Chapter 346: Zinnia's Punishment
~Third POV~
[Hoenn Region, Days Later, Meteor Falls – Meteor Village]
The air within Meteor Falls was thick with the faint scent of sulfur and damp rock, the silence broken only by the distant rush of subterranean water. Deep within the cavern network, nestled in a vast, naturally illuminated chamber, lay Meteor Village—the sanctuary of the Draconid people.
Drake, the famed Dragon-type Elite Four member from the Hoenn region, marched ahead, his usual jovial demeanor replaced by a stone mask of fury. Beside him, Steven Stone, Hoenn's reigning Champion, followed with grim determination, his crystal jewelry flashing faintly in the scattered light.
The information Azure Sky had provided—a precise, shocking accusation regarding the Pokémon Association's role in the death of the former Lorekeeper, Aster, and the theft of Rayquaza five years prior—had been a devastating blow. Now, Steven was here, not as Champion, but as an investigator seeking painful confirmation.
They rounded a bend in the crystalline pathway, arriving at the village center. A crowd of Draconid people, adorned in traditional robes and scales, gathered around a raised platform with two people.
The atmosphere was heavy, sorrow mixing with astonishment. At the center stood the Elder, ancient and imposing, her wizened face framed by long, white hair. Before her knelt Zinnia, the current, self-proclaimed Lorekeeper, her vibrant outfit strangely subdued, her head bowed in utter defeat.
Steven and Drake edged closer, catching the tail end of the discussion. The Elder finished, her voice a dry rustle of parchment, "...the Dragon Lord has spoken. A new Lorekeeper was chosen in the skies above Sky Pillar, a Kantonian Trainer whose spirit and strength impressed even the protector of our world."
A collective murmur rippled through the crowd. Many of the older villagers nodded solemnly, recalling the terrifying scale of the Groudon and Kyogre clash, and the decisive, swift action of the young trainer, Azure Sky, who fought alongside the titans and ultimately summoned Rayquaza.
They had witnessed the Dragon Lord's acceptance firsthand. Drake moved forward, clearing his throat, "Ahem! Elder…"
The Elder's gaze immediately found him, and her stern expression softened into a knowing, fond smile. She greeted warmly, using the traditional Draconid tongue, "Drake. It has been too long since you graced our sanctuary. Your rage is palpable; tell your ancestors what weighs upon you."
Drake bowed his head respectfully to the Elder as he said respectfully in Draconid Tongue, "Elder, my heart is heavy with matters of duty and betrayal. I bring with me the Hoenn Champion, Steven Stone."
Steven stepped into the light after Drake nudged him as he introduced himself, "I am Steven Stone, Elder. I apologize for intruding on your sacred space, but I must speak to the truth of a great crime committed in Hoenn's name."
The moment Steven introduced himself, Zinnia's kneeling form stiffened. Her eyes, burning with barely suppressed hatred, snapped up. Her lips drew back in a snarl, and her hand instinctively moved toward the Poké Balls at her waist, but…
*THUMP*
Before she could utter a single syllable or summon a single Pokémon, a shadow fell over her. The Elder's massive, silent Dragonite, which had been resting behind the platform, shifted.
Its deep emerald eyes, ancient and cold, fixed upon Zinnia, radiating a psychic pressure so intense that Zinnia's hand froze entirely. She swallowed, the movement cutting off her nascent outburst.
The Elder observed the exchange neutrally before turning back to Steven, asking, "The Champion of Hoenn. Your presence is unexpected. Speak your truth, Stone. What knowledge has driven the son of the Devon Corporation to our humble homes?"
Steven met the Elder's gaze, unflinching as he asked solemnly, "I am here to confirm the evidence provided to me by Azure Sky. I need to know everything about Aster, the previous Lorekeeper. Her life, her death, and the truth of whether her partner, Rayquaza, was stolen by the Pokémon Association for research five years ago."
A profound silence descended upon the village. The Elder closed her eyes, preparing to recite the painful history.
But Zinnia suddenly snarled, her voice raw, cutting through the silence like broken glass, "He speaks the truth."
She pushed herself up from her kneeling position, ignoring the silent warning from the Elder's Dragonite. Her eyes were fixed on Steven, but her words were directed at the crowd, ringing with desperate sincerity.
She confessed, her voice thick with venom, declared, "It was my Salamence that attacked that wretched research institute in Goldenrod City! I failed to retrieve Rayquaza, but I saw what they did to him, what they did to her!"
Steven recoiled slightly, utterly blindsided. Drake looked on, his jaw tight. Zinnia ranted, pacing wildly, "Those monsters—the Association, your father's company—they dissected her life and caged our Dragon Lord for their pitiful science! They murdered Aster! They robbed me of my predecessor, my teacher, my... sister!"
Tears streamed down her painted face, mixing with the fury as she continued heatedly, "I created Team Magma and Team Aqua! I manipulated them, giving them the means to awaken Groudon and Kyogre!"
