"Whoosh!"
A figure flew through the air, quickly landing in an open space in the Meteor Falls. Zinnia jumped down from her Salamence and sprinted towards the Elder's house. Without bothering to knock, she kicked the door open and rushed into the room.
"Grandma, I'm back. I heard... what are you doing here?!"
The moment she entered the room, Zinnia saw Ace drinking tea with the Dragon Clan Elder. Zinnia still had some memory of this person she had met before, after all, he had helped her release the Dragon God.
"Zinnia, don't be rude. Ace is the new inheritor." The Elder stood up and spoke to Zinnia calmly.
Zinnia's mouth fell open, her face full of disbelief. This guy, wasn't he here to search for the Key Stone? How did he suddenly become the inheritor?
Seeing Zinnia on the verge of a breakdown, Ace put down his teacup and stood up. "Zinnia, long time no see."
"Long time no see, my foot!" Zinnia roared at Ace. "Didn't you say you were here to look for the Key Stone?! How did you suddenly become the inheritor?! And Jinga told me you caught the Dragon God, what kind of joke is that?! What was all my hard work for?! You bastard, tell me!"
Zinnia rushed up to Ace, grabbing his collar tightly, and yelled at him continuously. In this moment, she felt like a complete joke, and all her efforts felt like the biggest mockery. Look, you worked so hard, gave your all to get something, and someone else got it with no effort at all. You're just a loser! You always were! You still are!
Tears streamed from Zinnia's eyes. In this moment, she suddenly lost her drive and direction. The hand gripping Ace's collar slowly lost its strength, and she sank to her knees.
"Don't put yourself down. You're very strong, stronger than most people." Just as Zinnia was about to collapse to the ground, an arm caught her, pulling her up. "If it weren't for you, the entire Meteor Falls would have probably fallen into despair long ago. It's precisely because of your hard work that everyone hasn't completely lost hope. Is what others think really that important? Just live your own life, you're not a replacement for anyone else, understand? Zinnia!"
Ace lifted Zinnia up, and she wiped her tears vigorously as she listened to his words. Just as Ace thought Zinnia had come to her senses, he realized he had been a bit too presumptuous.
"You bastard, I don't need your pity!" Zinnia roared at Ace. "I don't accept you as the inheritor! Where's the Dragon God?! I want to see the Dragon God for myself and see who the true inheritor is!"
Seeing the hysterical Zinnia, Ace glanced at the Dragon Elder, who gave him a subtle nod. Ace sighed inwardly and said to Zinnia, "Alright, let Rayquaza choose for itself then."
With that, under the guidance of the Dragon Elder, Ace and Zinnia walked out of the house to the open area of Meteor Falls.
"Come on out, Rayquaza." Ace took out his Master Ball and opened it. Rayquaza shot out, hovering in the air.
"The Dragon God!"
The moment Rayquaza appeared, all the people of the Meteor Falls collectively knelt down on one knee. This was their respect, passed down through generations and deeply ingrained in their bones, for the Pokémon who had saved the world twice.
"Dragon God." Zinnia walked to the front of Rayquaza, knelt on one knee, and lowered her head respectfully. "It has been a long time. Ever since I rescued you from the League research lab, I have been searching for you. Hearing of your return to the Meteor Falls, I have prepared the key item and humbly request that you forge a bond with me..."
"Pfft!"
Before Zinnia could finish her sentence, Rayquaza's tail pierced her abdomen. Zinnia's expression was dazed as she looked up and spat out a mouthful of blood. She weakly continued, "To... save... this planet."
But as soon as Zinnia's words fell, a Dragon Pulse shot out from Rayquaza's mouth, aimed directly at her!
"Zinnia!!!" Seeing Zinnia's situation, the Dragon Elder couldn't help but cry out, "Dragon God! Please, no!!!"
"Boom!"
In an instant, Aerodactyl grabbed Ace and flew in front of Rayquaza and Zinnia. Ace put his hands up to block, taking the full force of Rayquaza's Dragon Pulse. When the attack stopped, Ace shook his hands, which were heavily corroded and in a lot of pain. Five task points were consumed, and his hands quickly regenerated.
"Are you insane?!" Ace said unceremoniously to Rayquaza. "Why are you getting angry for no reason? What does this have to do with Zinnia? Besides watching the previous inheritor, Shigana, die, what do you think she could have done back then? Died in place of Shigana? When did you become so unreasonable? She was more pained by Shigana's death than anyone else!"
After he finished speaking, Ace's hands were fully recovered. Aerodactyl, carrying Ace, pulled Zinnia off Rayquaza's tail. Blood was gushing out of the wound. Ace's eyelids twitched, and he ultimately spent another five task points to start healing Zinnia.
Rayquaza roared at Ace, and Ace turned and glared at it. "What are you roaring about? You're so brave being a bully at home, but do you have the guts to deal with them outside?! Get back here." With that, he took out Rayquaza's Master Ball and recalled it.
Inside the Master Ball, Rayquaza still wanted to fuss, but after thinking it over, it realized Ace was right—at least he had saved it. With that thought, Rayquaza let a portion of its dragon-type energy seep out of the Master Ball and into Zinnia's body.
Ace glanced at the Master Ball and rolled his eyes. He felt that Rayquaza had been spoiled rotten by the people of the Meteor Falls. Just now, upon seeing Zinnia, Rayquaza recognized her. Instead of acknowledging the kindness of her saving it, it blamed her for not saving Shigana at the time.
In Rayquaza's mind, the inheritors were its friends and partners, while the people of the Meteor Falls were just servants. It was a worthy trade to exchange an insignificant servant for the life of its partner. That's why Rayquaza was so angry and attacked Zinnia on the spot.
However, after being berated by Ace, Rayquaza came to its senses, remembering that Zinnia was still a child back then and naturally had no power to save Shigana. Realizing its mistake, Rayquaza gave Zinnia some dragon power to make amends, which was essentially its way of accepting her.