partners into their screw top balls before hopping on Dragonair clutching strongly onto Aster’s back who had already climbed back onto her Pokémon as well.

  “Dragonair take us to the council house!”

  “Preee!”

  Dragonair lifted us off gracefully before flying into the direction of the village’s center square. The council house was only a minute’s walk away from our house but like Aster always told me that flying everywhere is the best.

  ‘Soaring in the air is so much fun! I can’t wait until Bagon grows big enough to do it himself!’

  We were there in a few seconds. The building was covered by the clan’s symbols which looked similar to two Unowns smushed together. Being the largest building in the village the entryway was large enough to accommodate three large dragon types walking next to each other. The inside of the hallway was covered in paintings mostly depicting dragon type Pokémon. However, one of the paintings captured my attention completely.

  “Wooow! Big sis is that what Rayquaza looks like?”

  “Yep! The village artist did a good job painting the Dragon Lord’s likeness. Of course, nothing can compare seeing Rayquaza in person for the first time.”

  “You did?! How big is Rayquaza? What’s its favorite color? and what sort of food does Rayquaza like to eat?”

  “Hmmm all very important questions. Listen well apprentice! I will be answering those in order! As big as a medium sized skyscraper, emerald green, and a Pokémon called Minior.”

  “Rayquaza eats other Pokémon!?”

  “Only sometimes. You see, this species of Pokémon spontaneously forms inside our planet’s Ozone layer. After which they slowly start forming a hard outer shell made out of space debris. Once their shells grow too heavy, they fall down and impact the earth. Their entry and subsequent impact strips them off their protective shell. After which they only have a very short time to live before turning back into space dust. The particles they leave behind float back up into our ozone layer and are subsequently eaten by the Dragon Lord.”

  “My brother told me that Minior is a Pokémon native to the Alola region. Have you ever been there to see this happen?”

  “…No. My good friend told me.”

  It was at this moment that one of the doors lining the hallway opened and an old man with a funny looking goatee walked out. The person turned his head, saw us and motioned for the both of us to come on over. Slightly disappointed because of the missed opportunity to ask Aster more about her special friend we walked into the stuffy meeting room. Grandma was there as well as five other people I sometimes see walking around the village. They were in the middle of having a heated discussion.

  “Resurrecting extinct Pokémon? Foolish! This is just another hoax from the outsiders.”

  “All I am saying is that it would be pertinent for us to investigate this matter further. If things turn out as this young man claims, we’ll have a golden opportunity to introduce another species of dragon type Pokémon to our ancestral lands further diversifying and strengthening the bloodlines we currently possess.”

  The goateed man was next to speak.

  “Is it truly so far-fetched Uba? You had the exact same reaction when that scientist Dr. Akihabara created the first batch of Porygon. In any event I support this line of action even if it turns out to be a “hoax” as you put it. The fossils will still hold their historical value, and it isn’t the worst investment to make.”

  It was at this point that the two of us were noticed standing behind the latest speaker. Which was followed by some hurried shuffling to make room for Aster to take her own seat at the head of the discussion table. Grandma grabbed my hand gently motioning me to come sit next to her while Aster sat down on her own extra special chair.

  “Did you bring the letter sweetie?”

  “Yes, big sister has it. Can I go play outside now?”

  “In a minute just let Grandma do all the talking.”

  The two council members next in line to speak brought up the same sounding arguments after which the entire room deferred to Aster’s authority.

  “The one who brought us this news, my apprentice, is still underage so please keep things civil. I have brought the letter in question with us for each of you to peruse. There are some personal things written on here that I’ve covered up with tape. Please don’t peel it off, as you were.”

  Aster gave my letter to the person sitting closest to her who after reading it handed it off to their nearest peer. We sat quietly like that until a full circle was made and the pause ended with the letter being returned to me. Grandma was the first to speak up.

  “As you’ve read the boy has no reason to lie, especially not to a close family member. What’s even more interesting is his mentioning of this “Celadon professor” who holds multiple Tyrunt fossils in his collection. Kanto is situated closer to Hoenn than Kalos is and with less trading restrictions. I propose we let Zinnia here pick up the birthday gift at her old home and track down this Professor’s residential home by reading the return address on the box. An educated individual like that could also help further verify her brother’s claims.”

  ‘I get to go see Grandpa and Grandma again?!’

  “Don’t we need her parents’ permission? Why aren’t they here?”

  “I am her grandmother, and my son will do as he’s told.”

  “It is against the village’s rules to let a girl her age outside. Just get someone else to pick up the package.”

  “Didn’t you read what the letter said Uba? Her grandparents will only allow their granddaughter to retrieve the package. Unless you are suggesting breaking and entering?”

  That shut up the old fogey real quick. Like Egon warned me, some people like putting up roadblocks in front of great ideas just for the sake of it. Aster had heard enough at this point and decided to speed things along.

  “I have heard enough if we keep arguing about these minutiae we will be sitting here all day. Let’s begin the vote. All in favor for having Zinnia escorted to Lavaridge Town and pick up the package, raise your hands.”

  Author’s note: Yet again Pokédex measurements don’t make any sense. According to its official measurements Rayquaza is about as big as three tall men joined together. That is why I opted to go with its anime size.

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