The crowd gasped collectively. The sheer scale of her actions—the chaos that had nearly swallowed Hoenn—was laid bare as she continued, "I did it so the chaos would force the Dragon Lord to appear! I needed Rayquaza to descend, to bond with me, so I could retrieve his power and take my revenge! Revenge against Hoenn! Against the League! Against everyone who allowed them to steal Aster and cage our god!"
Zinnia ended, her voice cracking into a desperate sob. Steven felt a cold dread settle in his stomach. The crowd was utterly silent.
He didn't need the Elder to confirm the rest. He had his answer, and the architects of the recent Hoenn crisis were far more insidious than he ever imagined. He thought, startled by her words, 'Father... what have you done?'
Steven took a slow, rattling breath, focusing on the duty that bound him. He straightened his spine, squaring his shoulders against the enormous weight of responsibility.
Steven said, his voice now calm and steel-edged, commanding her attention, "Zinnia. If you truly wish for revenge, I believe I can help you achieve justice."
Zinnia stopped pacing, her eyes narrowed in suspicion. Steven continued, "I need your full, attested testimony. I need documented proof of how the Hoenn Pokémon Association Chairman and the Devon Corporation—my father—orchestrated Aster's death and the theft of Rayquaza. With that, I will personally ensure they are arrested and held accountable for their crimes against Hoenn."
The villagers murmured again, stunned by the Champion's declaration. Drake merely closed his eyes, a flicker of relief easing his earlier rage.
The Elder, who had watched impassively, finally spoke solemnly, "Why, Steven Stone? Why now? After the Association robbed this clan of its Lorekeeper, after the tragic loss of my own daughter, why do you suddenly act?"
Steven flinched visibly as he thought, 'The Elder's daughter…'
The full, devastating impact of the conspiracy settled upon him. Aster was the Elder's child. The men he admired, the institutions he served, had committed matricide against the Draconid people.
Steven stated firmly, bowing his head in profound respect, "Because I am this region's Champion. My duty is to protect the people of Hoenn, every citizen, and every tribe. Those two men leveraged their power and arrogance to destabilize the region, murder the rightful Lorekeeper, steal her Pokémon, and nearly bring about worldwide catastrophe. They will pay for their actions."
He kept his head low, the words thick with genuine remorse as he uttered, "If only I were informed about this sooner, then this tragedy—the crisis, the waking of the Super Ancient Pokémon—would've been averted."
The Elder gazed at him for a long moment, assessing his sincerity. She finally gave a single, slow nod, uttering, "Your willingness to sacrifice your familial ties for the sake of justice honors the title you carry, Champion."
She then turned her focus back to Zinnia, whose fury had cooled into bleak resignation. She uttered harshly, staring at her, "Now, Zinnia. Your crimes against the balance are grievous. You nearly destroyed the world in your grief and rage. We must determine your punishment."
Zinnia hung her head, ready for whatever fate awaited her. She had failed her clan, failed to bond with Rayquaza, and had nothing left.
Steven started to step forward, intending to argue that Zinnia was essential to their case against the Chairman. But Drake's hand clamped down heavily on his shoulder, a silent warning. Drake muttered, his voice low and gravelly, "This is not our place, Steven. Not yet. We caused this mess by letting the Association run rampant. Let them handle their internal affairs. We need Zinnia's full commitment, and honoring the Elder's justice is the quickest route."
Steven swallowed his protest and nodded, waiting. The Elder, sensing the gravity of the moment, addressed the village in their ancient, echoing tongue, then shifted back to the common language for Zinnia's benefit.
The Elder pronounced, her voice resonating through the cavern, the authority returning full force. "Zinnia. Rise."
Zinnia slowly pushed herself up, her eyes cast down. The elder stated, her voice devoid of warmth, "Your actions were born of grief and desperation, but they were selfish. You risked the lives of millions to fulfill a prophecy you sought to claim as your own, distracting from the very real and immediate danger the stolen Rayquaza presented."
She waited for Zinnia to meet her gaze as she stated, "You will pay for your hubris with two punishments. They are non-negotiable."
Zinnia bowed her head again, uttering, "I accept any sentence, Elder."
The Elder declared, her words sharp as a Dragon Claw, "First, you will cooperate fully with Steven Stone and the League. You will give your testimony, and you will help ensure that every single individual who caused Aster's death and brought this chaos upon Hoenn is stripped of power and served justice. You will see the truth put to paper."
Zinnia nodded solemnly. This was a penance she could fulfill, a chance to finally avenge Aster through legal means, rather than through desperation.
The Elder continued, her eyes piercing Zinnia's, "The second punishment is exile."
Zinnia flinched, the word searing her. The Elder continued, "The second punishment is that you will help restore Hoenn from the disaster you caused. You shall leave Meteor Village with these two men, and you shall not return until Hoenn is fully restored from the disaster you caused. You will use that time to reflect upon the true meaning of the Lorekeeper, which is service, not glory…"
The words hit Zinnia like a physical blow. Exile.
