Carrying the Weight of the World

As the current Lorekeeper facing the threat of meteoroid strike, Zinnia bears the weight of the history of humanity on her shoulders. What makes this role such a burden? Clearly there is the fact that the entire region—people and Pokémon—is depending on her to save them. That would be enough to stress anyone out! Yet, I would argue there is more to it than that. The Draconids have made it their personal duty and responsibility to see things through for three thousand years. Everything they've done and sacrificed up until now was in order to ensure that the Lorekeeper facing calamity would have what they need to save Hoenn. Yes, of course Zinnia wants to save everyone on a personal level. However, it's also her duty. She has no choice but to accept the burden that was passed to her shoulders. Failing doesn't just mean destruction. It also means that she's letting down 3,000 years worth of tradition and sacrifice. It means that everyone who believed in her was wrong.

Needless to say, then, Zinnia takes her responsibility very seriously. She is willing to do anything necessary in order to summon Rayquaza—even if it means infiltrating Team Magma/Aqua and giving them the secrets of Primal Reversion knowing very well the consequences and sacrifices that it might have on the region. Zinnia will summon Rayquaza no matter what the means, even if it comes down to something shady like forcefully stealing Key Stones from others and making herself look bad. Unfortunately, Zinnia actually does look bad to others in light of her actions. She comes off as being selfish, naive and inconsiderate.

"Did she give a thought to the many people and Pokémon whose lives were put at grave risk by her actions? Could she accept the inevitable sacrifice of so many lives, in order to protect the planet from the coming meteoroid?" — Steven Stone

This is especially true because she doesn't let other people know what her plans are. Not even Zinnia's own grandmother knows exactly what she is up to. Rather than collaborating with others to formulate a plan, she acts on her own. This, too, could be interpreted as being selfish, inconsiderate or even cocky. For Zinnia, though, I don't think any of the above are the case. I really believe Zinnia feels Hoenn's fate is something she must bear alone as the Lorekeeper because it's her duty. It's her responsibility. She's been told that she's the only one who can do it. It wouldn't surprise me if Zinnia internalized this to mean she has to deal with it on her own. Further, Zinnia eventually tells the hero that she actually has given her role a lot of thought and is keenly aware of the burden attached to it. She really has considered the benefits and consequences to various choices. Zinnia settled on the ones she did because she truly believed they were the best.

"I spent a long time thinking about how I could protect the happiness of as many people as possible. What I must do, as one who holds both the knowledge and the power… One who bears the heavy wishes of those who could not live up to that fate… Well, I had to be really creative, you know?" — Zinnia

Impact on her Persona

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b a c k . c l e a r . f o r w a r d Weight of the World and its contents are © Samantha, however Zinnia and Pokémon are © Nintendo and other rightful owners. Weight of the World is a part of AFTER-DEATH.ORG.