Not just from the village, but from her people, her heritage, until an impossible, intangible peace was achieved. She flinched, her body tensing, but then, slowly, she straightened her back, meeting the Elder's gaze with a newfound resolve.
She had earned this. Every bit of it.
The Elder's expression softened marginally, reflecting a profound sadness continued, "Only when the region is at peace, and you have made true amends, may you stand here again. Until then, you are severed from the Draconid. Zinnia, until you prove yourself worthy of its trust once more. Use this time to reflect, to learn, and to grow beyond the shadows of your grief and your pride."
With a solemn nod, she accepted her fate. Exile was worse than death for a Draconid, severing her from her people, her history, and the sacred fire.
Steven and Drake remained silent, recognizing the finality of the sentence. It was a long road ahead, but one that led Zinnia away from prison cells and toward redemption.
Zinnia swallowed hard, the taste of ash in her mouth. Zinnia, who needed redemption and a path forward for her clan, bowed her head deeper, swallowing her pride uttered, "I accept the punishment, Elder. I understand. I accept my exile."
Before Steven could usher them toward the cavern exit, the Elder raised a hand, stopping them. She reached into the folds of her ancient robes and withdrew three items wrapped in thick, protective fabric.
She unwrapped the first—a deep, iridescent blue orb nestled within a wrist strap as she uttered, "Your [Salamencite]. You stripped yourself of your previous stone in your reckless quest. This is its replacement. A Lorekeeper must always be ready to defend the region, even in exile."
Zinnia took the Salamencite, her fingers trembling slightly as the familiar, comforting energy pulsed against her skin. Next, the Elder presented the remaining items in front of Zinnia. One was pale, smooth, and warm—a large Dragon-type Egg, radiating an expectant life. The other was a Mega Stone, pulsating with a nascent, unfamiliar power that felt vastly different from the [Salamencite], yet undeniably draconic.
She placed the Egg and the corresponding Mega Stone into Zinnia's hands. The Elder stated, her gaze intense, "These are not for you. These are for the new Lorekeeper who earned the Dragon Lord's trust. The Dragon Lord has chosen a new partner to protect this planet, a new Lorekeeper who walks in the light."
Zinnia took the egg and the Mega Stone, her hands trembling slightly. The Elder continued in a softer voice, "You will find this child, Zinnia. You will give them these gifts. You will watch, and you will guide them, but you will not interfere with their destiny. You will make amends with this new Lorekeeper, as they represent the future you almost extinguished. Go, and hope that through this child, the Dragon Lord would finally deem this sanctuary worthy of its return."
The weight of the Egg and the unfamiliar stone was immense, a responsibility far greater than the one Zinnia had sought to claim. It was the absolute proof that the destiny of the Draconid had passed her by.
She nodded solemnly, the weight of the clan's future and the absurdity of her new mission settling heavily upon her. Zinnia promised, grasping the precious items securely, "I will find them, Elder."
The Elder nodded, her command fulfilled as she said, "Go, Zinnia. And do not forget the debt you owe to Hoenn."
Zinnia turned toward the cavern entrance. Steven offered a curt, respectful nod to the Elder, and Drake gave a final, solemn bow.
She rose, turning to Steven and Drake as she stated bluntly, "I am prepared. Tell me what needs to be done to dismantle these corrupt men."
Steven nodded, relief washing over him as he replied solemnly, "We leave immediately. We need to secure safe houses and prepare the evidence before facing the Pokémon Association Chairman head-on."
Drake, still glowering but now focused on the task, led the way out of the village. As they traversed the crystalline paths toward the outside world, Steven and Drake spoke of security protocols and strategy.
Zinnia walked behind them, the Dragon egg clutched tightly in her arms. Her mind, however, was no longer on strategy or revenge. As they began their trek out of the ancient, sacred space and back toward the harsh light of the outside world, Zinnia paused at the threshold.
She looked back at the whispering flames, the shadowy figures of her people, and the stoic form of the Elder. She was now an outcast, marked by failure and burdened by a mission of absolute humility.
The path the Hoenn League had prescribed was one of political maneuvering and legal testimony. Still, the path the Elder had chosen for her was far harder: a lonely journey of penance, tasked with finding the one person who stood where she should have, and ensuring their success where she had failed.
She stepped out of Meteor Falls, the cold wind hitting her face. The corrupt Hoenn Association Chairman and his father would be the first targets of her new directive. But the ultimate target, the true destination, was a future where a new, unknown Lorekeeper held the Dragon Lord's trust, and Zinnia, the disgraced, could finally stand in the shadow of true peace.
Steven placed a hand lightly on her shoulder, a silent signal of the complicated alliance they now formed, and Zinnia, the newly exiled Draconid, began her long march toward redemption.
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A/N: Reach the goal of 100 PS to get a Bonus Chapter!